Graduation Year

2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

D.B.A.

Degree Granting Department

Business Administration

Major Professor

Dirk Libaers, Ph.D.

Co-Major Professor

Jennifer Wolgemuth, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Grandon Gill, D.B.A.

Committee Member

Loran Jarrett, D.B.A.

Committee Member

Douglas Hughes, Ph.D.

Keywords

Cancel, Decrease, Entrepreneurship, Motivation

Abstract

Reward-based crowdfunding (RBCF), where fundraisers raise funds from a crowd of investors in return for a reward, has carved a niche as a proven option for not just entrepreneurs seeking early-stage funding, but also for established firms looking to presell or market a new product or service. Establishing crowdfunding performance and success factors is important for researchers and practitioners alike. Fortunately, a large portion of the RBCF academic literature is immediately applicable to entrepreneurs, with very little additional interpretation required. However, important questions about RBCF remain. The first paper in this three-part dissertation, a systematic literature review, examines some of these questions. It explores research gaps and covers recent crowdfunding research in a manner that calls attention to factors impacting a campaign’s performance that are useful for entrepreneurs using crowdfunding to finance their ventures. The second paper asks how the Covid-19 pandemic impacted RBCF performance and success. Furthermore, an examination of product categories is undertaken. The Covid-19 pandemic gave researchers a chance to reflect on the use of alternative finance for entrepreneurs. The third paper examines the motivations and deterrents for funders of RBCF campaigns to cancel or decrease a previously made pledge, how they were similar to recognized crowdfunding performance and success factors and contexts in which pledges were considered. Individually, any of these three papers might represent a contribution. Together, they help illuminate the field for entrepreneurs and researchers.

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