Equity and Reward Crowdfunding: A Multiple Signal Analysis

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse the success signals of initiatives through equity and reward crowdfunding, the two typologies most used by start-ups and SMEs. This article discusses and compares these two models, highlighting the main differences and similarities, by analyzing the factors that influence the success of initiatives through crowdfunding, measured both in terms of amount of funding raised and number of investors that funded the initiatives. The focus is on three sets of signals, venture quality (human capital, information about the establishment and the status of the initiatives), the level of information the company provides to reduce the degree of uncertainty and campaign quality. Using two distinct datasets, one of 235 equity-model initiatives and one of 274 reward-model initiatives, in both cases analyzing projects that have reached (or exceeded) the funding goal, it turns out that venture quality affects in both types, though distinctly, in particular in the reward model play an important role the awards, in addition to the rounds and the tutors (the latter two also present in the equity model), which constitute the status information of the company, while the information about the establishment and the human capital affects only the equity model. Equally for the equity model affects the level of information to reduce uncertainty, while campaign quality in both types seems to have a very slight impact.