University / Organisation : University of Namur

Paper or project ? project

Title : Recurrent backers in crowdfunding

Paper not uploaded by the author

Abstract : Crowdfunding platforms (CFPs) constitute a peculiar kind of 2 sided platforms where multiple network effects are at work. A greater mass of project creators looking for funds tends to attract more backers, thereby increasing the pie, but as more creators become visible, the number of competitors to share it with increases too. On the other hand, a greater number of funders, entices even further creators to join the platform. Among users of CFPs, recurrent backers, that is backers contributing more than once, have so far received comparatively modest attention. Yet, it has been suggested that their presence is actually a key driver in success of a CFPs as they are a stable presence on the platform, thereby attracting creators, and they contribute to create cascades of contributions. In this project I aim to empirically test whether these backers behave differently from the others (such as single-pledge backers and friends and family of project creators) and whether they really contribute to stimulate contributions from other backers.