Informal Institutions and Internet-based Equity Crowdfunding

Equity-based crowdfunding is emerging as an increasingly important source of entrepreneurial financing. This paper examines the effects of informal institutions on entrepreneurs' ability and willingness to engage in efforts to raise equity crowdfunding. It also investigates how informal institutions are linked to investors' response to ECF. Also reviewed are the differences in the effects of informal institutions on equity crowdfunding vis-à-vis other forms of crowdfunding. The paper also delves into factors that are likely to lead to the development of favorable informal institutions from the standpoint of equity crowdfunding. It utilizes inductive theory-building approach.