Remarkable Funders: How Early-Late Backers and Mentors Affect Reward-Based Crowdfunding Campaigns

Abstract

In recent years, the growth of the reward-based crowdfunding model has offered new opportunities to meet the funding requirements of start-ups. However, the achievement of the funding target is still a complex goal, given the existence of several information barriers between insiders (project proponents) and outsiders (backers) of a crowdfunding campaign. Within the framework of the information asymmetry and the theory of signals, this study aims to analyse the role of two kinds of previously un-investigated funders in determining the success of crowdfunding campaigns: early-late backers (who are placed at the beginning of the tail of the campaign) and mentors (who are represented by firms acting as more expert backers). The findings indicate that both types of funders are remarkably important for the success of a crowdfunding campaign.