Crowdfunding for sustainable energy projects: the criteria of selection by platform managers and competition between investors

Lucas D.

Order the writing of a tailor-made Finance Term papers

Free quote online

Thesis Format .docx

Crowdfunding for sustainable energy projects: the criteria of selection by platform managers and competition between investors

Download

Read an extract

Themes

Crowdfunding, sustainability, sustainable development, competition, investors, fundraising, stakeholders, energy, KissKissBankBank, Ulule, Lendopolis, Wiseed, Lendosphere, Enerflip

Reader
Abstract
Contents
Extract

Abstract

Despite the contributions of research on the crowdfunding phenomenon, there is a lack of knowledge on the link between crowdfunding and sustainability and renewable energies in particular and also a lack of understanding from the point of view of investors and managers of crowdfunding platforms: motivations, decision criteria for project selection.
In order to fill this gap, we selected case studies of platform projects and sustainable projects to carry out a qualitative survey by conducting interviews with platform managers and investors and by analysing comments posted on the website by investors.
With this study, we contribute to a better understanding of the platform managers' and investors' point of view: the motivations and decision-making for selecting competing projects and provide elements for project management professionals and also to identify new issues for academics and researchers in order to develop new research avenues.

Research Question(s) and Research Objectives
Literature Review
1. The phenomenon in society
2. Regulation in countries
3. Key success factors
4. Competition
5. Regional project
6. Green project
7. Industry
8. Crowdfunding: how to raise the funds (B to B or B to C)
9. The vision of French citizens and investors in environmental projects
10. The vision of the Platform
Research Design
1. Overall Research Design
2. Participants
3. Analyze Data
4. Findings
Research Ethics
Data collection and analysis
Discussion

Get this table of contents for free after login.

Extract

[...] Findings 14 Research Ethics: 15 VI- Data collection and analysis 16 A. The point of view of a platform: The interviews: First interview: Second interview: Interview comparison The testimonials: Testimonial Comparison: 24 VII- Discussion 26 VIII- Conclusion 28 IX- References 30 Appendices 33 Semi structured interview guide 33 Consent form: 34 Cover letter 35 Consent form signed by Lendopolis financial analyst 36 Consent form signed by the first investors interviewee 37 Consent form signed by the second investors interviewee 38 Lendopolis Analyst interview sample 39 First investor interview sample 40 I-Second investor interview sample 41 Introduction: The crowdfunding has recently become increasingly popular to finance innovation and new projects. [...]

[...] With these results, I was able to understand the decision criteria of the platforms as well as the investors. Research Ethics and Access: In the course of my research, I encountered several problems, the main one being access to contact. Indeed, it was not easy to get in touch with the managers of participatory finance platforms, only one responded positively to my request for an interview. The second major problem was access to investors, as crowdfunding platforms had to respect their investors and not disclose their contacts. [...]

[...] Finally of the social sector's projects are humanitarian projects and 43% are sports projects (Savel & Ptachek, 2018). Most of the project leaders are small and medium-sized enterprises of the volumes collected), but there are also Social and Solidarity Economy enterprises of the volumes collected), Start-ups of the volumes collected) and private individuals of the volumes collected) (Savel & Ptachek, 2018). Crowdfunding: how to raise the funds to B or B to Investors are more interested in companies whose products or services are aimed at consumers to than those aimed at professionals to B). [...]

[...] The main decision criteria are support for a renewable energy project at belief in the success of this project at to support a company contributing to reduce its carbon footprint to 13%. In addition, two other decision criteria can be identified, which are highlighted in 11% of the testimonials, the first is to invest in a local project and the second is to diversify my portfolio. Testimonial Comparison: These motivations can be grouped into 4 main categories, bearing in mind that the boundaries between the categories can be permeable and that investors make their decisions based on not one but several motivations: it is a cluster of motivations that dominate above all on these environmental projects where there is a strong citizen motivation. [...]

[...] The size of my sample was 3 interviewees including an archival research on 1 platform and 298 project testimonials . (Saunders & Lewis, 2012) The sampling technique used was self-selection sampling and purposive sampling. The first technique was to ask platform managers if any of their investors were willing to be interviewed. However, the platforms could not put me in contact with their investors. So I analyzed investor testimonials on green projects. Being that I was looking for platform creators and investors, I contacted by e-mail several crowdfunding platforms. [...]

docx