Factors influencing the adoption of crowdfunding in Bangladesh: a study of start-up entrepreneurs

Despite widespread adoption of crowdfunding for funding social donation projects, its adoption among start-up entrepreneurs is significantly low, in developing countries in particular. Research has been performed to investigate the crowdfunding adoption intention of start-up entrepreneurs in Bangladesh. This study aimed to identify the motivation behind the intentions of the entrepreneurs to adopt crowdfunding, using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model with extensions. Empirical data were collected from 317 respondents and analyzed using Partial Least Squares-based Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions and perceived trust mpact significantly ion the entrepreneurs' behavioral intention to adopt crowdfunding. In contrast, trialability and perceived trust were not found to be significant determinants. However, trialability has a significant positive relation with use behavior or actual use, whereas no significant relationship has been identified between behavioral intention and use behavior.