Crowdfunding and Entrepreneurial Drive: A New Paradigm in the Sharing Economy

Abstract

The popularization of the sharing economy has prompted transformative shifts in all economic activity, particularly in innovative financing options like crowdfunding. This study examines college students' perspectives on entrepreneurship and the role of crowdfunding as a tool for securing funds for their ventures. This research applies the Theory of Planned Behavior to explore the impact of students' attitudes, perceived control and social norms on entrepreneurship. It also examines the impact of formal entrepreneurial and financial education on entrepreneurial intentions and crowdfunding success. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was utilized to assess the hypotheses based on data collected from a survey conducted across multiple countries in the Balkans. The outcomes indicated that social norms have minimal impact on entrepreneurial intentions. Nonetheless, all other hypotheses showed significance. The findings also highlight the need to develop entrepreneurial skills and knowledge of financing options, suggesting the inclusion of crowdfunding in education to boost financial literacy and prepare students for modern entrepreneurship.