Digital Landscape and Crowdfunding Performance in Bayelsa State (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND MANAGEMENT RESEARCH)

Summary

• The study evaluated the impact of the digital landscape on crowdfunding performance across a target population of 535 registered SMEs in Bayelsa State.p.1
• User competence was identified as the most impactful predictor of crowdfunding performance, recording a standardized Beta coefficient of .626 (t = 9.332, p = .000).p.16
• Digital infrastructure exerted a significant positive influence on crowdfunding performance, recording an unstandardized coefficient B of .643 (t = 7.175, p = .000).p.16
• Platform accessibility significantly affected crowdfunding outcomes, recording an unstandardized coefficient B of .566 (t = 5.183, p = .000).p.16

Key insights

1. User competence exercises the strongest relative influence on crowdfunding success in Bayelsa State compared to technical infrastructure and platform design.p.16
2. Digital infrastructure provides the fundamental connectivity and transactional foundation required to reach prospective crowdfunding backers effectively.p.18
3. Respondents rated electricity supply stability highest among digital infrastructure indicators, with a mean score of 4.48.p.14
4. Crowdfunding platforms in the region demonstrate high mobile phone functionality, which received a mean score of 4.46.p.15
5. SME operators exhibited a relatively lower understanding of distinct crowdfunding models, which recorded the lowest user competence mean score of 3.95.p.15
6. Platform onboarding represents a critical friction point, with campaign sign-up ease receiving a low mean score of 3.47 and high variance.p.15