The use of technology supporting sharing economy business models: the european interest in operations of investment crowdfunding

. For some years now, in the international scenario, new business models closely linked to the use of the web and digitally-based relations, have recently emerged in consequence to well-known phenomena of crisis are progressively spreading. These new enterprises carry on activities that are very different among them, but have common criteria and principles and this lets them fall within that big movement identified as Sharing Economy. One of the most relevant applications of technological innovations supporting principles of collaboration and sharing are financing platforms, aimed at gathering businesses and individuals looking for capitals and matching them with others willing to invest, lend or donate their money availability. Exploiting the potential offered by internet, crowdfunding is at the core of the modern scenario, in a general context where the decrease in available resources imposes radical changes in citizens’ decisions, consumptions and investments’ habits, and also in the way to do business.