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Crossing the Line: Losing Your Mind as an Undercover Cop
by Christian PlowmanAs he rose through the ranks of various departments of the Metropolitan Police, Christian Plowman dreamt of being an undercover cop. When he finally achieved his ambition, becoming one an elite group of officers, the reality of covert work turned his life into a nightmare.To catch criminals, Christian bought and sold drugs with taxpayers’ money, been beaten up, arrested at gunpoint and barricaded in a pub by a gang of marauding gypsies – all in a day’s work. At one stage, he was running almost a dozen mobile phones to keep track of his different identities and had so many aliases that he nearly forgot who he was. He put his life on the line for the job but was to find that being the ‘best of the best’ wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. The pressure became so intense that he even contemplated suicide.Crossing the Line is a visceral, gripping account of what it really takes to be an undercover cop. It exposes how the Met conducts its business behind the scenes and reveals the harsh realities of modern covert police work.
Crossing the Thinnest Line: How Embracing Diversity-from the Office to the Oscars-Makes America Stronger
by Lauren Leader-ChiveeFROM THE VERY FOUNDING OF OUR NATION, diversity has been one of our greatest strengths but also the greatest source of conflict. In less than a generation, America will become "minority-majority," and the world economy, already interconnected, will be even more globalized. The stakes for how we handle this evolution couldn't be higher. Will diversity be a source of growth, prosperity, and progress-or perpetual division and strife? America has the potential to realize huge gains economically and socially by more fully capitalizing on diversity, but significant challenges remain and it's a problem that all Americans should be focused on solving. Despite tremendous progress, women and minorities still face barriers to accessing the full promise of the American dream. It doesn't have to be this way. Many of the solutions are right in front of us, and many exceptional, committed Americans are doing their part to make a difference. In the twenty-first century, nations will prosper only insofar as they embrace and celebrate the individuals, organizations, and collective efforts to advance every kind of diversity. Lauren Leader-Chivée believes America must lead the way. In CROSSING THE THINNEST LINE, she explores the state of our diverse union and shares important stories of progress and potential, highlighting those who are crossing dividing lines of race, gender, culture, and political party to build a more united and prosperous nation. Her revelations will transform the discussion and set the agenda for America's progress on these critical issues. A work of originality and ambition, CROSSING THE THINNEST LINE changes our understanding of diversity and offers lessons to change our lives and our country.
Crossmedialität im Journalismus und in der Unternehmenskommunikation
by Andreas Köhler Kim OttoCrossmedialität ‒ das Kreuzen der Medien ‒ ist einer der großen Trends im Journalismus und in der Unternehmenskommunikation. Inhalte werden über mehrere Plattformen publiziert, Organisation, Planung, Recherche und Qualitätssicherung passen sich an. Medienkonvergenz wird von einem theoretischen Konzept zur Medienpraxis. Dieser Band beschreibt den crossmedialen Wandel und erfasst dessen Stand. Dies erfolgt sowohl auf theoretischer als auch auf empirischer Ebene. Zudem werden die Auswirkungen des crossmedialen Wandels auf die Rezeption von Medien empirisch beschrieben und Konzepte dargestellt.
Crossover of Audit and Evaluation Practices: Challenges and Opportunities (Comparative Policy Evaluation)
by Maria Barrados Jeremy LonsdaleCrossover of Audit and Evaluation Practices brings together academic analysis with insights from practitioners to discuss the potential for collaboration in audit and evaluation practices between three professional disciplines. Clearly written and thoughtfully organized, this volume is structured in three parts to deal with theory, practice issues and how the practices have worked together. • Part One provides definitions of performance audit, internal audit and program evaluation. • Part Two addresses several challenges that professionals face in applying these standards and principles. • Part Three contains examples of organizational collaboration between the practices, how they have worked together and the lessons that were learned from that experience. Specific cases from the Government Accountability Office, and UNESCO, UNDP and Inter-Americas Development Bank illustrate what has worked or not and suggest reasons why. Crossover of Audit and Evaluation Practices offers even the most skilled and experienced professional insight on how to bridge some of the divides. It will help generate a better understanding of the activities and services that are either imposed on them or are freely available and help to stimulate their optimal use.
Crossover of Audit and Evaluation Practices: Challenges and Opportunities (Comparative Policy Evaluation)
by Maria Barrados Jeremy LonsdaleCrossover of Audit and Evaluation Practices brings together academic analysis with insights from practitioners to discuss the potential for collaboration in audit and evaluation practices between three professional disciplines. Clearly written and thoughtfully organized, this volume is structured in three parts to deal with theory, practice issues and how the practices have worked together.• Part One provides definitions of performance audit, internal audit and program evaluation.• Part Two addresses several challenges that professionals face in applying these standards and principles.• Part Three contains examples of organizational collaboration between the practices, how they have worked together and the lessons that were learned from that experience. Specific cases from the Government Accountability Office, and UNESCO, UNDP and Inter-Americas Development Bank illustrate what has worked or not and suggest reasons why.Crossover of Audit and Evaluation Practices offers even the most skilled and experienced professional insight on how to bridge some of the divides. It will help generate a better understanding of the activities and services that are either imposed on them or are freely available and help to stimulate their optimal use.
Crowd Dynamics, Volume 3: Modeling and Social Applications in the Time of COVID-19 (Modeling and Simulation in Science, Engineering and Technology)
by Nicola Bellomo Livio GibelliThis contributed volume explores innovative research in the modeling, simulation, and control of crowd dynamics. Chapter authors approach the topic from the perspectives of mathematics, physics, engineering, and psychology, providing a comprehensive overview of the work carried out in this challenging interdisciplinary research field. In light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, special consideration is given to applications of crowd dynamics to the prevention of the spreading of contagious diseases. Some of the specific topics covered in this volume include: - Impact of physical distancing on the evacuation of crowds- Generalized solutions of opinion dynamics models- Crowd dynamics coupled with models for infectious disease spreading- Optimized strategies for leaders in controlling the dynamics of a crowdCrowd Dynamics, Volume 3 is ideal for mathematicians, engineers, physicists, and other researchers working in the rapidly growing field of modeling and simulation of human crowds.
Crowd Dynamics, Volume 4: Analytics and Human Factors in Crowd Modeling (Modeling and Simulation in Science, Engineering and Technology)
by Nicola Bellomo Livio GibelliThis contributed volume explores innovative research in the modeling, simulation, and control of crowd dynamics. Chapter authors approach the topic from the perspectives of mathematics, physics, engineering, and psychology, providing a comprehensive overview of the work carried out in this challenging interdisciplinary research field. The volume begins with an overview of analytical problems related to crowd modeling. Attention is then given to the importance of considering the social and psychological factors that influence crowd behavior – such as emotions, communication, and decision-making processes – in order to create reliable models. Finally, specific features of crowd behavior are explored, including single-file traffic, passenger movement, modeling multiple groups in crowds, and the interplay between crowd dynamics and the spread of disease.Crowd Dynamics, Volume 4 is ideal for mathematicians, engineers, physicists, and other researchers working in the rapidly growing field of modeling and simulation of human crowds.
Crowd Funding: How to Raise Money and Make Money in the Crowd
by Modwenna Rees-MoggCrowd Funding by business-funding expert and business angel Modwenna Rees-Mogg is the first book to get to the heart of this exciting and fast-moving new business phenomenon. Discover how to raise capital and investment for your business, project or idea in the way that works best for you. Modwenna has talked to scores of people at the cutting edge of this new way of doing business - investors, entrepreneurs, fundraisers and founders of crowdfunding sites, those who have got it spectacularly right as well as spectacularly wrong. Crowd Funding explores:The different types of crowdfundingWhat the crowd likes to fundHow to persuade the crowd to invest in youWhat happens once you've got venture capitalHow to invest as part of the crowdThe perils of using crowdfunding as a fundraiser and as an investorCrowd Funding includes inspiring stories of people who have abandoned banks as investment sources, profiles of global crowd funding sites such as Kickstarter, and real-life examples of how to get what you want. It's the only book on the subject to be crowd researched!Modwenna Rees-Mogg is the founder and CEO of www.angelnews.co.uk - the leading news web site for the private investor community. She is a private investor herself and has spent over ten years working closely with investors and entrepreneurs. She is also the author of Dragons or Angels? published by Crimson. She has over 1,800 followers on Twitter: @modwenna.
Crowd Funding: How to Raise Money and Make Money in the Crowd
by Modwenna Rees-MoggCrowd Funding by business-funding expert and business angel Modwenna Rees-Mogg is the first book to get to the heart of this exciting and fast-moving new business phenomenon. Discover how to raise capital and investment for your business, project or idea in the way that works best for you. Modwenna has talked to scores of people at the cutting edge of this new way of doing business - investors, entrepreneurs, fundraisers and founders of crowdfunding sites, those who have got it spectacularly right as well as spectacularly wrong. Crowd Funding explores:The different types of crowdfundingWhat the crowd likes to fundHow to persuade the crowd to invest in youWhat happens once you've got venture capitalHow to invest as part of the crowdThe perils of using crowdfunding as a fundraiser and as an investorCrowd Funding includes inspiring stories of people who have abandoned banks as investment sources, profiles of global crowd funding sites such as Kickstarter, and real-life examples of how to get what you want. It's the only book on the subject to be crowd researched!Modwenna Rees-Mogg is the founder and CEO of www.angelnews.co.uk - the leading news web site for the private investor community. She is a private investor herself and has spent over ten years working closely with investors and entrepreneurs. She is also the author of Dragons or Angels? published by Crimson. She has over 1,800 followers on Twitter: @modwenna.
Crowd-Based Business Models: Using Collective Intelligence for Market Competitiveness
by RajagopalThis book distinctively presents nine thematic discussions with real examples of small and large companies across the geographic destinations. Among many points of interest crowdsourcing, crowdfunding, decision-processes, technology, leadership, consumer behavior, crowd-based services designing, future perspectives in the context of crowd-based business modelling, and collective intelligence are central to the discussions in the book.This book argues that crowd is the pivot of marketing. It fills the knowledge gap in people-led enterprises by integrating the customer ideation process and developing crowd-based business models to achieve performance with purpose. This book proposes crowd-based business strategies in the emerging markets and significantly contributes to the existing literature.
CrowdRising: Building a Sustainable World through Mass Collaboration
by Lorinda R. RowledgeOpen innovation enabled through crowdsourcing is one of the hottest topics in management strategy today. Particularly striking – and of vital importance to the world – are the pioneering efforts to apply crowdsourcing technology and open innovation to solve social, environmental, and economic sustainability challenges. CrowdRising sets out these challenges as context and then highlights the experiences of leaders and early adopters, identifies implementation guidelines, critical success factors and lessons learned, and finally projects where the field is going in the future. With a strong focus on the applications of crowdsourcing for innovation, engagement, and market intelligence, the book profiles the initiatives of companies, NGOs, and technology providers using crowdsourcing to develop these solutions to global problems. It addresses the key challenges impacting organizations: 1) identifying more sustainable ways to design, distribute, transport, recycle, and repurpose products; and 2) discovering and implementing the systems needed to transform global economic growth, drive human prosperity, and replenish the planet’s resources.
Crowded Out: The True Costs of Crowdfunding Healthcare
by Nora KenworthyAn eye-opening investigation into charitable crowdfunding for healthcare in the United States—and the consequences of allowing health care access to be decided by the digital crowd.Over the past decade, charitable crowdfunding has exploded in popularity across the globe. Sites such as GoFundMe, which now boasts a &“global community of over 100 million&” users, have transformed the ways we seek and offer help. When faced with crises—especially medical ones—Americans are turning to online platforms that promise to connect them to the charity of the crowd. What does this new phenomenon reveal about the changing ways we seek and provide healthcare? In Crowded Out, Nora Kenworthy examines how charitable crowdfunding so quickly overtook public life, where it is taking us, and who gets left behind by this new platformed economy.Although crowdfunding has become ubiquitous in our lives, it is often misunderstood: rather than a friendly free market &“powered by the kindness&” of strangers, crowdfunding is powerfully reinforcing inequalities and changing the way Americans think about and access healthcare. Drawing on extensive research and rich storytelling, Crowded Out demonstrates how crowdfunding for health is fueled by—and further reinforces—financial and moral &“toxicities&” in market-based healthcare systems. It offers a unique and distressing look beneath the surface of some of the most popular charitable platforms and helps to foster thoughtful discussions of how we can better respond to healthcare crises both small and large.
Crowded Places Make People Think More About the Future
by Alison Beard Oliver SngFrom the July-August 2017 issue. An interview with Oliver Sng by Alison Beard. How population density affects our life strategies <p><p> When a team of researchers compared population-density figures against data on people's willingness to invest in education, save for retirement, and otherwise plan for the future, they found that the residents of more-populated states and countries had a decidedly longer-term outlook.
Crowdfund Investing For Dummies
by Sherwood Neiss Zak Cassady-Dorion Jason W. Best<p>Crowdfund investing (CFI) is going to be the next big thing on Wall Street. U.S. investment banks, brokerage houses, and law firms are gearing up for the creation and regulation of new financial products that will be available to the general public starting in early 2013. The introduction of these products will revolutionize the financing of small businesses and startups for these key reasons: <p> <li>Entrepreneurs and small business owners, who have had difficulty obtaining capital through traditional means (such as bank loans and angel investors) in recent years, will have access to investors around the world through social media. <li>For the first time, investors (so-called unqualified investors) will be able to purchase an equity stake in a business or new investment vehicle. <p> <p>The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is overseeing the creation of online portals that will allow entrepreneurs and small investors to connect. When these portals go live in 2013, <i>Crowdfund Investing For Dummies</i> will be on the front line to educate business owners, other entrepreneurs, and investors alike. <p><i>Crowdfund Investing For Dummies</i> will walk entrepreneurs and investors, like yourself, through this new investing experience, beginning with explaining how and why CFI developed and what the 2012 JOBS says about CFI. <p>Entrepreneurs will find out how much funding they can realistically raise through CFI; how to plan and launch a CFI campaign; how to manage the crowd after a campaign is successful; and how to work within the SEC’s regulations at every stage. <p>Investors will discover: the benefits and risks of CFI; how much they can invest; how a CFI investment may fit into a broader investment portfolio; how to provide value to the business or project being funded; and how to bow out of an investment when the time is right. <p><i>Crowdfund Investing For Dummies</i> is an indispensable resource for long time investors and novice investors alike.
Crowdfunding
by Steven DresnerA groundbreaking book on the growing trend of crowdfundingCrowdfunding has gained considerable traction over the last few years. By combining the Internet/social media with equity-based financing, it is poised to usher in a new asset class that will change how early stage and small business financing transactions are consummated. Author Steven Dresner, Founder and CEO of Dealflow.com, understands the nuances of how crowdfunding can help companies gain much needed access to capital, and now he shares those insights with you.Engaging and informative, this book will serve the needs of a global audience comprising entrepreneurs, financiers, and other professionals. It skillfully addresses the market dynamics that are catapulting crowdfunding into the mainstream and explores essential issues ranging from planning an online campaign, post-transaction management, and business planning to securities law and tax issues.Puts the business of crowdfunding in perspective with a look at the current marketplace, overview of important data, and legitimate concernsExamines effective techniques for communicating with the crowdDetails equity-based financing and other sources such as debt instrumentsContains contributions from a wide array of individuals involved in the worlds of finance, law and accounting, social media, marketing, as well as DealFlow Media's own staffCrowdfunding affords-start ups and other smaller businesses better access to capital via the Internet/social media. It also allows an investor of any size to back a business of their choosing. This new book will show you what this process entails and how it can benefit everyone involved.
Crowdfunding European Business (Routledge Focus on Economics and Finance)
by Antonella Francesca CicchielloThis book questions the ability of crowdfunding (especially in the lending and equity-based models) to contribute to the development of European businesses, and therefore, to the relaunch of the European economy. Following a mainly micro (firm-based) approach, the study investigates the advantages of crowd investors’ increased role both in making financial resources available to the industrial base, thus reinvigorating economic growth across the European Union.The book reframes contemporary issues surrounding corporate finance and develops relevant knowledge to help companies succeed when it comes to securing the means to grow. It provides new and interesting insights into the alternative finance market, in light of the global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. The book describes the main alternative finance models which include not only lending and equity-based crowdfunding, but also marketplace lending, balance sheet lending, invoice trading, securities, real estate crowdfunding, and profit-sharing. It also analyses the due diligence process and other value-added services provided by platforms and backers. The book outlines a systematic understanding of crowdfunding as a substitute or complement to other forms of entrepreneurial finance and unpacks some of the misunderstandings surrounding the crowdfunding industry and its future evolution. The conclusions reached can be of help to entrepreneurs who have limited knowledge of the crowdfunding tool and the associated benefits.As such, this book is a valuable resource for students, researchers, professionals, and practitioners interested in discovering or better understanding the crowdfunding process, its characteristics, and the range of players in this market.
Crowdfunding In German Association Football Clubs: Identifying Supporters’ Drivers To Invest (Schriften der accadis Hochschule)
by Maria RatzThis thesis analyses the potential of crowdlending and crowdinvesting to be a valuable financial alternative for professional football clubs in Germany. Given the increasing importance of crowdfunding in other business areas and the necessity for German football clubs to access alternative approaches to financing, the perception of football clubs and supporters with regard to crowdfunding was investigated. The question is whether the fans, who are associated with the club due to their loyalty, could become financing partners. By applying Commitment-Trust Theory, this study examines the antecedents of supporters behavioural intentions to invest and their effect on the key mediating variables of Fan Loyalty and Trust. Semi-structured interviews with financial managers of the football clubs and an online survey with fans (n = 712) were conducted. This sample data was analysed using Structural Equation Modelling. Among three rival models, the partial-mediating model was able to explain 81.4 % of the variance of the sample data. According to the results, the key driver for supporters’ Willingness to Invest is the intrinsic, other-orientated motivation called Perceived Meaningful Contribution. This study has added knowledge to theory by applying the Commitment-Trust framework to crowdfunding motivation within the context of professional German football. Furthermore, the practical contribution is derived from the recommendations for football clubs on how to frame crowdfunding campaigns by highlighting the rewarding feeling of helping their club and the meaningfulness of projects.
Crowdfunding Scenarios Explained: If, How, and When to Tax Money from Crowdfunding
by Delmar C. GilletteCrowdfunding Scenarios Explained: If, How, and When to Tax Money from Crowdfunding tackles head on the current version of using a &“crowd&” to raise funds for a charitable project, a business concept, or an idea for a toy or tool or other device. Most taxpayers are not knowledgeable about if or when the proceeds (income) they receive are taxable. Crowdfunding Scenarios Explained is designed to explain how and why they could be taxable, along with presenting several true-to-life illustrations and related concepts.
Crowdfunding als kommunale Finanzierungsalternative (essentials)
by Kai AssenmacherDieses essential beantwortet die Frage, ob Crowdfunding eine geeignete M#65533;glichkeit ist, um kommunale Projekte zu finanzieren, und beschreibt den Ablauf einer solchen Kampagne. Nach einer kurzen Begriffseinf#65533;hrung werden die Akteure und Grundprinzipien sowie die wesentlichen Erfolgsfaktoren erl#65533;utert. Anschlie#65533;end stellt der Autor alle gesetzlichen, aufsichtsrechtlichen sowie haushaltsrechtlichen Aspekte, die speziell das Crowdfunding in Kommunen betreffen, ausf#65533;hrlich dar. Die Ergebnisse einer eigenen empirischen Befragung werden ausgewertet und st#65533;tzen die Ausf#65533;hrungen. Das essential schlie#65533;t mit einem Fazit #65533;ber die Praktikabilit#65533;t und Einsetzbarkeit von Crowdfunding in Kommunen.
Crowdfunding and Entrepreneurship
by Ignatius Ekanem Steve IdehThis accessible text provides an insight into the growing global trend of crowdfunding as a source of entrepreneurial finance. Grounded in academic literature, this book looks at the micro and macro issues within crowdfunding, from the entrepreneur’s access to finance at the business level, to the role of government in regulating the market. It helps the reader develop a sound understanding of crowdfunding as a source of finance, the crowdfunding process and potential options when faced with start-up funding issues. A range of international case studies of successful and unsuccessful crowdfunding campaigns help readers to apply theory to real-life scenarios. Readers are also supported throughout the book with chapter objectives and summaries, key terms, discussion questions and further reading guidance. Instructor materials such as slides and test questions are available as digital supplements. Crowdfunding and Entrepreneurship will be a valuable resource for students of new venture creation and entrepreneurial finance, as well as entrepreneurs exploring crowdfunding as an option for business development.
Crowdfunding and Independence in Film and Music (Routledge Focus on Media and Cultural Studies)
by Patryk Galuszka Blanka BrzozowskaThis book explores how independent film and music artists and labels use crowdfunding and where this use places crowdfunding in the contemporary system of cultural production. It complements an analysis of independence in film and music with the topic of crowdfunding as a firmly established form of financing cultural activity. In the second half of the 20th century, the concept of artistic independence was vital to classifying and distinguishing artists, their works, and labels or publishers who released them. However, during the last three decades, this term has become increasingly blurred, and some commentators argue that independence is in crisis. Can crowdfunding be the answer to this crisis? Some believe that it is, whereas others argue otherwise, seeing crowdfunding instead as just the next manifestation of this crisis. This dilemma is a starting point for the analyses of the relationships between crowdfunding and artistic independence conducted in this book, and will be of great interest to people looking for a deeper understanding of crowdfunding, how it can influence artistic independence, and what it means for artists and audiences. It will be a stimulating read for scholars and students with an interest in media and cultural studies, digital humanities, fandom, sociology, economics, business studies, and law, while also offering insights to artists and practitioners in the creative industries.
Crowdfunding and the Democratization of Finance
by Mark Davis Bruce DavisDo you know where your money is? More importantly, do you know what your money is doing? Most of us feel confident that we know what money is. But few of us feel confident in taking responsibility for what our money does. We hand over the power of money to banks and mainstream finance with real, often damaging, consequences for people and planet. A unique collaboration between an academic and a practitioner, this book tells the story of money, from ancient Athens to the Bitcoin revolution, to explain how crowdfunding is the way for people to reclaim the power of their money in pursuit of a fairer and greener society.
Crowdfunding for Entrepreneurs: Developing Strategic Advantage through Entrepreneurial Finance
by Francesca Di PietroThis is the first book of its kind to systematically integrate crowdfunding in the entrepreneurial finance research field and extend the current debate to show how crowdfunding can be leveraged as a strategic tool to grow new ventures. Utilising original empirical evidence of companies that have raised funds via crowdfunding, it discusses the value-added services that the crowd provides to entrepreneurs, as well as how and under which conditions crowdfunding helps company development by facilitating subsequent access to critical financial and non-financial resources from external stakeholders. The first part introduces the most popular models and tactics for a successful crowdfunding campaign and illustrates the characteristics of the crowdfunding phenomenon and its evolution across the world during the last decade. The second part of the book, demonstrating how crowdfunding can be a starting point to seed financing, illustrates and discusses how entrepreneurs can use crowdfunding as a strategic tool for accessing subsequent resources from external stakeholders – showing the benefits, beyond capital, that entrepreneurs can gain from the crowd, as well as potential risks. Crowdfunding for Entrepreneurs is particularly useful for academics, advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students in entrepreneurship and innovation, entrepreneurial finance, strategic management, as well as professionals interested in how crowdfunding can be utilised as a strategic tool to create competitive advantage.
Crowdfunding for Environmental Sustainability and the Circular Economy: Empowered Strategies for Sustainable Growth
by Marco Frey Filippo CorsiniThis book explores how crowdfunding can effectively promote environmental sustainability and circular economy practices in businesses, emphasizing its role in providing crucial financial resources. The importance of financial resources in businesses represents an essential enabler for implementing and scaling sustainable solutions. The book is composed of six chapters, which analyze some key aspects, such as how crowdfunding has been used to develop circular products, success factors for environmental crowdfunding campaigns, the issue of greenwashing in crowdfunding campaigns. By offering a comprehensive and critical analysis of the main issues at stake, this volume provides valuable insights for scholars and students of sustainable business and green finance. The present work also highlights how crowdfunding can help companies to integrate strategies to improve product environmental performance, engage in environmental marketing, and consider alternative business models. Overall, this book is essential to better understand how innovative funding solutions can overcome financial barriers and foster impactful environmental projects.
Crowdfunding for SMEs: A European Perspective (Palgrave Macmillan Studies in Banking and Financial Institutions)
by Roberto Bottiglia Flavio PichlerCrowdfunding for SMEs: A European Perspective provides a valuable insight into this new source of capital. Inparticular, the authors focus on financial return crowdfunding, which repaysthe crowd either through debt or equity. This source of capital might play asignificant role in the future becoming an alternative or a complement totraditional funding sources. It is therefore of the uttermost importance tounderstand what has boosted its exponential growth in recent years, as well asthe key drivers of success of P2P lending and equity crowdfunding campaigns onboth the funders and the fundraisers side. Due to the financial nature of thereturn provided to the crowd, financial return crowdfunding has been the objectof recent waves of regulation, although the European Union still lacks a set ofcommon rules. The aim of regulation should be twofold, to protect investorsand, at the same time, to favor the financing for SMEs. In this book, theauthors explore such issues and the regulatory policies, while looking to thefuture of financial return crowdfunding as an evolving source of capital.