BOOSTING CROWDFUNDING VIA KNOWLEDGE ECOSYSTEMS: AN EXPLORATORY ANALYSIS THROUGH A BIBLIOMETRIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Purpose This study aims to highlight the fundamental elements about the potential knowledge ecosystems underlying the crowdfunding environment, providing a tentative analysis of the state of the art and suggesting a possible research agenda. Design/methodology/approach Based on a sample of 51 papers retrieved from the Web of Science (WOS) database, the investigation, implementing a bibliometric literature review (BLR), has examined the main metadata of the scientific literature that includes studies about crowdfunding and knowledge ecosystems. Findings The main research areas in the field, in terms of occurrence network analysis, seem to affect three main clusters (entrepreneurial ecosystems, business ecosystems, and service ecosystems), being the role of knowledge (and consequent knowledge management) relevant mostly in regard to entrepreneurial ecosystems. Originality/value The research is intended to shed light on the potential connections, relationships, and interactions between crowdfunding and the knowledge ecosystems that may emerge in the dynamics involving crowdfunding platforms, projects, and operators, emphasizing the contribution of knowledge management in this respect.