P075 Sustaining FinTech Crowdfunding Platforms in Malaysia
Challenges and Strategic Insights from a Qualitative Case Study
Abstract
FinTech crowdfunding has emerged as an important alternative financing mechanism for startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia, contributing to financial inclusion, entrepreneurial development, and digital innovation. Despite its rapid growth, the sustainability of crowdfunding platforms remains challenged by various operational, technological, and market-related factors. This study aims to explore the key challenges influencing the sustainability of FinTech crowdfunding platforms in Malaysia through an in-depth qualitative case study of PitchIN Platform Sdn. Bhd. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders and analysed using thematic analysis to identify the critical factors affecting platform sustainability. The findings reveal that limited public awareness, investor trust, financial literacy, technological advancement, digital marketing capability, platform management experience, and the rapidly evolving FinTech ecosystem are among the major challenges confronting crowdfunding platforms. In addition, regulatory adaptation and continuous technological innovation were identified as essential factors in sustaining platform competitiveness and supporting long-term growth. Although the findings are derived from a single case study and may not be generalisable to all crowdfunding platforms, they provide valuable insights into the operational and strategic challenges encountered within Malaysia's FinTech ecosystem. The study offers practical recommendations for policymakers, regulators, crowdfunding platform operators, and entrepreneurs to strengthen investor confidence, enhance digital financial awareness, and foster a more sustainable crowdfunding environment. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on FinTech crowdfunding by providing empirical evidence on the sustainability challenges faced by crowdfunding platforms in Malaysia and offers strategic insights to support the continued development of the country's digital entrepreneurial finance ecosystem.
Keywords: FinTech crowdfunding; sustainability; crowdfunding platforms; entrepreneurial finance; qualitative case study; Malaysia.
