BRIDGING INNOVATION AND IMPACT: A WEB-BASED CROWDFUNDING SOLUTION FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Abstract

This paper presents the design, development, and usability evaluation of a web-based Crowdfunding Platform tailored for Social Entrepreneurs, aimed at supporting IT-driven initiatives with measurable social impact. The platform features campaign creation tools, real-time funding tracking, and simulated payment processing functionalities, enabling aspiring entrepreneurs to secure financial support for community-oriented projects. A field test involving 30 purposively selected participants, including IT students, recent graduates, and young professionals, was conducted to assess the platform’s usability. Participants engaged with the prototype and completed a structured online questionnaire featuring Likert-scale and open-ended items. Findings revealed moderate satisfaction with the campaign management components. However, critical issues were identified related to interface navigation, payment simulation accuracy, and data security, where over 70% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction. Key user recommendations included enhancing user interface intuitiveness, strengthening authentication processes, and incorporating interactive features such as live Q&A sessions and AI-generated feedback. Despite its limitations, the prototype demonstrates significant potential to address financing gaps among tech-based social innovators. This study offers valuable insights for the future refinement of digital crowdfunding ecosystems, particularly in fostering accessible, user-friendly solutions for the next generation of social entrepreneurs.