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Professor of Entrepreneurship & Innovation at TCU

Editor, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice

Media Contact: [email protected] (email)
Other Contact Info: My CV

Research Interests:

  • Crowdfunding
  • Entrepreneurial Finance
  • Entrepreneurial Resource Acquisition
  • Entrepreneurial Narratives
  • Entrepreneurial Leadership
  • Organizational Structure & Theory
  • Social Entrepreneurship
  • Venture Capital
  • Venture Finance

Teaching Interests:

  • Entrepreneurial Finance
  • Entrepreneurial Management
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Entrepreneurial Leadership & Teams
  • Venture Strategy
  • Venture Financial Management
  • Venture Capital Valuation

Recent Crowdfunding Research and Venture Finance Work

McSweeney JJ, McSweeney KT, Allison TH, Webb JW. In Press. Is Prior Failure a Burden for Entrepreneurs’ Follow-Up Crowdfunding Success?: An Expectancy Violations Theory Perspective. Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice. DOI Pending        

Escudero SB, Anglin AH, Allison TH, Wolfe MT. 2025. Crowdfunding: A theory-centered review and roadmap of the multidisciplinary literature. Journal of Management. https://doi.org/10.1177/01492063251328267         

Maurer JD, Creek SA, Allison TH, Bendickson JS, Sahaym A. 2025. First Impressions of Digital Pitches, Innovation, and Venture Funding Performance: An Evolutionary Psychology Approach. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge. 10(2): 100672.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2025.100672      

Allison TH, Anglin AH. 2025. The power of family firm image in rewards-based crowdfunding. Journal of Small Business Management. https://doi.org/10.1080/00472778.2024.2439030        

McKenny AF, Fisher GF, Short JC, Ketchen DJ, Allison TH. 2025. Communicating During Societal Crises: How Entrepreneurs Interactions with Backers Affect Fundraising via Crowdfunding. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice. 49(3): 782 816. https://doi.org/10.1177/10422587241288124        

Oo P, Allison TH. 2024. Pitching with your heart (on your sleeve): Getting to the heart of how display authenticity matters in crowdfunding. Journal of Small Business Management. https://doi.org/10.1080/00472778.2022.2122482      

Maurer JD, Creek SA, Allison TH, Bendickson JS, Sahaym A. 2024. Getting to know someone in ten seconds: Social role theory and perceived personality in entrepreneurial pitch videos. Journal of Business Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2024.114535       

Allison TH, Anglin AH, Davis BC, Oo PP, Seyb SK, Short JC, Wolfe MT. 2024. Standing out in a crowd of victim entrepreneurs: How entrepreneurs language-based cues of personality traits affect public support. Journal of Small Business Management. https://doi.org/10.1080/00472778.2022.2056606      

Maurer JD, Creek SA, Allison TH, Bendickson JS, Sahaym A. 2023. Affiliation Rhetoric and Digital Orientation in Crowdfunding Appeals. Technological Forecasting & Social Change. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122441       

Allison TH, Warnick BJ, Davis BC, Cardon MS. 2022. Can You Hear Me Now? Engendering Passion and Preparedness Perceptions with Vocal Expressions in Crowdfunding Pitches. Journal of Business Venturing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2022.106193      

Allison TH, Grimes M, McKenny AF, Short JC. 2021. Occupy Wall Street ten years on: How its disruptive institutional entrepreneurship spread and why it fizzled. Journal of Business Venturing Insights. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbvi.2021.e00285       

Anglin AH, Courtney C, Allison TH. 2022. Venturing for Others, Subject to Role Expectations? A Role Congruity Theory Approach to Social Venture Crowdfunding. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1177/10422587211024545       

Davis BC, Warnick BJ, Anglin AH, Allison TH. 2021. Gender and Counterstereotypical Facial Expressions of Emotion in Crowdfunded Microlending. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1177/10422587211029770       

Warnick BJ, Davis BC, Allison TH, Anglin AH. 2021. Express Yourself: Facial Expression of Happiness, Anger, Fear, and Sadness in Funding Pitches. Journal of Business Venturing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2021.106109       

>>List of All Research

The Crowdfunding Research Stream: Origins, Purpose, and Future Trends

Research on entrepreneurial finance and entrepreneurial resource acquisition is vital to bringing equal access to all, supporting diversity, and developing social entrepreneurship and strong entrepreneurial ecosystems. There are many nascent entrepreneurs with promising ideas who simply lack the funds to start and form a business. One’s own wealth tends to be highly correlated with that of family and friends. Thus, friends and family are often not able to help.

Crowdfunding is a wonderful and exciting development. Crowdfunding can often provide a bridge from idea to enterprise for entrepreneurs who struggle to get funded through traditional channels. Understanding crowdfunding is currently the focus of my research program.

About Tom Allison: Dr. Thomas H. Allison is a professor of entrepreneurship in the Neeley School of Business at TCU. He received his PhD from the University of Oklahoma. His research centers on entrepreneurial finance; novel forms of entrepreneurial resource acquisition, including crowdfunding; and the effects of narrative, rhetoric, and emotional expression on investment decisions. An entrepreneur before earning his Ph.D., he researches, teaches, and loves to talk about how entrepreneurs get the money they need to start and grow their businesses.

>>Full Biography & About