Smart Computing Applications in Crowdfunding

This book focuses on smart computing for crowdfunding usage, looking at the crowdfunding landscape (e.g., reward-, donation-, equity-, P2P-based) and the crowdfunding ecosystem (e.g., regulator, asker, backer, investor, and operator). The increased complexity of fundraising scenario, driven by the broad economic environment as well as the need for using alternative funding sources, has sparked research smart computing techniques in this area. Covering a wide range of detailed topics, the authors of this book offer an outstanding overview of the current state of the art; providing deep insights into smart computing methods, tools, and their applications in crowdfunding; exploring the importance of smart analysis, prediction, and decision-making within fintech industry. This book is intended as an authoritative and valuable resource for professional practitioners and researchers alike, as well as financial, engineering, and computer science students who are interested in crowdfunding and other emerging fintech topics.

Bo Xing, D.Ing., is an Associate Professor at the Institute for Intelligent Systems, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Prior to this, he was an Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science, School of Mathematical and Computer Science, University of Limpopo, South Africa. He served as a senior lecturer under the division of Center for Asset Integrity Management (C-AIM) at the Department of Mechanical and Aeronautic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Dr. Xing earned his DIng degree (Doctorate in Engineering with a focus on soft computing and remanufacturing) in early 2013 from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He also obtained his BSc and MSc degree both in Mechanical Engineering from the Tianjin University of Science and Technology, P.R. China, and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, respectively. He was a scientific researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa. He has published 3 books, over 50 research papers in the form of international journals, and international conference proceedings. His current research interests lie in applying various nature-inspired computational intelligence methodologies towards big data analysis, miniature robot design and analysis, advanced mechatronics system, and e-maintenance.

Tshilidzi Marwala, Ph.D., is the Vice-Chancellor & Principal of the University of Johannesburg. He was previously the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Internationalisation as well as the Dean of Engineering at the University of Johannesburg. He was a full Professor of Electrical Engineering, the Carl and Emily Fuchs Chair of Systems and Control Engineering as well as the SARChI Chair of Systems Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand. He was also an executive assistant to the technical director at the South African Breweries. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (magna cum laude) from Case Western Reserve University (USA), a Master of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pretoria, a PhD in Engineering from Cambridge University, was a post-doctoral research associate at the Imperial College (London) and completed a Program for Leadership Development at Harvard Business School. He has published 12 books (one has been translated into Chinese), over 280 papers in journals, proceedings, book chapters and magazines and holds three international patents. His research interests are multi-disciplinary, and they include the theory and application of computational intelligence to engineering, computer science, finance, social science and medicine.