Crowdinvesting has the potential to become a strong driver of innovation through the financing of start-ups. It can fill a funding gap in the early stages, especially at times when banks are only able to invest very restrictively in risky new ventures due to regulatory requirements. The financial risk of a start-up is distributed among a large number of investors through crowd investing, thereby reducing it for each individual. In return, small investors benefit from an annual profit share and the increase in the company's value at the end of the term. This study examines the motivation and investment behavior of Austrian micro-investors. An empirical investigation was conducted in the form of an online questionnaire among Austrian crowd investors, specifically addressing questions related to the target group, motivation, and investment behavior.