What do you think is a better definition of success in an ICO? The amount it raises or whether the token is ultimately listed on an exchange?
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3163849 "Are Blockchain Crowdsales the New 'Gold Rush'? Success Determinants of Initial Coin Offerings"
This paper argues eventual trading status is more important.
I think it defines the success of ICO due to the progress and also it will be listed in the exchange. Not that one also but the number of investors matter most because they will be the one who will pay for it. The platform of the project will eventually a way for the investors to choose what is good of the project.
Tannerchum, I totally agree with you. The amount of investors is probably the single best determinant for long-term success of a project. If there are 100,000 investors each willing to give $10 for access to the eventual product, I think its for more likely to succeed than 10 investors who each invested $100,000 only to later try to sell their tokens at a higher price.
It would be great to see more projects implement a "maximum" amount per investor.