The Betting Startups Podcast

Ep. 167 features Gino Donati from BetOPENLY, a peer-to-peer betting exchange eliminating the traditional sportsbook model by letting users bet directly against each other at true odds. This episode was recorded on-site at SBC Summit North America 2025 in Fort Lauderdale.   Hear him discuss: Growing up in a sports-betting Italian family and booking bets in high school How running numbers for syndicates gave him a window into the business Why BetOPENLY was originally built offshore and pre-PASPA repeal The core value prop of “win more, lose less” and how the 1% fee works How trolls on TikTok helped drive the platform's early growth Why casual bettors and big action players both find value in the model How BetOPENLY avoids deposit bonuses and operates with ultra-thin margins Their “bet with friends” feature and zero-fee social sharing mechanic How the team is solving liquidity challenges through third-party partnerships with companies like Kutt, BettorEdge, and THNDR The legal framework that enables BetOPENLY to operate in 45 U.S. states Expansion plans including peer-to-peer blackjack, DFS, and prediction markets Gino's other startup, Seed to Scale, and how he self-funds BetOPENLY Why he's in no rush to raise or exit—and where he sees the ceiling for P2P betting   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep. 166 features Steve “Dakota” Happas and Sahil Patel from FantasySpin, a real-money DFS platform reinventing the fantasy experience through a gamified, slot-style draft mechanic. This episode was recorded on-site at SBC Summit North America 2025 in Fort Lauderdale. Hear them discuss: How a friendly fantasy football bet led to the founding of BettorFantasy Steve's journey from online poker and dating platforms to fantasy sports Why the two companies merged to form FantasySpin and how the deal came together How their slot-style drafting system introduces luck, skill, and replayability Why FantasySpin rewards users even when players in their lineup don't play The biggest lessons from their first full NFL season post-merger How their gameplay translates into highly engaging, video-first marketing Why their future plans include spin-to-pick hybrid formats and arcade modes How they're self-funding growth while selectively exploring strategic capital Their long-term vision to become the next billion-dollar DFS platform   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Recorded live at SBC Summit Americas 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this episode recaps the excitement of the First Pitch competition.   In this episode, you'll hear from all five startup finalists just hours before they took the stage, and at the end of the episode, we bring back the winner for a celebratory chat fresh off their victory.   The five startups that competed for a prize package valued at over $100,000 were: Oliver Renner from PromptBet.ai Mark Antal from Staked AI Andrew Lea from Gamewagrs Kelson Quan from Wager Games Madhav Halbe from Sidebetz.ai   Catch the video version of this episode here. The Canadian Gaming Summit is happening June 17–19 in Toronto! Don't miss out — get 50% off your Full Event Pass using code BETTINGSTARTUPSVIP at checkout. Grab your ticket now: https://sbcevents.com/canadian-gaming-summit/ticket-options/  

Ep. 164 features Alexander Monahan from OddsJam, a data-driven sports betting platform acquired by Gambling.com Group in a deal worth up to $160 million. Alex returns to the podcast after first joining in early 2023 to share what has changed and what has stayed the same since the nine-figure exit.   Hear them discuss: What life looks like after a $160M acquisition Why he is still focused on helping bettors win with data His reflections on the due diligence and acquisition process Why he and his co-founder stayed bootstrapped without raising capital How the US betting landscape has changed for sharp bettors since 2020 His thoughts on exchanges, promo arbitrage, and the future of sharp betting Why content creation became central to OddsJam's growth How he balances founder pressure with long-term product vision What the integration with Gambling.com has looked like behind the scenes His advice for founders navigating high-stakes M&A conversations Why he still believes there is room for new tools in sports betting   SBC Americas makes its debut in Fort Lauderdale on May 13-15, and you won't want to miss it! Get 50% off your Full Event Pass at checkout using discount code BETTINGSTARTUPSVIP. Secure your ticket now: https://sbcevents.com/en/sbc-summit-americas/full-event-pass/    Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep. 163 features Mark Antal from Staked AI, which is crafting an Amazon Alexa-like AI for sports to deliver personalized, real-time audio content. This episode was recorded on-site at the NEXT Summit New York in March 2025 with guest host, Thomas Coiner.   Hear them discuss: How his background in AI and machine learning at Vault AI led to building Staked AI Why audio is a breakthrough for sports engagement The importance of time-sensitive content and its impact on driving sportsbook engagement How Staked AI's partnerships, like the one with Wager Games, validate the product's impact Why sports' emotional connection makes it the ideal industry for AI-driven personalization How his co-founder, Chris Shreeve, guided the decision to focus on a B2B model How Staked AI trains models to pronounce player names and speak authentically to fans The vision of cloning media personalities' voices to scale one-to-one engagement The roadmap for Staked AI, focusing on speed, personalization, and conversational AI How his advisors from AT&T and Sportradar help accelerate B2B partnerships His approach to scaling the company, raising capital, and building an AI-first operation Why he believes decisive action is key to success in the fast-moving AI landscape   SBC Americas makes its debut in Fort Lauderdale on May 13-15, and you won't want to miss it! Get 50% off your Full Event Pass at checkout using discount code BETTINGSTARTUPSVIP. Secure your ticket now: https://sbcevents.com/en/sbc-summit-americas/full-event-pass/    Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep. 162 features Owen Monagan and Oisin Tiernan from Layup, which is a FinTech company providing a gamified savings product that turns interest into free sports picks. This episode was recorded on-site at the NEXT Summit New York in March 2025.   Hear them discuss: Their journey from building a Fantasy Premier League app together to launching Layup How growing up with “prize bonds” in Ireland inspired Layup's concept Why their product offers a responsible alternative to sports betting and lottery How Layup converts interest earned into sports picks that resemble parlays The mechanics of how users can win money without risking any principal The challenges of navigating state-by-state banking regulations in the U.S. Why user education and overcoming skepticism are key to their marketing strategy How early adopters are resonating with the concept of “winning without losing” Why they are targeting both FinTech and gaming-focused investors in their next round Their vision to build Layup into a culturally accepted alternative to sports betting How they aim to expand globally and bring Layup back to Ireland and the UK Why they see Layup as a “non-alcoholic beer” alternative in the sports betting space   SBC Americas makes its debut in Fort Lauderdale on May 13-15, and you won't want to miss it! Get 50% off your Full Event Pass at checkout using discount code BETTINGSTARTUPSVIP. Secure your ticket now: https://sbcevents.com/en/sbc-summit-americas/full-event-pass/    Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep. 161 features Aishik Lala from Rotobot AI, an AI-driven platform tackling fantasy football's information overload with personalized insights. This episode was recorded on-site at the NEXT Summit New York in March 2025.   Hear him discuss: How ChatGPT's rise inspired a chatbot to answer fantasy football questions The launch of a simple web app in 2023 and discovering chat alone wasn't enough for their vision the evolution into a full app with player profiles and stat discovery Hitting 10,000 downloads via TikTok livestreams with no marketing spend Why distribution is as critical as the product in today's startup game Plans for league sync, advanced stats, and betting features by year-end Why they're keeping it lean with angel funding over big VC rounds How AI's lowering barriers for zero-to-one entrepreneurs everywhere His five-year dream: smarter fans, creators, and maybe even scouting   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep. 160 features Sebastian from Plucky, which is pioneering "gambling as a service," enabling brands with an audience to offer real money gaming without getting involved in regulation. This episode was recorded on-site at the NEXT Summit New York in March 2025.   Hear him discuss:  Winning the Starties award for Best Collaboration after partnering with Genius Sports to monetize free-to-play games The deal with The Sun, monetizing half a million UK fantasy players through Plucky's platform His journey from a high school dropout to building and exiting multiple tech startups How Plucky integrates regulated real money gaming seamlessly into fantasy and live environments Plans to expand into Ireland, Australia, South Africa, and explore the U.S. market as a game of skill provider The innovative live environment partnership with Sixes Cricket, allowing friends to bet while playing in a bar The importance of lifetime value and building stickiness in Plucky's business model Why he believes in prioritizing distribution over product in the early stages of a startup His strategy for handing off leadership when Plucky scales beyond the initial growth stage His long-term vision of making Plucky a verb synonymous with engaging audiences in real money gaming environments How he sees massive potential in blending real money gaming with live sports environments in the future   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep. 159 features Aman Agarwal and Jatin Narang from Toast, building live multiplayer skill games with built-in player liquidity for real money iGaming. This episode was recorded at the World Trade Center during the NEXT Summit New York in March 2025.   Hear them discuss: Toast's origins: uniting Aman's gambling roots and Jatin's free-to-play expertise Blending gambling psychology with free-to-play innovation to shape their vision Their thesis for how skill games can fill the U.S. iCasino regulatory gap How they ideate on new game concepts and formats, including their latest skill-based basketball game Their learnings from the last G2E conference that led to development of new core infrastructure How interest in their games is converting into commercial traction How growing interest in entrepreneurship has led to a startup boom in India Securing a Lightspeed seed round pre-product in just six weeks Check out a demo of one of Toast's games here: https://21-jack.playtoast.com/   Watch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep. 158 features Shivam Shorewala from Rimble, a next-generation esports odds and analytics platform powering player props and beyond. This episode was recorded in person at the NEXT Summit New York in March 2025.   Hear him discuss: How his early days at SimpleBet sparked the idea for Esports micro markets Why messy esports data forced a pivot to pre-game player props Building a niche product filling the esports betting gap for operators The surprising demand for Counter Strike and expanding to League of Legends How official data deals and computer vision solved their data woes Running a lean, bootstrapped team of seven engineers in San Francisco Why skipping VC funding keeps them focused on product over hype Expanding into cricket and kabaddi for Asian markets Staying in the long tail of niche sports instead of chasing NFL His five-year vision: powering esports and fan engagement with AI   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep. 157 features Will Martin from LiveDuel, a decentralized blockchain-based betting exchange aiming to simplify sports betting with crypto innovations. This episode was recorded on-site at the NEXT Summit New York in March 2024. Hear him discuss: How a $300 TikTok filter campaign for the 2022 World Cup won Marketing Genius at The Starties The origin of LiveDuel from Will's background in arbitrage, prop trading, and meme stocks Why they're creating a hybrid model between sportsbooks and betting exchanges How liquidity pools and smart contracts enable a smooth betting experience The evolution of their thesis amid the rise of prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi Their go-to-market strategy, and who they see as their ideal target customer Why they are focused on soccer only for the time being Regulatory challenges of launching a crypto-based platform, especially in the U.S. Their experience in Techstars, and current efforts to raise a new round of capital Creative marketing approaches that stood out at The Starties awards   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep. 156 features KB from Pick The Odds, which is a cutting-edge sports betting data platform providing real-time odds, arbitrage opportunities, and historical betting insights.   Hear him discuss: How his background in eSports data and machine learning led to launching Pick The Odds The conversation at an Eagles game that sparked the idea for his platform How Pick The Odds collects and updates lines from over 100 sportsbooks in under 1.6 seconds Why he focuses on building advanced betting tools rather than offering AI-driven picks Why his pricing model ensures users get value while keeping the business self-funded How he built a thriving, non-toxic betting community through Discord His plan to introduce a bet-tracking tool to verify picks and combat misinformation His vision for making Pick The Odds the go-to platform for sharp bettors Why he has resisted outside investment and is committed to keeping the company independent His take on the future of sports betting, regulation, and the rise of new platforms   Speaking of the NEXT NYC Summit, capacity is limited and tickets will sell out. Secure yours now and get $200 off your Full Event Pass with code SB2NYC52. Get your ticket here: https://next.io/summits/newyork/#tickets Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep. 155 features Co-Founders Ty D'Amore and Justin Järvinen from Bankroll U, which is a platform designed to educate bettors while providing a gamified environment that mimics real-money betting. Hear them discuss: How a barrage of sportsbook ads sparked the idea for BankrollU Why simulated betting is the best way to learn without going broke The unique progression system that lets users prove they can win before earning real cash bonuses Justin's journey from venture studios and fintech to jumping on board with BankrollU Ty's experience scaling a tech company to a NASDAQ public listing and what he's applying to BankrollU The months of legal hurdles they tackled to make this model work Why they see BankrollU as an educational tool, not a sportsbook or affiliate The early traction they're seeing and why players keep coming back Why self-funding the company gives them an edge in building the best product How they're building a sports betting community that's all about learning and winning Their five-year vision—making bettors wonder how they ever placed a bet without this   Speaking of the NEXT NYC Summit, capacity is limited and tickets will sell out. Secure yours now and get $200 off your Full Event Pass with code SB2NYC52. Get your ticket here: https://next.io/summits/newyork/#tickets Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep. 154 features Travis Geiger, who joins Jesse in this special episode that zooms in on the upcoming Starties awards show on March 12.  Hear them discuss: Their reflections on the crazy journey in the last 30 days since The Starties were announced A look into the 250+ nominations that were submitted for the 9 award categories The creation of the Starties Academy, and the inspiration behind creating a voting committee to ensure fairness and transparency The unique venue where The Starties will be held in NYC An update on ticket availability (look below for a link to buy your ticket!) The announcement of award finalists across each award category   Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.  

Ep. 153 features Tyler Amirault and James White from HotTakes, which is the ultimate free-to-play sports betting simulator.   Hear them discuss: How their time at Western University led to HotTakes, starting as a passion project before becoming a full-time venture The idea behind HotTakes—letting sports fans try betting for free, win real cash prizes, and learn without risk Their business model, which monetizes user attention and shares value with players through an affiliate-driven rewards system Why they've been so successful as affiliates at a time when so many other affiliates are struggling The recent launch of their redesigned app as their entry point into the US market Why they believe betting growth comes from new players, not competing for existing high-value bettors How having top industry advisors such as John Gordon, Paris Smith, and Benjie Cherniak has unlocked new opportunities for HotTakes Plans to raise $3M in Series A for user acquisition, key hires, and brand-building   Speaking of the NEXT NYC Summit, capacity is limited and tickets will sell out. Secure yours now and get $200 off your Full Event Pass with code SB2NYC52. Get your ticket here: https://next.io/summits/newyork/#tickets Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep. 152 features Tiffany Santisteban Lagos from EmpowerYourPlay, which transforms gaming rewards by integrating micro-giving to charities of players' choice. Hear her discuss: EmpowerYourPlay winning the recent Pitch ICE competition, and the benefits that has brought How EmpowerYourPlay is using charitable giving as a new player retention mechanism for operators The insights she got from speaking to over 10,000 players before launching, and how that helped validate her hypotheses Why Gen Z and Millennials are driving a shift toward purpose-driven spending Why her experience building EmpowerYourPlay has been "like drinking water from a firehose" How attracting top talent on equity-only roles has helped Tiffany bootstrap EmpowerYourPlay to this point Current efforts to raise £750k in pre-seed funding to scale operations The ambitious goal to donate over $50M to charities in the coming years   Speaking of the NEXT NYC Summit, capacity is limited and tickets will sell out. Secure yours now and get $200 off your Full Event Pass with code SB2NYC52. Get your ticket here: https://next.io/summits/newyork/#tickets Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep. 151 features Simon Gerszberg from ShotQuality, a sports data extraction company using CV, AI and data science to optimize pricing for Sports-books and syndicates.   Hear him discuss: How a chance college roommate pairing sparked the beginning for ShotQuality The strategy shift that saw them move away from selling analytics to colleges - despite having 25 Division 1 teams as clients How their first sportsbook deal came from betting into the market using ShotQuality data His experience successfully navigating the dreaded operator integration roadmap News of their expansion from a basketball-only product to a multi-sport offering His perspective on the sports data ecosystem, and where ShotQuality fits within it The joint role of computer vision and human validation in their technology platform How he successfully fundraised a seven-figure seed round as a first-time founder   Speaking of the NEXT NYC Summit, capacity is limited and tickets will sell out. Secure yours now and get $200 off your Full Event Pass with code SB2NYC52. Get your ticket here: https://next.io/summits/newyork/#tickets Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep. 150 features Pierre Lindh from NEXT.io, the world's iGaming community. Hear him discuss: The life and legacy of Nico Jansen His retrospective on the ICE conference's debut in Barcelona Why he feels like NEXT is only now hitting its stride after 12 years of perseverance The risky shift in strategy that NEXT made last year, and how that's paid off since The challenges of building a premium content business with a subscription model His views and insights on how to build and grow community Why he thinks about the NEXT NYC Summit as "the Davos for iGaming" The recent announcement of The Starties, the awards show by startups, for startups that will be held alongside the NYC Summit Speaking of the NEXT NYC Summit, capacity is limited and tickets will sell out. Secure yours now and get $200 off your Full Event Pass with code SB2NYC52. Get your ticket here: https://next.io/summits/newyork/#tickets Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep. 149 features Michael Testa from Wunderfan, with guest host Thomas Coiner. Wunderfan redefines sports loyalty by rewarding fan engagement through an innovative "It Pays to be a Fan" model.   Hear them discuss: Wunderfan's unique slogan "It pays to be a fan", and how that applies to fan loyalty Michael's entrepreneurial journey in customer loyalty and in a startup acquisition How Michael's co-founders, Blake Patterson and Geran de Klerk, are leveraging their past successes for Wunderfan What they learned from the success of building Wunderpar, a golf-focused version of Wunderfan Why they've invested so heavily in the scalability of their "Attend-to-Earn" and "Watch-to-Earn" technology How they've acquired their first 10,000 users in just four months Why Michael is such a fan of product-led growth tactics, and how they're using them with Wunderfan How their campus ambassador program has resulted in a cost-per-install of less than $1 Current efforts to raise a $2.5M seed round to accelerate Wunderfan's expansion   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep. 148 features Mark Flores Martin, Founder and CEO of XGENIA, an AI-first company revolutionizing game creation by enabling developers to create games in minutes.   Hear them discuss: His journey from ethical hacking and VR gambling to founding XGENIA How the XGENIA team combines expertise in gaming, AI, and technology to create innovative solutions The groundbreaking features of XGENIA, including AI-powered slot machine generation and advanced animation systems Where XGENIA fits within the casino ecosystem and its complementary role to traditional game studios Overcoming skepticism about the potential of AI in gaming and the widespread adoption of their technology by clients The company's journey from self-funding to attracting external capital for scaling operations The transformative impact of AI on job roles within the gaming and gambling industry Insights from pitch competitions like SBC and Sigma, and their plans for ICE Barcelona XGENIA's ambitious roadmap for 2025, including the release of a revolutionary AI game engine   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep. 147 features Bridge Dudley and Sebastian Fay, Co-Founders of Doink Sports, the ultimate research platform for sports betting, offering props, trends, +EV analysis, odds charts, and more.   Hear them discuss: How their backgrounds in sports, robotics, finance, and tech led to founding Doink Sports How a friend's $40 parlay win inspired the idea for Doink Sports and became the foundation of their business How building a failed furniture marketplace app shaped their thinking and approach bringing Doink Sports to market Challenges of accessing reliable betting data and managing tech as a two-person team B2B opportunities with their technology infrastructure Reflection on the NFL season, and lessons learned in their second year of football Using livestreaming and education to build community and increase product adoption Bootstrapping their way to profitability, and how they're thinking about capitalizing the next stage of growth Their recent experience applying to Y Combinator for a second time   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

In this episode, Jesse and Thomas huddle up to reflect on 2024 for BettingStartups, and lookahead to 2025.  They discuss: Their biggest reflections and highlights from 2024 News that Optimove is returning as the headline sponsor of The Betting Startups Podcast in 2025 A lookback at 8 of their favorite clips from this year's podcast episodes The success of their media partnerships in 2024, and how those will grow in 2025 Their high-concept pitch for the soon-to-launch Startup Hub and founder community  Watch the video version of the episode here.   Get $200 off your Full Event Pass for the NEXT NYC Summit by using discount code SB2NYC52 at checkout: https://next.io/summits/newyork/ -- This podcast is presented by Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Since 2012, Optimove has served iGaming Operators from startups to industry leaders. Today, 4 out of the Top 5 US Operators Personalize Player Experiences with Optimove. iGaming operators know their growth journey begins and continues with Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry.

Ep. 145 features Alexey Vorobey from AIstats, an AI-powered live score app that provides football fans with real-time match analysis, performance trends, and smart metrics across over 2,200 leagues worldwide. Hear them discuss: His career pivot away from being a lawyer and into tech entrepreneurship How AIstats creates unique stats and predictions with machine learning Why he's not a believer in the xG metric, and "the crusade to replace it with some more advanced and smart things" The marketing tactics they used to acquire over 73,000 users in the first 3 months Converting free users to paid subscribers, and how they plan to increase the conversion rate over time The importance of localization, and delivering an experience to users in a familiar context Field notes from his current efforts to close a $1m seed round, which is 75% subscribed   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep. 144 features Adam Small, co-founder of Third Planet Affiliates, a leader in online gaming content.   Hear him discuss: How he unintentionally got started in the affiliate space with PocketFives, and later with USBets What motivated him to launch Third Planet Affiliates at this stage of his career, and the vision behind its portfolio of properties that includes Lottery Geeks, Casino Reports, and Props.com The evolving affiliate model and opportunities for innovation in the gaming industry - especially following recent turmoil in the space Lessons learned from entrepreneurial exits, and navigating earn-out periods with larger organizations like Better Collective Staying open to unexpected opportunities, which led to their unplanned acquisition of Props.com The enduring partnership with co-founder Cal Spears, and the dynamics of their collaboration over two decades of building together Reflections on his entrepreneurial journey, including the one decision he would do differently if he could   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep. 143 is a roundtable discussion on the Sweepstakes industry, featuring Trevor Pope from The Money Factory, Zach Bruch from MyPrize, and Jeff Laniado from Optimove.   Hear them discuss: The massive growth opportunity they see for social sweepstakes gaming The origins and growth trajectories of The Money Factory and MyPrize Challenges of compliance and barriers to entry in the sweepstakes space How MyPrize innovates through content creator partnerships and community engagement Why social interaction is becoming a crucial differentiator for sweepstakes casinos Marketing strategies to lower customer acquisition costs and increase player retention How Optimove supports operators like MyPrize and The Money Factory with CRM tools to maximize player engagement Predictions on the future consolidation and evolution of the sweepstakes gaming market Their perspective on balancing risk and reward as entrepreneurs   Catch the video version of this episode here.  

Ep. 142 features Nigel Eccles, CEO and Co-founder of BetHog, a crypto casino and sportsbook from the creators of FanDuel.   Hear him discuss: His early career at Flutter where he helped bring the betting exchange concept to market The origin story of Fanduel, and his reflections of its impact on legalized sports betting in the U.S. The role that he sees startups playing in driving innovation within real-money gaming The vision behind BetHog, the gaps it's addressing, and how he thinks about product differentiation within the casino category The role that streamers play in the ecosystem, and how BetHog's titles are bringing new ways for viewers to engage The characteristics of crypto-native audiences, and the experiences they seek in gaming products His personal crypto journey, navigating crypto market cycles, and business planning around bull and bear markets Lessons from raising capital, the importance of choosing the right investors, and why "there's no point in networking with VC's" The ongoing legal dispute over Fanduel's valuation during its merger with Flutter Hi stop advice for entrepreneurs that are earlier on in the journey How he's applying his 20+ years of experience to shape BetHog's future   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Recorded on the day of their public launch, Ep. 141 features Cal Spears and Jonathan Bales from Gambly, which is your sports betting copilot. Hear them discuss: How Cal and Jonathan came together to launch Gambly after their non-competes expired following their last exits The inspiration for Gambly, and the founding use cases for the product Why they think Gambly will add value to both casual and sharp bettors alike How they're thinking about the journey towards finding product-market fit Why they think that Gambly can catalyze a new affiliate model with sportsbooks Developing the underlying technology that powers the product, and how they've abstracted its complexity with an intuitive UX The background on their strategic partnership with Unabated Choosing to preserve equity by self-funding Gambly's development over raising seed capital Why Cal thinks that we "might be in a golden age" for smaller affiliates, despite the recent headwinds for larger affiliate companies Their top pieces of advice to other entrepreneurs building within real-money gaming   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Cal was also a former guest on Ep. 80 of The Betting Startups Podcast, where he told the full story of his 20-year journey building, scaling, and exiting several businesses within real-money gaming. Catch that episode if you missed it: Apple Podcast Spotify     Learn more

Ep. 140 features Robert Lenzhofer, CEO of Hölle Games, which produces slot games and gaming platforms, with a focus on regulated markets and localized content.   Hear Robert discuss: His journey in gaming, from tech in Austria to founding Hölle Games The origins and growth of Hölle Games, which focuses on the German market with localized content The challenges and nuances of slot game development and creating a unique platform How Hölle Games differentiates in a crowded slot market through compliance and tailored products The company's dual focus on a slot studio and remote gaming server (RGS) technology His choice to bootstrap the company, opting for revenue-driven growth over investor funding The strategy behind launching multiple studios for targeted markets, including upcoming studios for the UK, Brazil, and Asia Reflections on the impact of AI in game development, both in art and automation   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep.139 features Jesse live from the SBC Summit in Lisbon, joined by Adam Wilson from Splash Tech,  Hear them discuss: How Adam's early journey in the betting industry took shape and evolved The post-mortem on his first startup Bookee, which became known as the "Tinder for Betting" The origin story of Splash Tech, and how his learnings from the Bookee journey influenced his approach to building Splash Tech How Splash Tech's free-to-play games drive customer acquisition and engagement, and what sets them apart from other F2P providers Why "you are only as good as your integrations" as a B2B supplier in this industry Splash Tech's product integration with Optimove, and the unique ways that partnership enables operators to engage with their players Why he wanted "to get to profitability as soon as possible" with Splash Tech in order to avoid raising further capital His perspective on the betting industry trends driving innovation What fuels Adam's motivation and resilience as an entrepreneur   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep. 138 features Jesse live from the SBC Summit in Lisbon, joined by Rob Rubio from Fluid, which is a cutting-edge checkout solution powered by machine learning.   Hear them discuss: Rob's journey through the industry, and how his time working for an operator helped him identify the pain point that Fluid is now solving The positive response that Fluid got from the market after launching at ICE earlier this year, and the traction they have experienced since How is improving the "money in, money out" process though intuitive UX combined with data-driven optimization Why Fluid opted to commercialize its platform using a straightforward SaaS pricing model The role of responsible gambling (RG) and KYC within Fluid's core services Fluid's new seed funding round backed by HappyHour.io, and what this investment means for future growth Lessons from Rob's past investing experience that have shaped Fluid's growth What Rob sees for the future of Fluid, including some new verticals he sees opportunity in   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep. 137 features Jack Andrews and Justin Phan from Unabated, which is the tools and resources you need to become a winning sports bettor.   Hear them discuss: The recent G2E conference in Las Vegas, and Jack's biggest takeaway from it What has surprised Jack the most since launching Unabated 4 years ago Jack's view of how the American betting population "breaks down in cultural generations" The crazy story of serendipity that led Justin to joining Unabated as their new Managing Director Why Unabated has been steadfast in its commitment to building the business through subscription revenue Their commitment to maintaining product velocity, and why that excites Justin What led them to enter the B2B data business How they see the trend of operator consolidation impacting the betting public   Catch the video version of this episode here.   You can also  check out Unabated YouTube channel here.     Learn more

Ep. 136 features Matt Bresler, Founder and CEO of Odditt, a suite of world-class sports betting tools and analytics. This episode was recorded in person with Jesse at the G2E conference in Las Vegas. Hear them discuss: Why Matt relocated to Las Vegas to work on Odditt, and the value that move has brought to the company Matt's experience participating in ZeroLabs' inaugural cohort, and more recently as a mentor in the latest cohort How developing his own betting models uncovered the problem that Odditt is now solving The distinction that prompted Odditt to pivot from its original idea How Odditt's platform helps to bring closer alignment between quant teams and trading teams within sportsbooks The challenges of compiling a data set that spans thousands of leagues, 150+ countries, and 30+ sports Why Matt is thinking about launching "a data accelerator with early stage startups" News that Odditt has recently closed a new round of funding, and why Matt chose to avoid institutional capital for the round   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more

Ep. 135 is our quarterly Investor Vibe Check, where we chat with 3 industry investors to get their perspective on the landscape from their side of the table. The vibe check for Q3 features Evan Meyer (Astralis Capital), Paris Smith (Life Winning), and Joel Simkins (XST Capital). Hear them discuss: Their investing background, and current focus areas within real-money gaming Recent consolidation amongst micro-betting technology providers, and how they see that shifting the dynamics within the category Why legacy media has struggled integrating betting content, while many startups are seemingly make it work Why new media strategies have greater impact driving player behavior Brazil market expectations post-regulation, how it's similar/different to the US, how operators are preparing for regulation, and opportunities for startups in that market Their perspectives on the sweepstakes model, and its attractiveness as capital allocators Advice for founders on seeking mentorship and support from industry veterans  

Ep. 134 features Evan Kirkham from Outlier, which is a cutting-edge sports betting app that helps users make smarter bets, no matter the sportsbook.    Hear him discuss: How life has changed for Evan and the Outlier team after finding product-market fit since his last appearance on the podcast Insight into Outlier's internal product development process, and how they maintain a strong shipping cadence with a lean team The flywheel that has led to Outlier pushing over 500,000 bets per week to sportsbook partners His guiding principles on team building and scaling headcount Why Outlier has eschewed affiliate revenue despite it being an obvious monetization channel His assessment of the competitive landscape within the betting tools category What he learned after launching a fundraising process earlier this year, and why he ultimately abandoned it in favor of organic growth His approach to doing cold outreach to get calls with in-demand people   G2E Quick Hits interest form

Ep. 133 features the winner of SBC's First Pitch, Radek Psurny from Match Hype.   Hear them discuss: Radek's reflections on winning the SBC First Pitch competition and pitching on the big stage The journey of building Match Hype, a platform for dynamic sportsbook video content How Match Hype automates videos with real-time stats, predictions, and content in 30+ languages The tech behind Match Hype being built by an experienced team Match Hype's future plans with live content The opening of their seed fundraising round to embrace growth. Radek's 5-year vision to make Match Hype a global leader in sports content   G2E Quick Hits interest form

Ep. 132 features Keith Stewart from Read the Line, which delivers actionable golf betting insights & analysis from the perspective of a PGA Professional.   Hear him discuss: His life's journey in golf and how becoming a PGA Professional has elevated his career Four reasons why golf is one of the best sports for betting The origins of Read the Line and how it's filling a gap in the golf content space. The importance of why Read the Line covers the LPGA How proactive content is a key differentiator in the golf media industry His efforts on growing Read the Line's media partnerships The three main revenue drivers for Read the Line The plan to grow and scale Read the Line, including venturing into additional secondary sports G2E Quick Hits interest form

Ep. 131 features Kelly Kehn, Paris Smith, and Sue Schneider from Defy the Odds, which leverages community, mentorship, and capital to drive innovation for the future of gaming. Hear them discuss: Kelly's broad industry experience that includes time Bodog, to launching the All-in Diversity Project as a not-for-profit, to venture capital with HappyHour.io Paris' 17-year experience as CEO of Pinnacle, and transition to angel investing and advising in her post-Pinnacle career Sue's unique career path from social services to most recently leading growth & strategy in the Americas for SBC The origins of Defy the Odds, and how a meetup in Curacao solidified their plans to launch the project How the 3 of them will leverage their collective 7+ decades of industry experience to create new pathways into the industry for underrepresented founders The qualities and characteristics that Defy the Odds looks for in the founders it supports The engagement model for Defy the Odds, and ambitions to launch a corresponding fund Their first partnership with Zero Labs ahead of the incubator's 3rd cohort next month What excites the 3 of them about the real-money gaming industry in 2024   Looking to attend SBC Summit? If you don't have a ticket for the event yet, use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPSVIP for $300 off your pass. Grab your ticket here: https://sbcevents.com/sbc-summit/tickets   Video version of this episode can be viewed here.   Learn more

Ep. 130 features Chase Richardson from Full Pull, which is growing the sport of truck and tractor pulling through innovative real money gaming and digital streaming platforms.   Hear him discuss: An introduction to the sport of truck and tractor pulling, and why it's perfectly suited for betting The launch of Full Pull's real-money gaming product, and how the early response has been How content and streaming will attract new fans, including through its partnership with Betr The role of sponsorship in generating revenue to support the sport's growth How his background as an NCAA Div. 1 basketball coach helped prepare him to compete in business The unique story of how industry veteran Benjie Cherniak, became involved in Full Pull His experience entering the real-money gaming space, and his advice for other founders looking break into it   Video version of this episode can be viewed here.   Learn more

Ep. 129 is the official First Pitch preview episode, where we will meet the 5 startups selected to present at SBC Summit on September 24 in Lisbon, Portugal. Sue Schneider, VP of Growth and Strategy for the Americas at SBC, shares her perspective of the upcoming event, discussing the diversity of submissions, the evolution of First Pitch, and opportunities for all startups at the Summit. In this episode, you will hear from the five finalists: Adam Fonsica from Random State Tom Lemke from SavageTech Shawn Tucker from StatX Sports Radek Psurny from Match Hype Mark Flores Martin from XGENIA SBC First Pitch brings together some of the most exciting startups within the betting and gaming industry to compete for a chance to win an exclusive prize package, valued at around €118,800 to assist in the winner's development and growth plans. The First Pitch event is hosted by BettingStartups.com's Jesse Learmonth. Judges for the event: Paris Smith from Life Winning Mark Blandford from Burlywood Capital Javier Altamirano from Sportradar Adam Krejcik from Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, LLC Martin Collins from Soft2Bet If you don't have a ticket for the event yet, use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPSVIP for $300 off your pass. Grab your ticket here.  Watch this episode on Youtube. --- This podcast is presented by Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Since 2012, Optimove has served iGaming Operators from startups to industry leaders. Today, 4 out of the Top 5 US Operators Personalize Player Experiences with Optimove. iGaming operators know their growth journey begins and continues with Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry.

Ep. 128 features Rob Urwin and Sabin Brooks from Bettormetrics, which offers next-generation sports trading analytics.   Hear them discuss: Rob's background co-founding BetNOW, a VC-backed startup that enabled mobile betting via SMS (before iPhones were invented!) Sabin's journey through working at Sky Sports, SkyBet, and PartyPoker.com How Bettormetrics is helping trading teams reduce market downtime, and how that's positively impacting sportsbook KPIs A look behind the curtain at trading operations at sportsbooks, and why live markets get suspended in the first place Overcoming objections in the B2B sales cycle Bettormetrics' recent Series A funding led by BettorCapital and Velo Partners Comparing and contrasting sportsbook trading approaches in the UK and the US   Video version of this episode can be viewed here.   Learn more

Ep. 127 features Dan Zimmerman from Verse Fantasy which fuses fantasy sports and real-money gaming. Hear him discuss: His original idea of launching a betting exchange, which he realized would be "a very difficult endeavor" - thus triggering an early pivot to DFS How the LeagueSync product allows season-long fantasy players to win real-money on weekly matchups Using product-led growth tactics to drive user adoption of the Verse Fantasy app The recent launch of Verse Media, which was "built to serve as Verse Fantasy's own affiliate" The various content-led marketing tactics that Verse is focusing on, and the metrics they're seeing from it A breakdown of his current thesis on the emergence of DFS 3.0 Why he feels that Verse Fantasy is well insulated from any potential regulatory changes to DFS in various states  Exclusive breaking news that Verse Fantasy just closed a $1.1 million pre-seed round led by Frontstage Ventures Video version of this episode can be viewed here. Learn more

We're back with Ep. 9 of The Gamble & The Glory, where we meet founders that have built their companies to become stalwarts of the sports betting, fantasy, and iGaming industry. In this one, we speak with Jay Deuskar & Dylan Cooper from PrizePicks. Hear them discuss: The origin story of PrizePicks with its goal to simplify the DFS experience for casual fans How the PASPA repeal created an opportunity for PrizePicks to attack DFS while the incumbents shifted focus to sports betting The key early growth moment that made them realize they had found product-market fit How leveraging partnerships with athletes, sports teams, and arenas has helped them build a mass market brand Scaling company culture while managing rapid growth in the business The company's lean fundraising journey and heavy focus on intentional growth Why PrizePicks is investing so heavily in esports, and how that's translating into business results What motivates them to keep pushing forward despite all of the success thus far   Video version of this episode can be viewed here. Learn more

We're back with Ep. 126 of The Betting Startups podcast, where guest host Thomas Coiner chats with Jake Gillikin from Ranked, a community-driven college football stats platform. Hear them discuss: Jake's background in tech and the inception of Ranked The inspiration for creating a dedicated college football app Jake teaching himself to code and building Ranked as a one-man-band Overcoming early challenges and organic growth strategies The importance of solving a specific pain point for college football fans Innovative features like "My Game Day" and advanced stats for bettors The role of community and message boards in building the Ranked brand Leveraging user fandom to enhance the app's utility The integration of web embeds for content creators and their potential growth impact Growth strategies and initiatives for the upcoming college football season The importance of maintaining an open and engaging community environment   Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.   Learn more

Ep. 125 features Jon Robin from Dabble, which takes an innovative approach of combining social elements with sports betting. This episode is guest hosted by Benjie Cherniak.   Hear them discuss: Jon's entrepreneurial background led to the founding of Dabble The unique social betting experience that differentiates Dabble in the crowded Australian market Strategies for effective user acquisition through leveraging social features within the app The significant investment and strategic partnership with Tabcorp Insights into the fundraising process and the importance of building investor relationships Dabble's expansion into the U.S. market while learning the cultural similarities and differences Future plans for global expansion and targeting new markets Jon's perspective on balancing innovation with long-term strategic planning Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.   Learn more

We're back with Ep. 8 of The Gamble & The Glory, where we meet founders that have built their companies to become stalwarts of the sports betting, fantasy, and iGaming industry.     In this one, we speak with Steven Salz from Rivalry.   Hear him discuss: How his background laid the foundation for Rivalry The origin story of Rivalry, starting from trading in-game items to becoming a top esports betting brand The importance of understanding the demographic and psychographics of esports bettors How Rivalry maintains brand authenticity to attract Gen Z and Millennial demographics Rivalry's journey to product-market fit, and how Steven knew the company had found it His transition from a startup founder to a public markets CEO, and the resulting adaptations he's made in response The rationale for focusing so intently on brand building as a young company, and how that's created competitive advantages now that Rivalry has reached scale Why Rivalry is launching a crypto token later this year, and how he expects that to enhance customer engagement Why he has the words "mint founders" permanently written on his whiteboard, and how this has influenced the culture he's created at Rivalry Balancing fatherhood and entrepreneurship, and the importance of compartmentalization and focused thinking Future plans for Rivalry and the vision for the company's growth Video version of this episode can be viewed here. Learn more

Ep. 124 features Jay Huffman from Propellor on redefining fantasy sports with friends. Hear him discuss: His early career movement inside the startup environment. The importance of securing legal approval to proceed with Propellor. The concept of Propellor where they're reversing traditional parlay dynamics. Propellor's unique approach to leveraging text messages for group play. Creative game features like the shame bell, veto options, and other engaging social interactions. His product design philosophy of keeping UI intuitive, simple, and user-friendly. Sourcing the initial angel investment and aiming for a million-dollar raise. Gearing up for the Fall season through expanding features, integrating cash games, and aiming for significant growth. ▶️ Watch this episode on Youtube.

Ep. 123 is our quarterly Investor Vibe Check, where we chat with 3 industry investors to get their perspective on the landscape from their side of the table.   The vibe check for Q2 features Chris Grove (Acies Investments), Roger Ehrenberg (Eberg Capital) and Davis Catlin (Discerning Capital).     Hear them discuss: Reflections on Q2 and the six-year anniversary of PASPA's repeal, and its implications on the iGaming industry. The surprising consolidation of operators in the U.S. market and what challenger brands can do to compete with incumbents. The growing popularity of the sweepstakes model, its sustainability, and future potential within the broader real money gaming ecosystem. Opportunities in betting on niche and alternative sports, and their impact on expanding the total addressable market in the U.S. Practical advice for early-stage founders on navigating the uncertain economic environment and achieving cash flow positivity. Future predictions for the iGaming industry, including potential M&A deals, cybersecurity concerns, and regulatory changes to watch for in the next six months. Video version of this episode can be viewed here.   Learn more

Ep. 122 features Björn Nilsson from FTDx, which is transforming blocked traffic. Hear him discuss: His career journey through various payment and operator roles, including consulting for Betfair, Unibet, and others. The origins and evolution of Triggy, a product aimed to convert fans into bettors. The founding of FTDx, focusing on monetizing non-local traffic for gaming operators. Challenges in managing regulatory environments and non-monetized traffic. FTDx's simple integration process and the positive reception from early adopters in Finland and Brazil. Insights into FTDx's fundraising process. Lessons learned from Triggy about building sustainable, cash flow positive businesses. His perspective on innovation within the gaming industry, highlighting the influx of new ideas from the US and Eastern Europe.   Learn more

Ep. 121 features Kelson Quan from Wager Games, which is the social content plugin for sports betting apps.   Hear him discuss: Growing up in San Francisco, and his background working in tech at companies like Apple Why he thinks the betting industry hasn't received more attention from Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and investors How Wager Games is using video content to make sports betting more accessible for people without betting domain expertise Building product, and his team's approach to customer-driven development Why he's so bullish on the sports betting industry as a space to be building in Building WagerGames in a lean way while living “on the ramen noodle diet”, and being “super intentional about everything” Why he doesn't think he'll ever feel like Wager Games has found product/market fit A crazy story of scrappiness that included a last-minute flight to show up unannounced at the offices of a key partner   Learn more

Ep. 120 features Nic Sulsky from The Curling Group, which is focused on transforming and promoting the sport of curling.   Hear him discuss: His journey from co-founding Monkey Knife Fight and working at PointsBet to leading The Curling Group How he put together the deal to acquire the Grand Slam of Curling from Sportsnet The untapped potential of curling as a major sport and betting market The importance of content creation and engagement to attract a younger audience to curling Challenges and strategies in transforming curling events to be more vibrant and fan-friendly The role of gambling in increasing engagement and revenue for curling Nic's personal reflections on his passion for startups, brand building, and the future of curling.   Learn more