The Betting Startups Podcast

Ep. 229 welcomes back Gino Donati, Founder of BetOpenly, for a bonus episode exploring the evolution of his peer-to-peer betting exchange and his ambitious new venture, Open Markets. Gino discusses building a universal betting marketplace, connecting liquidity across platforms, serving institutional clients, and the lessons he's learned about fundraising and scaling a business. Hear him discuss: How BetOpenly differentiates itself as a peer-to-peer exchange focused on fair, devigged lines and odds rather than traditional market-making models. The growth of BetOpenly over the past year, including changes to its customer acquisition strategy and expansion across social platforms and partner integrations. The launch of Open Markets and Gino's vision for creating an “Expedia for sports betting,” allowing users to compare prices and access the best available lines across multiple platforms. How a universal wallet and partnership infrastructure could make it easier for bettors to move money and execute trades without maintaining separate balances across multiple operators. Why Open Markets is also targeting the institutional side of the industry, offering infrastructure, data, liquidity solutions, and other B2B services to operators and market participants. Gino's fundraising journey, including raising pre-money valuation and why he chose outside capital after years of bootstrapping BetOpenly. The licensing, regulatory, and infrastructure challenges involved in building a centralized layer that connects sportsbooks, exchanges, and prediction market platforms. Why Gino believes Open Markets can act as a neutral “Switzerland” for the industry by bringing liquidity to multiple platforms rather than competing directly with them. His long-term vision for BetOpenly, including the possibility of eventually giving ownership to its users and creating a community-owned betting exchange. Gino's plans to invest in early-stage startups, provide founders with access to data and infrastructure, and potentially build an accelerator-style ecosystem around Open Join the  Next Predict conversation on October 22-23rd in New York. Tickets are still available, get yours now and use discount code STARTUP15 for 15% off your pass! Grab tickets here: https://nextpredict.io/summits/the-worlds-prediction-markets-summit/ Learn more 👇 ➡️ BetOpenly website ➡️ Gino Donati on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 228 features Maksim Afanasev, Founder of Pixl.Bet, to discuss his journey from sportsbook product leadership to entrepreneurship, and how he is building a free-to-play sports gaming platform designed to capture the excitement of betting without the financial risk. Hear them discuss: Maksim’s 17-year journey in the betting industry, from Coral to sportsbook product leadership and Sportradar. How experimenting with AI and building a World Cup prediction game led to the creation of Pixl.Bet. Pixl.Bet’s mission to deliver the excitement of betting through a free-to-play experience without financial risk. The platform’s use of tickets, points, predictions, multiplayer games, challenges, and social features. How Bingo and other interactive games are helping Pixl.Bet build a stronger sports-focused community. Early traction, including around 1,500 users, 25–30% active users, and more than 3,000 user-generated reels. The challenge of user acquisition and Pixl.Bet’s focus on organic growth, referrals, and micro-influencers. Potential monetization through affiliate partnerships, sponsorships, advertising, and non-gambling brands. How AI-powered “vibe coding” is changing the way founders can rapidly prototype, test, and improve new products. Pixl.Bet’s plans to grow its community, attract sponsors, develop products for gaming operators, and explore new gaming concepts. If you still don't have a ticket to SBC Summit in Lisbon, use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPSVIP for 30% off your pass. Grab your ticket here: https://sbcevents.com/sbc-summit/ticket-options/ Learn more 👇 ➡️ Pixl.Bet website ➡️ Maksim Afanasev on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 227 is the official First Pitch preview episode, where we meet the 5 startups selected to present at the SBC First Pitch Competition during SBC Summit in Lisbon on October 1st, 2026. In this episode, you will hear from the five finalists: Teemu Huuhtanen from Betsy Rishin Kesarla from GMonitor Cristian Barbosa from InsightPlay.ai Eduardo Cesar Franceschett from Safefy Alfonso González García from Whizdom AI SBC First Pitch brings together some of the most exciting startups within the betting and gaming industry, giving founders the opportunity to showcase their innovations and compete in front of a panel of industry experts and investors. The Startup Zone at SBC Summit in Lisbon is the best way for startups to establish their presence at "The Greatest Show in Gaming". Discounted packages are available exclusively through BettingStartups, but spaces are very limited so register your interest ASAP: https://www.bettingstartups.com/sbc-summit-2026 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 226 features Cameron MacMillan and Justin Herzig, co-founders of PredictQ, to discuss their vision for building the expert layer of prediction markets. The pair share how their backgrounds in DFS, analytics, community building, and technology came together to create a platform designed to help traders discover, analyze, and trade prediction markets more effectively. Hear them discuss: Justin and Cameron's entrepreneurial backgrounds, including their experiences with blockchain, DFS, RotoGrinders, and sports analytics, and how they ultimately came together to launch PredictQ. Why they believe prediction markets need an expert layer similar to what RotoGrinders built for DFS and what platforms like Seeking Alpha and TradingView built for financial markets. How PredictQ is building tools across the full trading lifecycle, including market discovery, research and analysis, price comparison, liquidity, and cross-platform portfolio management. Why the founders see prediction markets as a fundamentally different consumer experience from traditional sportsbooks, with open order books, market making, the ability to exit positions, and no risk of being limited for winning. How Cameron is applying lessons from building the RotoGrinders community, including the importance of education, transparency, trusted experts, and creating a place where users can learn from one another. PredictQ's go-to-market strategy, including partnerships, community activations, NFL-focused tools, and using a rapid product-shipping cadence as a form of organic marketing. The company's approach to fundraising, including an oversubscribed pre-seed round from people like Jeremy Levine, Paris Smith, Cal Spears, Adam Small, Jonathan Bales, Peter Jennings, Jesse Learmonth, and others. Why transparent prediction market data could help create verifiable trader reputation scores, improve trust in the industry, and reduce the influence of unverified touts and fake betting records. PredictQ's long-term vision of becoming the go-to destination for prediction market traders across sports, politics, weather, crypto, and other emerging market categories. Justin and Cameron's final NFL season picks, including contrarian DFS strategy, their survivor pool outlook, and a few early Week One positions. The Startup Zone at SBC Summit in Lisbon is the best way for startups to establish their presence at "The Greatest Show in Gaming". Discounted packages are available exclusively through BettingStartups, but spaces are very limited so register your interest ASAP: https://www.bettingstartups.com/sbc-summit-2026 Learn more 👇 ➡️ PredictQ website ➡️ Justin Herzig on Linkedin ➡️ Cameron MacMillan on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 225 features Amar Rao, Co-Founder of SportsStack, to discuss the challenges of sports data infrastructure and how SportsStack is building a unified data layer for the industry. Amar shares insights from his experience at NumberFire, FanDuel, and Fanatics, along with SportsStack's approach to data normalization, settlement, and scaling sports technology. Hear them discuss: Amar's journey from Amazon to NumberFire, FanDuel, and Fanatics, and how years of dealing with fragmented sports data led to the creation of SportsStack. How SportsStack's Unified API helps operators, fantasy platforms, prediction markets, media companies, teams, and leagues normalize data and switch providers without rebuilding their infrastructure. Why settlement and misgraded markets remain a costly challenge for sportsbooks and prediction markets, and how cross-validating multiple data sources can improve accuracy and reduce operational risk. SportsStack's early traction, including work with Underdog and Novig, its approach to fundraising, and why strategic capital matters more than raising money for the sake of it. Why industry conferences are critical for early-stage B2B startups, with Amar emphasizing the importance of consistently showing up, building awareness, and playing the long game. Amar's view of the evolving sports data ecosystem, including the rise of specialized providers, AI-driven data products, and new demands created by prediction markets. SportsStack's roadmap for the next year, with a focus on expanding provider coverage, improving data quality and speed, and becoming a leading settlement infrastructure solution. Amar's long-term vision for SportsStack as the default infrastructure layer connecting sports data providers with the products and experiences built on top of them. The Startup Zone at SBC Summit in Lisbon is the best way for startups to establish their presence at "The Greatest Show in Gaming". Discounted packages are available exclusively through BettingStartups, but spaces are very limited so register your interest ASAP: https://www.bettingstartups.com/sbc-summit-2026 Learn more 👇 ➡️ SportsStack website ➡️ Amar Rao on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 224 features Andrew Wood, Co-Founder of RallyTabs, to discuss his transition from investment banking into entrepreneurship, the evolution of RallyTabs from a physical pull-tab concept into a digital product, and how the company is creating a new sports engagement experience that combines predictions, collectibles, and pack-ripping mechanics. Hear them discuss: How Andrew's experience covering the gaming industry as an investment banker led him to identify opportunities within the sports gaming ecosystem. The origins of RallyTabs, including its evolution from a slot route concept to a live sports pull-tab product before ultimately becoming a digital platform. How RallyTabs combines sports predictions, digital cards, collectibles, and pack-ripping mechanics into a single fan engagement experience. The user experience behind RallyTabs, including digital packs, live sports predictions, collectible cards, and the ability to reactivate cards for future games. Why RallyTabs sits at the intersection of sports predictions, fantasy, collectibles, and pack ripping rather than fitting neatly into a single existing category. The company's go-to-market strategy, combining digital marketing with in-person activations at sports bars, stadiums, and tailgates. Why simplicity and a low barrier to entry are central to RallyTabs' strategy for attracting a broader audience of sports fans. How the company has funded its growth through founders and a friends-and-family round while testing customer acquisition channels before pursuing a larger capital raise. Andrew's perspective on the rapid evolution of the gaming industry, from the post-PASPA boom to the emergence of sweepstakes and prediction markets. RallyTabs' roadmap for the next 12 months, including expanding into football and additional sports, growing its customer base, exploring retail-focused products, and becoming a bigger part of the live game-day experience. The Startup Zone at SBC Summit in Lisbon is the best way for startups to establish their presence at "The Greatest Show in Gaming". Discounted packages are available exclusively through BettingStartups, but spaces are very limited so register your interest ASAP: https://www.bettingstartups.com/sbc-summit-2026 Learn more 👇 ➡️ RallyTabs website ➡️ Andrew Wood on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 223 features Andrew Gonzalez, CEO & Co-Founder of ParlayX, for a wide-ranging discussion on entrepreneurship, prediction markets, institutional trading infrastructure, fundraising, product-market fit, and the rapidly evolving relationship between sports betting and prediction markets. Hear them discuss: Andrew's journey from Southern California and UCLA to crypto investing, venture capital, Flowdesk, and ultimately launching ParlayX after deciding to bet on himself as a founder. Why leaving a well-funded startup to build ParlayX full-time was one of the biggest risks of his life and how support from family and friends helped shape that decision. How ParlayX evolved from a retail-focused product into an infrastructure platform designed specifically for institutional participants in prediction markets. Why market makers need better tools for permissions, account management, security, custody, and collaboration across prediction market platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket. How ParlayX is building a unified operating layer that allows firms to organize traders, allocate capital, manage credentials, and monitor activity across multiple exchanges. Why the retail prediction market aggregator model has struggled and how conversations with potential customers led the team to identify an underserved institutional market. How ParlayX plans to monetize its platform through a SaaS model while developing new products that improve capital efficiency through portfolio netting and lending solutions. Why Andrew believes prediction markets and sports event contracts are here to stay, despite ongoing regulatory uncertainty and debates surrounding the industry's future. How growing institutional participation could reshape prediction markets by creating new opportunities for hedging, insurance, block trading, and market-making. ParlayX's vision to become the "Plaid for prediction markets" by serving as the central infrastructure and orchestration layer connecting exchanges, market makers, capital, and data across the ecosystem. The Startup Zone at SBC Summit in Lisbon is the best way for startups to establish their presence at "The Greatest Show in Gaming". Discounted packages are available exclusively through BettingStartups, but spaces are very limited so register your interest ASAP: https://www.bettingstartups.com/sbc-summit-2026 Learn more 👇 ➡️ ParlayX website ➡️ Andrew Gonzalez on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 222 features Robert McCall, Founder of The Sharps, to discuss his journey from the cannabis industry into sports betting, building a skill-based peer-to-peer sports prediction tournament platform, and using AI to build the product from scratch. Hear them discuss: How Rob went from the cannabis industry and competitive gambling into sports betting, with poker and blackjack tournaments inspiring the creation of The Sharps. The concept behind The Sharps, a skill-based peer-to-peer sports prediction tournament platform where players compete using props, parlays, and same-game parlays. How the tournament structure works, including weekly, head-to-head, team, and custom leagues, buy-ins, rebuys, live leaderboards, and prize pools. Why The Sharps is designed for both experienced bettors and novices, giving players opportunities to compete, learn, and improve their skills. The Sharps Score, which evaluates players using metrics including CLV and ROI while providing greater transparency into betting performance. How The Sharps is navigating regulation through geolocation technology that automatically adjusts the platform based on the rules of different jurisdictions. Rob's go-to-market strategy ahead of the NFL season, including partnerships with VSiN, FantasyPros, BettingPros, Props.Cash, FootballContest.com, and others. Early player feedback, why the social features and live leaderboard are proving popular, and the debate surrounding the Sharps Score. How Rob self-funded the company and used AI to build a robust platform from scratch despite having no programming background. The immediate focus on security and functionality ahead of the NFL season, along with Rob's long-term vision of making The Sharps a recognized global platform with a major industry partner. The Startup Zone at SBC Summit in Lisbon is the best way for startups to establish their presence at "The Greatest Show in Gaming". Discounted packages are available exclusively through BettingStartups, but spaces are very limited so register your interest ASAP: https://www.bettingstartups.com/sbc-summit-2026 Learn more 👇 ➡️ The Sharps website ➡️ Robert McCall on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 221 features Frank Li, Co-founder of ESX, to discuss building a next-generation sports prediction market for technical bettors. Frank shares how his background in quantitative trading led him to prediction markets, why ESX is focused on live sports trading, and how content, community, and customer feedback have fueled the company's early growth. Hear them discuss: Frank's journey from quantitative sports betting and prediction markets to co-founding ESX, and the inspiration behind creating a trading-first sports betting platform. How ESX differentiates itself by targeting technical and semi-professional bettors with live sports trading tools, social features, and an exchange-style experience. Why Reddit, customer interviews, and more than 10,000 user conversations have been central to shaping the product and identifying real customer pain points. ESX's content-first growth strategy, generating millions of social media views and building an engaged community that converts into active users. The company's early traction, including rapid month-over-month volume growth, bootstrapping with $100,000, and plans to raise $2 million to accelerate expansion. Why Frank believes sports betting and financial trading are converging, and how prediction markets could reshape the future of sports wagering. Lessons learned as first-time founders, the value of mentorship, and how programs like Zero Labs have helped the ESX team navigate the startup journey. ESX's long-term vision to become one of the most recognized brands in prediction markets alongside industry leaders like Kalshi and Polymarket Applications for the 2026 Affiliate Draft are now open until August 16th. Eligible startups are encouraged to apply here: https://www.alphahub.tech/programmes/affiliate-draft-2026/ Learn more 👇 ➡️ ESX website ➡️ Frank Li on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 220 features Neil Dillon, Founder of Solas Compliance, to discuss how AI is transforming marketing compliance for regulated industries. Neil shares his journey from Betfair and Flutter to launching Solas, explains why compliance remains one of the biggest bottlenecks for operators, and offers practical insights into building enterprise-grade AI products for the betting industry. Hear them discuss: Neil's career journey from Betfair and Flutter to founding Solas Compliance after identifying a long-standing pain point in marketing and legal workflows. How Solas Compliance uses AI to review marketing assets before they go live, helping operators reduce risk while dramatically speeding up compliance reviews. Why enterprise AI requires far more than a simple ChatGPT wrapper, including the importance of consistency, audit trails, security, and regulatory readiness. Early traction with tier-one operators, solving real-world compliance challenges during major events like the FIFA World Cup, and expanding across multiple regulated markets. The realities of enterprise software sales, aligning legal, compliance, and marketing teams, and driving adoption across large organizations. Neil's fundraising journey, securing early venture backing, raising £670,000, and preparing for the company's next investment round. Common misconceptions about AI, why bigger models aren't always better, and the value of specialized models built for specific enterprise tasks. Balancing life as a first-time founder and new father, and how both experiences have shaped his perspective on building a business. Solas Compliance's vision to become the global standard for AI-powered marketing compliance across betting, financial services, pharmaceuticals, and other regulated industries. Neil's advice for founders embracing AI, building customer trust, and creating products that solve real operational problems in highly regulated markets Applications for the 2026 Affiliate Draft are now open until August 1. Eligible startups are encouraged to apply here: https://www.alphahub.tech/programmes/affiliate-draft-2026/ Learn more 👇 ➡️ Solas Compliance website ➡️ Neil Dillon on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 219 features Edward Lyttel and Rob Fulforth from Flutter to discuss the company's AlphaHub innovation program and the 2026 Affiliate Draft. They explore how Flutter collaborates with startups, what they're looking for in this year's applicants, and why community, AI-powered fan tools, and betting innovation are shaping the future of sports betting. Hear them discuss: How Flutter's AlphaHub helps startups build partnerships with leading brands like FanDuel, Betfair, Paddy Power, and Sky Bet The goals of the 2026 Affiliate Draft and what startups can expect from the application process Why community-driven products continue to be one of the biggest opportunities in sports betting How AI-powered fan tools can improve the betting experience through better insights, visualization, and personalization Why Flutter believes betting is evolving into a broader entertainment experience beyond traditional sportsbooks Lessons from last year's Affiliate Draft and what made Verdict the winning startup The importance of building products that solve real fan problems before focusing on monetization Why niche audiences and passionate communities often create stronger startup opportunities than broad, general-purpose products What founders can expect from the two-day Dublin event, including mentorship, investor access, networking, and pitch coaching Advice for startups looking to partner with major operators and how Flutter evaluates innovation across the betting ecosystem Applications for the 2026 Affiliate Draft are now open until August 1. Eligible startups are encouraged to apply here: https://www.alphahub.tech/programmes/affiliate-draft-2026/ Learn more 👇 ➡️ Flutter website ➡️ Edward Lyttel on Linkedin ➡️ Rob Fulforth on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 218 features Devon and Tejas, Co-founders of Blitz, an AI-powered sports intelligence platform transforming how broadcasters, analysts, content creators, and sports organizations access and utilize sports data. Hear them discuss: How two Duke graduates turned sports betting profits into a sports data startup The PrizePicks strategy that grew a small bankroll into tens of thousands of dollars Why they spent countless hours building and validating their own sports data infrastructure The challenges of cleaning, normalizing, and connecting fragmented sports datasets How Blitz evolved from a betting-focused product into a B2B sports intelligence platform Building a “ChatGPT for sports” used by broadcasters, analysts, and content creators The power of combining historical sports data with betting market information Creating real-time insights and automated content generation across multiple sports Why sports data remains one of the biggest challenges in AI-powered sports products The importance of “deterministic data, generative voice” in AI applications Lessons learned selling to broadcasters and media professionals How AI is enabling small teams to build sophisticated sports technology companies Why deep sports knowledge remains critical when building sports-focused AI products The current state of betting edges, prediction markets, and automated trading Blitz’s vision for becoming the intelligence layer powering the future of sports media and fan engagement Learn more 👇 ➡️ Blitz website ➡️ Devon Sinha on Linkedin ➡️ Tejas Srinivasan on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 217 features Nick Meader, Co-Founder & CEO of SpeedLabs, joining Jesse Learmonth to discuss the company's $6.5 million seed round, the creation of "Momentum Markets," and why he believes the next generation of sports betting products will be built around live narratives rather than traditional betting markets. Hear them discuss: Nick’s journey from college bookmaker and betting entrepreneur to venture capital investor and founder of SpeedLabs How a conversation with poker legend Phil Hellmuth and industry veteran David Woodley helped spark the creation of SpeedLabs The concept behind Momentum Markets and why SpeedLabs is building live, narrative-driven betting products instead of traditional microbetting markets How AI, proprietary modeling, and real-time game analysis power dynamic markets based on the storylines unfolding within each game Why prediction markets may be better positioned than traditional sportsbooks to adopt innovative betting products and experiences SpeedLabs’ dual go-to-market strategy, including B2B partnerships and a new consumer-facing gaming product set to launch later this year The company’s $6.5 million seed round, led by gaming-focused investors with deep ties to companies like FanDuel and PrizePicks Nick’s fundraising lessons, including why team quality, humility, and founder likability matter more than spreadsheets at the earliest stages His perspective on the evolving relationship between sportsbooks and prediction markets, and why he believes the two are already converging at the user-experience level The roadmap ahead for SpeedLabs, including launch partners, NFL season plans, and the long-term vision of making Momentum Markets a mainstream betting product Learn more 👇 ➡️ SpeedLabs website ➡️ Nick Meader on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 216 features Jackson Erminio, Founder of Spina, joining Jesse Learmonth to discuss building a skill-based gaming startup, solving the liquidity challenge, and creating a marketplace where players can compete head-to-head in games they already know and love. Hear them discuss: How Jackson went from selling sneakers and running a marketing agency to founding Spina, a real-money skill gaming platform built around familiar games like Connect 4, 8-Ball Pool, and Tic-Tac-Toe Why Spina pivoted from betting on anything between friends to live, head-to-head skill games with matchmaking and optional voice chat The startup's dual go-to-market strategy, combining a direct-to-consumer app with B2B partnerships for casinos, gaming platforms, and influencers The liquidity challenge facing all multiplayer gaming marketplaces and the creative tactics Spina is using to ensure players can find opponents quickly Early traction metrics, including strong repeat-play rates, growing organic app downloads, and surprising demand for Connect 4 compared to other games Partnerships with companies like BetOpenly and Hub88, plus opportunities to power custom gaming experiences for influencers and content creators Finding a technical co-founder through TikTok, and validating the concept before investing heavily in development Why Jackson believes skill gaming is one of the industry's most overlooked categories and how it may benefit from a more favorable regulatory landscape than other gaming verticals Lessons learned from bootstrapping, moving quickly, testing ideas in public, and focusing relentlessly on solving the most important problem first Spina's vision for the future, including cross-platform liquidity, expanded distribution, and becoming the leading marketplace for real-money skill-based competition Learn more 👇 ➡️ Spina website ➡️ Jackson Erminior on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 215 features Travis Geiger, Co-Founder & CXO of WagerWire, joining Jesse Learmonth at SBC Fort Lauderdale to discuss the company’s transformation into its vision for building a regulated prediction market ecosystem. Fresh off securing a license-in-principle in Gibraltar, Travis shares how the company is positioning itself at the intersection of gaming, finance, and innovation. Hear them discuss: Why WagerWire evolved into Wire Markets and how prediction markets became the company’s next major opportunity The challenges startups face integrating with sportsbooks, and why innovation often struggles within the regulated betting ecosystem Wire Markets’ Gibraltar licensing milestone, regulatory approach, and plans to build a compliant, responsible prediction market platform Creating a builder-friendly ecosystem where founders, startups, and innovators can launch products and access new distribution opportunities through Wire Markets The role of Starties and Betting Startups in supporting entrepreneurship and fostering a stronger betting innovation community Responsible gaming, addiction concerns, and why prediction market operators must borrow best practices from both gaming and financial services Gibraltar’s growing importance as an international hub for gaming, fintech, and prediction market businesses The company’s fundraising plans, investor interest, and roadmap toward launching ahead of the next NFL season Why Travis believes prediction markets represent a larger cultural shift than previous industry trends like DFS, microbetting, and sweepstakes His vision for building a global, regulated financial marketplace around real-world events and information Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ WagerWire website ➡️ Travis Geiger on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

This bonus episode features Andrew Gonzalez, Founder & CEO of ParlayX, joining Jesse Learmonth moments after winning the SBC Summit Americas First Pitch competition in Fort Lauderdale. Hear them discuss: Winning the SBC First Pitch competition, and what it means to him Andrew’s entrepreneurial story, including leaving his market-making career, navigating multiple pivots, and betting on himself as a founder The challenges institutions face with blockchain, compliance, and fragmented market access, and how ParlayX aims to solve them Launch plans, institutional partnerships, and the growing opportunity at the intersection of prediction markets and financial infrastructure Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ ParlayX website ➡️ Andrew Gonzalez on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 214 features Alec Gehlot, Founder of PlaySignal, a responsible gaming platform helping operators intervene earlier, reduce self-exclusions, and create healthier player experiences. Hear them discuss: The inspiration behind PlaySignal and why rising self-exclusion rates reveal a growing industry challenge How PlaySignal’s traffic-light system helps identify at-risk behavior and intervene before players reach a crisis point Why Alec believes responsible gaming should move from a back-office compliance function to a player-facing experience The concept of “RG 3.0” and how behavioral science, player psychology, and real-time engagement can reshape responsible gaming Balancing player protection and retention by helping operators act proactively rather than reactively The pressures facing regulated operators, including higher taxes, tighter regulations, and competition from offshore markets Why responsible gaming may become the strongest differentiator for licensed operators in the years ahead How prediction markets and platforms like Kalshi are approaching self-exclusion and responsible participation Alec’s decision to bootstrap PlaySignal and his approach to building a lean startup in the gaming industry The entrepreneurial lessons he’s learned from boxing, resilience, and getting “punched in the face” while building a company Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ Play Signal website ➡️ Alec Gehlot on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 213 features Gregory Tolmochow, Founder & CEO of Trendline Labs, a startup building what it calls the “Bloomberg Terminal for prediction markets.” Hear them discuss: Gregory’s journey from sports betting analytics and The Betting Insider to founding Trendline Labs Why prediction markets represent a major evolution beyond traditional sports betting The pivot from an AI-powered sports analytics tool to a unified prediction market terminal Building a platform that aggregates pricing, liquidity, and data across multiple prediction market exchanges How Trendline’s Optimus AI model helps users understand market pricing and identify opportunities The company’s vision to become the trusted information source for prediction markets Monetization plans through premium subscriptions and transaction-based trading fees Regulatory considerations, including obtaining an Introducing Broker (IB) license to enter the U.S. market The ongoing debate around prediction markets, sportsbooks, market makers, and retail traders Trendline’s roadmap, fundraising plans, and long-term goal of democratizing access to market intelligence Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ Trendline Labs website ➡️ Gregory Tolmochow on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 212 is the official First Pitch preview episode, where we will meet the 5 startups selected to present at SBC Summit Americas on June 11 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In this episode, you will hear from the five finalists: Javier Troncoso, InsightPlay.ai Matt Bresler, Odditt Matt Paulton, OddsBlaze Andrew Gonzalez, ParlayX Robert McCall, The Sharps 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 over $100,000 to assist in the winner’s development and growth plans. Listen to Business of Betting, the premier podcast covering the business of the sports betting industry featuring host Jeff Edelstein, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube If you don't have a ticket for the event yet, use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPSVIP for 30% off your pass. Grab your ticket here: https://sbcevents.com/sbc-summit-americas/ Catch the video version of this episode here. 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 211 features Filip Michalsky from Soap Payments, an AI-native orchestration layer designed to simplify the complex payments stack for real-money gaming operators. Hear them discuss: Filip’s path from professional squash in the Czech Republic to Harvard AI data science and Fidelity Investments. The "iceberg" of payments: Navigating the hidden layers of issuing banks, acquiring banks, and convoluted funds movement. Using AI agents to slash payment onboarding times from months to a single week. How unified stablecoin rails enable "instant settlement," allowing operators to receive funds in five seconds. Protecting operators against "bad actors" with specialized defenses that maintain a 0.2% chargeback rate book-wide. The "vibe coding" vs. review approach: Scaling to 30+ customers with a lean, seven-person team. Moving beyond gaming: Early traction and expansion into the massive online health vertical. Strategic funding from Antler, AeroPay, and Astralis Capital ahead of an upcoming larger seed round. The five-year vision: Becoming a global payment orchestrator alongside category leaders like Stripe. Listen to Business of Betting, the premier podcast covering the business of the sports betting industry featuring host Jeff Edelstein, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ SOAP Payments website ➡️ Filip Michalsky on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 210 features Matt Kelley from FastDraft, a fantasy sports platform recently merged with FantasySpin that focuses on high-velocity, mobile-first gameplay. Hear them discuss: Matt’s transition from building a million-dollar stats business to launching a platform for the 60M+ fantasy gamer market. Why the "attention deficit economy" needs 5-minute drafts instead of the traditional hour-long commitment. The origin story of FastDraft and how it grew out of the underserved dynasty and rookie draft subcultures. Details on the merger with FantasySpin and combining skill sets to create a "Voltron" marketing and product team. How they built and licensed a regulated gaming app for $2M by leveraging "OG entrepreneur" experience. The philosophy of "DFS 3.0" and why prioritizing social play over spreadsheets is the industry's next frontier. Integrating a unified wallet and cross-app features to optimize for wallet velocity. Their long-term vision to become the "go-to second screen" for sports fans through a blend of stats and gaming The dedicated Startup Zone at SBC Summit Americas gives real-money gaming startups a platform to showcase to 10,000+ attendees — including investors, operators, suppliers, media, and key industry players. Spaces are limited, secure yours now through https://www.bettingstartups.com/sbc-americas-2026 If you don't have a ticket for the event yet, use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPSVIP for 30% off your pass. Grab your ticket here: https://sbcevents.com/sbc-summit-americas/ Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ FastDraft website ➡️ Matt Kelley on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 209 features David and Kavin from Hydrastack, a startup using AI to transform how casino games are developed, converted, and distributed across channels. Hear them discuss: The origin story of Hydrastack and how industry pain points around game distribution sparked the idea Why converting casino games from land-based to online can take 6–8 months and how Hydrastack cuts that down to weeks How their proprietary AI models ingest and transform existing game code instead of requiring full rewrites The massive inefficiencies in the current gaming supply chain and how they impact manufacturers, operators, and players Why “re-authoring” games from scratch is the industry’s biggest bottleneck How Hydrastack’s platform integrates directly into existing developer workflows (like Unity) The importance of combining deep industry experience with an outsider perspective to build better solutions Early traction, including pilot partnerships with major manufacturers and strong inbound interest Their business model: platform licensing + per-game conversion fees Insights from participating in programs like Zero Labs, Rice Business Plan Competition, and Booth’s New Venture Challenge How AI is being adopted across gaming and why most companies still struggle to extract real value from it Their long-term vision to become the core platform for casino game development and distribution The dedicated Startup Zone at SBC Summit Americas gives real-money gaming startups a platform to showcase to 10,000+ attendees — including investors, operators, suppliers, media, and key industry players. Spaces are limited, secure yours now through https://www.bettingstartups.com/sbc-americas-2026 If you don't have a ticket for the event yet, use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPSVIP for 30% off your pass. Grab your ticket here: https://sbcevents.com/sbc-summit-americas/ Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ Hydrastack website ➡️ David Dimas on Linkedin ➡️ Kavin Kaviarasan on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 208 features Nathan Thomas and Brett DeBari, the founding team behind GridGorilla, a digital platform that evolves the classic Super Bowl squares format into a year-round, player-stat-based prediction experience. Hear them discuss: Brett’s journey through tech sales at Dell and AWS to previous gaming startups, and Nathan’s 20-year engineering career ranging from biomedical startups to database architecture How the team identified the "mass market" appeal of Super Bowl squares and adapted it into a year-round digital product Moving beyond final scores to create player-performance grids involving stats like points and rebounds across an x and y axis Why they opted for a free-to-play, ad-supported model to lower barriers to entry and onboard non-bettors. Leveraging AI-simulated matchups (e.g., LeBron James vs. the '86 Pistons) to keep users in the app for multiple sessions per day Nathan’s experience navigating the complex, one-year process of securing a software patent for their predictive grid system Why the three-person team chose to remain self-funded and the "leap of faith" required to build the company without meeting in person How Nathan operates as a one-person dev team by leveraging tools like Cursor AI, Flutter, and Golang to write nearly 97% of the app's code Seeing success with Meta ads under a $2 CAC and partnering with influencers and brand ambassadors to scale to 10,000 users Future plans for pay-to-play mechanics and a B2B licensing play to offer embeddable grid widgets for other brands and apps The dedicated Startup Zone at SBC Summit Americas gives real-money gaming startups a platform to showcase to 10,000+ attendees — including investors, operators, suppliers, media, and key industry players. Spaces are limited, secure yours now through https://www.bettingstartups.com/sbc-americas-2026 If you don't have a ticket for the event yet, use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPSVIP for 30% off your pass. Grab your ticket here: https://sbcevents.com/sbc-summit-americas/ Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ GridGorilla website ➡️ Nathan Thomas on Linkedin ➡️ Brett Debari on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 207 features Yaniv Spielberg, founder of LuckyDraw, a B2B platform bringing prize draws and raffles into the modern gaming ecosystem. Hear them discuss: Yaniv’s journey from lottery businesses to building and scaling Bragg Gaming Group into a public company listed on the NASDAQ and TSX The origins of LuckyDraw and identifying the gap in raffle-based gaming despite its global resurgence How prize draws work, including raffles, instant wins, and scratch cards, and why they offer more flexibility than traditional betting products Positioning prize draws as a horizontal layer across sportsbooks and casinos for acquisition, retention, and engagement Early traction, including launching with a first operator via aggregator integrations and initial use cases like reactivation campaigns The business model behind LuckyDraw and why a SaaS approach was chosen over traditional revenue share Key startup lessons, including why distribution beats product and the importance of constant customer feedback The roadmap ahead, focusing on scaling integrations, validating product-market fit, and expanding operator adoption Long-term vision to become the default prize draw infrastructure layer for gaming operators worldwide The dedicated Startup Zone at SBC Summit Americas gives real-money gaming startups a platform to showcase to 10,000+ attendees — including investors, operators, suppliers, media, and key industry players. Spaces are limited, secure yours now through https://www.bettingstartups.com/sbc-americas-2026 If you don't have a ticket for the event yet, use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPSVIP for 30% off your pass. Grab your ticket here: https://sbcevents.com/sbc-summit-americas/ Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ LuckyDraw website ➡️ Yaniv Spielberg on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 206 features Jason White, founder of TallyUp, a free-to-play global game show platform blending casual gaming, wagering mechanics, and the attention economy. Hear them discuss: The TallyUp concept: a free-to-play, ad-supported PVP gaming platform where players can win real money without risking their own capital How exponential growth mechanics (inspired by childhood ping pong bets) shaped the core gameplay model Building simple, “unbeatable” games that balance skill and chance while preventing bots and ensuring fairness Why TallyUp sits at the intersection of casual gaming, gamified marketing, and betting-adjacent experiences Solving the “CAC bloodbath” in real-money gaming with a low-cost, global user acquisition strategy The power of the attention economy and why attention, not money, is the true base currency Launching real-money wagering in ~100 countries and what this unlocks for monetization and scale The hybrid model: free global game show + optional real-money skill wagering B2B opportunities through branded tournaments for companies like Uber or Airbnb How TallyUp enables large-scale, global competitions with real engagement (vs. traditional giveaways or sweepstakes) Lessons from failure, rebuilding, and the importance of patience and perseverance as a founder Fundraising journey: from seed round to preparing for a $10M Series A SBC Americas First Pitch is back in Fort Lauderdale (June 9–11), bringing together some of the most exciting companies in real money gaming for a chance to win an exclusive prize package valued at $100,000. Applications are now open. Submit your application before April 17th using this link: https://sbcevents.com/sbc-summit-americas/first-pitch/ Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ TallyUp website ➡️ Jason White on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 205 features John Caldwell, Co-Founder of i3Soft, a gaming technology company building next-generation poker and casino products designed to improve player experience, increase liquidity, and bridge the gap between poker and casino gameplay. Hear them discuss: John’s unconventional journey from the music industry (Atlantic Records, Stone Temple Pilots, Hootie & the Blowfish) into poker and eventually gambling tech Building PokerNews into the leading global poker media platform and later transitioning to PokerStars during the online poker boom The core problem with online poker today: long tournament times and a broken experience for recreational players The vision behind i3Soft, including AI-assisted tournament formats (“Skip It”) designed to shorten gameplay and restore balance between pros and casual players “Poker Casino” and the strategy of using poker-adjacent games to improve cross-sell from poker into casino products Challenges of selling a new category to operators, and why liquidity remains the biggest barrier in online poker The four-year product development journey, including a failed early build and eventual breakthrough to launch Funding i3Soft through a mix of self-funding, friends & family, and unconventional “drip” investment structures The current state of poker: strong live demand but ongoing struggles to translate that momentum online 2026 priorities for i3Soft, including operator adoption, scaling distribution, and expanding poker liquidity networks SBC Americas First Pitch is back in Fort Lauderdale (June 9–11), bringing together some of the most exciting companies in real money gaming for a chance to win an exclusive prize package valued at $100,000. Applications are now open. Submit your application before April 17th using this link: https://sbcevents.com/sbc-summit-americas/first-pitch/ Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ i3soft website ➡️ John Caldwell on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 204 features Allan Stone, CEO & Co-Founder of Intelitics, a marketing intelligence platform helping betting and iGaming companies better understand the true impact of their marketing spend and optimize performance across the full player lifecycle. Hear them discuss: Allan’s journey into betting, from online poker to affiliates and founding Intelitics The origin story of Intelitics and the gap in marketing intelligence within real money gaming How shifting consumer behavior (desktop → mobile) reshaped marketing opportunities in the industry What “marketing intelligence” really means and how it connects spend to actual revenue outcomes Why traditional metrics like deposits or FTDs aren’t enough to measure true ROI The complexity of attribution across channels, affiliates, and player behavior How operators can use real-time data to optimize acquisition, retention, and reactivation The impact of AI on SaaS models and changing expectations around pricing and value Why betting companies need purpose-built, vertical-specific technology to solve deep industry problems The evolving marketing mix in 2026, including opportunities in underutilized channels like Yahoo and Reddit Key differences in marketing strategies between traditional sportsbooks and emerging products like prediction markets Advice for founders on aligning marketing spend with unit economics and long-term business outcomes SBC Americas First Pitch is back in Fort Lauderdale (June 9–11), bringing together some of the most exciting companies in real money gaming for a chance to win an exclusive prize package valued at $100,000. Applications are now open. Submit your application before April 17th using this link: https://sbcevents.com/sbc-summit-americas/first-pitch/ Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ Intelitics website ➡️ Allan Stone on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 203 features Toby Bucsescu, CEO & Co-Founder of Blitz:Draft, which is reimagining the sports gaming experience by combining elements of daily fantasy, betting, and quick-play mechanics into a format built for speed and accessibility. Hear them discuss: Toby’s path into the sports gaming industry and founding Blitz Draft The problem with traditional betting and DFS products How Blitz Draft creates a faster, more engaging user experience Key differences between draft-style games and conventional formats Product development insights and early user feedback Navigating regulation while building an innovative product Strategies for acquiring and retaining users in a competitive market The importance of simplicity and reducing friction in gameplay How Blitz Draft fits into the broader evolution of sports gaming What’s next for the company and the future of quick-play betting formats SBC Americas First Pitch is back in Fort Lauderdale (June 9–11), bringing together some of the most exciting companies in real money gaming for a chance to win an exclusive prize package valued at $100,000. Applications are now open. Submit your application before April 17th using this link: https://sbcevents.com/sbc-summit-americas/first-pitch/ Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ Blitz:Draft website ➡️ Toby Bucsescu on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 202 features Cal Spears, founder of Gambly, returning to the Betting Startups Podcast to share an update on the company’s progress since launch, insights from the NEXT Summit in New York, and a major milestone for the business. Hear them discuss: Cal’s return to the podcast and what has changed at Gambly since its launch in October 2024 Key takeaways from the NEXT.io Summit in New York and why prediction markets dominated the conversation The story behind Gambly merging with Unabated and why combining forces made strategic sense for both companies How Unabated’s advanced betting analytics and pricing models now power Gambly’s tools and insights for bettors The vision of creating a unified ecosystem that blends AI-driven bet discovery with professional-grade betting data Lessons learned from building and scaling products in the betting ecosystem How founders should think about partnerships, consolidation, and product leverage when building betting startups What’s next for Gambly following the merger and how the team plans to expand its product offering Betting Startups Capital is now accepting pitches from early-stage founders looking for their first institutional check, strategic support, and access to a global operator network. If you’re solving a real problem and ready to scale, we want to hear from you. Submit your pitch here: bettingstartups.com/capital Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ Gambly website ➡️ Unabated website ➡️ Cal Spears on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 201 features Taylor Caby, Co-Founder of Establish The Run, sharing the story behind building the evolution of betting content, the business of premium sports analysis, and why high-quality information products continue to thrive in an increasingly crowded sports betting ecosystem. Hear them discuss: Taylor’s background in poker, daily fantasy sports, and the path that led to launching Establish The Run How the DFS boom helped shape the modern sports betting content ecosystem Why building a subscription-based analysis product requires credibility and long-term trust with an audience The difference between entertainment betting content and serious analytical work How Establish The Run approaches projections, modeling, and content production across multiple sports The realities of running a premium subscription business in a market filled with free picks and influencer content Why niche expertise and deep analysis still outperform broad “mass-market” betting advice How sports betting media companies balance education, entertainment, and actionable information The role of community and loyal subscribers in sustaining independent sports betting media businesses Taylor’s perspective on where sports betting content and analytics businesses are headed next Betting Startups Capital is now accepting pitches from early-stage founders looking for their first institutional check, strategic support, and access to a global operator network. If you’re solving a real problem and ready to scale, we want to hear from you. Submit your pitch here: bettingstartups.com/capital Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ Establish The Run website ➡️ Taylor Caby on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 200 marks a major milestone for the Betting Startups Podcast, featuring a special conversation between Jesse Learmonth and longtime industry leader Paris Smith to celebrate the 200th episode and announce a major new chapter for the platform. Hear them discuss: Jesse and Paris’s shared history at Pinnacle, how a startup acquisition led to a six-year partnership, and the full-circle moment that brings them back together The official launch of BettingStartups Capital, including its mission to back early-stage real-money gaming startups as one of the first checks in What they look for in founders, from industry experience and coachability to problem-solving mindset and commercial realism Lessons Paris has learned as an angel investor, how operator instincts translate to investing, and why availability and honesty matter most Why ecosystem-building, fast decision-making, and founder support are central to their investment philosophy The announcement of InsightPlay.ai as the first investment under BettingStartups Capital and why the team stood out How conferences, networks, and mentorship accelerate startup success in a complex and regulated industry Catch the video version of this episode here. Betting Startups Capital is now accepting pitches from early-stage founders looking for their first institutional check, strategic support, and access to a global operator network. If you’re solving a real problem and ready to scale, we want to hear from you. Submit your pitch here: bettingstartups.com/capital Only a few tickets remaining! Use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPS10 for 10% off your full event pass for the Next.io Summit in New York event yet. Grab your ticket here: https://next.io/summits/newyork/

Ep. 199 features Michael, Evan and Chris from Feen, to discuss building a next-generation betting product, navigating early-stage product decisions, and finding differentiation in an increasingly crowded wagering landscape. The conversation explores Feen’s origin story, early traction, and how the founders think about product focus, user behavior, and long-term scalability. Hear them discuss: The founding story behind Feen and the problem the team set out to solve Why real market volatility beats RNG games and how Feen turns crypto moves into playable races Macro thesis: finance following content’s shift toward short-form, on-demand, dopamine-driven formats Community, identity, and lessons learned from NFTs and consumer internet culture B2C focus vs potential B2B integrations with operators and ecosystem partners UX challenges in crypto, onboarding “normies,” and passing the ultimate test: the mom test Early traction, user feedback, and why Feen stayed private during initial iterations Bootstrapping the company, current fundraising plans, and scaling mobile distribution State of crypto in 2026, volatility as opportunity, and why builders still have the edge Five-year vision: becoming a household pocket prediction game If you don't have a ticket for the Next.io Summit in New York event yet, use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPS10 for 10% off your full event pass. Grab your ticket here: https://next.io/summits/newyork/ Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ Feen website ➡️ Michael Chiang on Linkedin ➡️ Evan Luza on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 198 features Pierre Lindh, founder of NEXT.io, returning for his fourth appearance on the Betting Startups Podcast. Pierre reflects on NEXT.io’s breakout year, the transition from scrappy startup to growth-stage business, the role of investigative journalism in iGaming media, and why emerging betting products may go global in 2026. Hear them discuss: How 2025 became a “12-year overnight success” after more than a decade of compounding momentum The shift from runway preservation to investing aggressively in growth Why founders inevitably become bottlenecks and how to let go without losing vision The importance of finding a true operational counterbalance as a visionary leader Why sustainable scaling beats short-term overexpansion in a cyclical industry How AI is reshaping media and why human journalism may become more valuable, not less The commercial trade-offs of integrity-led investigative reporting Game theory, AI acceleration, and why safety may lose to competitive pressure The explosive growth of NEXT New York and what makes it a senior-level dealmaking event His 2026 prediction: emerging products like prediction markets and sweepstakes expanding globally If you don't have a ticket for the Next.io Summit in New York event yet, use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPS10 for 10% off your full event pass. Grab your ticket here: https://next.io/summits/newyork/ Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ Next.io website ➡️ Pierre Lindh on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 197 features Benson Bleier and Daniel Prior, Co-Founders of Regen, an automated savings platform built specifically for sports bettors. break down how Regen helps bettors automatically save money on every bet — win or lose — and why they believe savings and investing can become a core part of sustainable gaming. Hear them discuss: Benson and Daniel’s paths from consulting, VC, and professional poker into building a betting-adjacent fintech startup How the founders met in Argentina through padel and decided to launch Regen How poker bankroll management inspired the original idea behind Regen What Regen does: automated savings triggered every time a sports bet is placed (win or lose) How the product works, including sportsbook connections, bank integrations, and user-set saving rules Why users save on both wins and losses and how typical saving percentages are set How Regen aggregates betting activity across multiple sportsbooks to provide simple performance insights Why Regen positions itself as a fintech, “gambling-adjacent” product for operators and bettors How Underdog’s Guard Dog fund discovered Regen and why it invested Regen’s roadmap, including operator integrations, investing products, and its vision for sustainable betting and financial education If you don't have a ticket for the Next.io Summit in New York event yet, use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPS10 for 10% off your full event pass. Grab your ticket here: https://next.io/summits/newyork/ Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ Regen website ➡️ Ben Bleier on Linkedin ➡️ Daniel Prior on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 196 features Javier Troncoso and Cristian Barbosa, Co-Founders of InsightPlay.ai, an AI-powered engagement platform using autonomous agents to help operators acquire, retain, and reactivate players at scale. Fresh off a busy ICE Barcelona and a newly announced seed round, Javier and Cristian join Jesse Learmonth to break down how Insight Play is redefining player engagement through conversational AI and what it takes to build an AI-native startup in global gaming. Hear them discuss: Javier and Cristian’s paths from media, affiliates, and iGaming into building an AI-native startup How InsightPlay.ai was founded and why they went all-in on autonomous AI agents What InsightPlay.ai does: conversational AI agents that drive acquisition, retention, and reactivation Real-world use cases including win-back campaigns, VIP engagement, onboarding, and support A live demo showing AI agents making personalized outbound calls to bettors Why conversational AI changes sportsbook UX from static interfaces to 1:1 interaction Early traction in LATAM, rapid deployments, and lessons from launching with real operators Performance metrics, reactivation success, and how AI complements CRM and call centers Closing a $500K seed round, choosing strategic investors, and founder fundraising realities The roadmap ahead, global expansion plans, and why the World Cup is a major growth catalyst If you don't have a ticket for the Next.io Summit in New York event yet, use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPS10 for 10% off your full event pass. Grab your ticket here: https://next.io/summits/newyork/ Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ InsightPlay.ai website ➡️ Javier Troncoso on Linkedin ➡️ Cristian Barbosa on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 195 features Jonathan Baxandall and Gavin Puszczalowskyi, Co-Founders of Bettortainment, for a deep dive into live betting watch-alongs, sportsbook retention, and why most operators still underinvest in in-play engagement. Hear them discuss: Jonathan’s decade-long career in iGaming, B2B data and acquisition teams Gavin’s 20+ years in radio broadcasting and early in-play content work with William Hill The origins of Bettortainment and why “live” is the most valuable moment to engage bettors What a betting watch-along really is and why it’s more than just commentary Why retention consistently matters more than acquisition, yet remains underserved How sportsbooks lose customers during live play and how to prevent it The balance between data, entertainment, and betting prompts in live content Why community-driven engagement outperforms passive content The limitations of AI in live sports content and the importance of human reaction Bettortainment’s white-label approach and making premium content accessible to smaller operators How affiliates can use live content to drive engagement and differentiation Bootstrapping the company, founder risk, and early startup realities Why the 2026 World Cup represents a massive opportunity for live betting content If you don't have a ticket for the Next.io Summit in New York event yet, use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPS10 for 10% off your full event pass. Grab your ticket here: https://next.io/summits/newyork/ Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ Bettortainment website ➡️ Jonathan Baxandall on Linkedin ➡️ Gavin Puszczalowskyi on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 194 features Noah Fulk, Founder and CEO of EWagers, for a deep dive into building compliant, skill-based wagering infrastructure and the hard lessons learned from pivoting a gaming startup from B2C to B2B. Hear him discuss: Noah’s background as a lifelong gamer and the early inspiration behind Ewagers The original B2C vision for peer-to-peer wagering and why the model ultimately failed The pivotal decision to pivot from consumer-facing product to B2B infrastructure What Ewagers does today, including payments, KYC, geofencing, and compliance tooling The underestimated complexity of building regulated gaming infrastructure Fundraising lessons, early structural mistakes, and navigating tougher capital markets Why profitability doesn’t necessarily make scaling easier The importance of advisors and experienced operators in avoiding costly errors Key signals that confirmed the pivot to B2B was the right move What’s next for Ewagers and the long-term vision for the platform Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ EWagers website ➡️ Noah Fulk on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/ --- 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. 193 features Scott and Warren, founders of PokerLab, for a deep dive into the evolution of online poker and how PokerLab is positioning itself as a modern “Poker as a Service” platform built for today’s operators and players. Hear them discuss: PokerLab’s origin story and the founders’ decades-long careers in poker and iGaming What “Poker as a Service” really means and how PokerLab differs from legacy poker platforms Why poker remains one of the stickiest products in gambling despite years of decline The rise of short-form poker and why attention spans are changing product expectations The overlap between poker players, sports bettors, DFS users, and prediction market participants Why poker can serve as a powerful acquisition and retention tool for operators Regulatory considerations, taxes, and the divide between professional and recreational players The upcoming Canadian Poker Network launch and what PokerLab hopes to prove Lessons learned from building multiple startups and navigating timing, conviction, and risk Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ PokerLab website ➡️ Scott Wilson on X/Twitter ➡️ Warren Dombowsky on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/ --- 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. 192 features Jesse Learmonth in a special "Ask Me Anything" edition of the Betting Startups Podcast, where he flips the script and answers questions from founders, operators, and builders across the gaming ecosystem. Hear him discuss: The biggest lessons from nearly 200 podcast episodes, including why industry experience and distribution matter more than ever for startup success What surprised him most in 2025: prediction markets, the blurring lines between betting, finance, and speculation, and what that means for founders Common mistakes founders make, from confusing personal pain points with real market opportunities to poorly framing “use of funds” in pitch decks How bettors are evolving, why access (not tools) is now the biggest constraint, and how prediction markets are changing the landscape in 2026 Jesse’s vision for Betting Startups in 2026, including new products, events, a tech platform, and plans to raise strategic (non-institutional) capital Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ Jesse Learmonth on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/ --- 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. 191 features Joshua Swerdlow, from ChatBet AI, an AI-powered sports betting platform built to deliver smarter, more personalized betting experiences through data and conversational technology. Hear him discuss: Josh’s background and the leap he took moving from England to Tel Aviv What ChatBet is and how he is using AI to reshape the sports betting experience What his go-to-market strategy was and major lessons from launching Why Josh believes that the user experience sits at the center of ChatBet’s product philosophy and why it is so key The realities when it comes to gaining capital in the start up world How Josh has navigated the startup ecosystem from working with startups to now running his own How Chat Bet AI uses data-driven insights to create better outcomes for bettors Key lessons learned as a first-time founder The vision for 2026 and ChatBet’s long-term growth and engagement strategy, hint the World Cup is involved Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ ChatBet AI website ➡️ Joshua Swerdlow on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/ --- 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. 190 features Irakli “Marcus” Davarashvili, Founder & CEO of Promofy, for a deep dive into the global rise of AI-powered gamification and how operators are rethinking loyalty, engagement, and retention. Hear him discuss: His 13-year journey across advertising, brand building, and iGaming leadership and how operational pain points at scale inspired him to build Promofy What Promofy is: an AI-driven, no-code gamification platform that lets operators launch loyalty systems, missions, sports predictors, prize drops, kiosks, and full-page engagement experiences in minutes How Promofy’s rapid traction and product innovation led to winning “Launch of the Year” at the Starties, and why that recognition validated the team’s vision and executio Why global operators misunderstand “gamification,” and how true gamified ecosystems differ from simple bonuses, cashbacks, and tournament The massive market shift away from bonus-led retention to personalized and behavior-driven engagemen Regional adoption trends across LATAM, Europe, Asia, CIS, and North America plus why gamification is becoming “must-have” instead of “nice-to-have How Promofy differentiates itself with AI design tools, content generators, sports prediction engines, casino loyalty, and a full library of mechanics that operators can test and optimiz The challenges and realities of fundraising as a first-time founder, why saying “yes” and “no” matter equally, and what kinds of investors Promofy is seeking today The transition from operator to entrepreneur expectations vs. reality, resilience, failure tolerance, and why agility is a survival skil Why 2026 will be a breakout year driven by global expansion, new product launches, and massive demand heading into the World Cup Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ Promofy website ➡️ Irakli Davarashvili on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/ --- 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. 189 features the three co-founders of Golden Camel, Artie, Ben, and Ryan, for a lively deep dive into building a sports-betting lifestyle app rooted in community, fun, and authenticity. Hear them discuss: How a series of career pivots led them to partner up on Golden Camel a number of years after the original idea was sparked Why Golden Camel rejects “beat the house” culture, instead leaning into fun and community - while also still providing utility Why they see brand as a differentiator within the betting tools category, and how they plan to leverage that to acquire users The state of U.S. betting culture in 2025, the rise of prediction markets, and why they feel they're in the right place at the right time with Golden Camel Their go-to-market strategy in Arizona, and why authentic content + in-person community building is their biggest growth engine Why they think that Silicon Valley VC's have largely been absent from the sports betting industry, and how they see that evolving Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ Golden Camel website ➡️ Artie Baxter on Linkedin ➡️ Ben Ramirez on Linkedin ➡️ Ryan Magrum on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/ --- 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. 188 features James King, CEO & Co-Founder of Flows, for a deep dive into building a no-code automation platform powering some of the biggest operators in global gaming. Hear him discuss: His 16-year industry journey across iGB Affiliate, Clarion Events, and Gaming Innovation Group and how industry-wide tech frustration inspired the founding of Flows What Flows actually is: a no-code automation layer that ingests real-time data and lets teams build alerts, bonus engines, jackpots, omnichannel loyalty, and more all without developers How operators integrate Flows, the speed of deployment, and why its Zapier-like interface is built to handle billions of gaming events The company’s commercial model, recent traction, and major U.S. launches Why the U.S. remains the biggest long-term opportunity despite slow sales cycles, and how Flows is navigating sweeps, prediction markets, and regulated operators Why Flows sees itself as a tech company in gaming and how its technology can extend to fintech, retail, and other enterprise verticals The rationale behind choosing a strategic investment from Light & Wonder over traditional VC, and how the partnership has helped accelerate growth A candid look at the overloaded conference landscape, which events actually deliver ROI, and which ones startups should prioritize What’s coming in 2026, new products, AI-driven innovation tools, expanded U.S. growth, and deeper empowerment for teams to build and automate faster than ever Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ Flows website ➡️ James King on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/ --- 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.

This special episode features Seb Butterworth from Flutter and Dan O’Sullivan from the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), for a deep dive into the future of horse racing — and how the sport is preparing to engage a new generation of fans. Hear them discuss: The origins and findings of Project Beacon, and what the research reveals about younger and casual audiences Why horse welfare, race education, race day experience, and behind-the-scenes access are the four critical innovation themes How behind-the-scenes content can build emotional connection and improve understanding of horse welfare Why racing struggles with context and “the why” for non-core audiences — and how narrative and storytelling can change that Flutter’s approach to modernizing a tradition-rich sport while preserving what makes racing special How simplifying the race card (without removing complexity) can make the sport more accessible to newcomers The role of technology, wearables, and data in creating richer fan experiences and improving equine welfare Early signals from other sports and how innovations like ref-cam, jockey cam, and training-yard content could shape racing’s future Why digital platforms will be essential to reaching the next generation of fans Details of the Future of Racing startup program: application window, pitch event, evaluation criteria, and potential commercial opportunities Applications for the program are open until November 23, culminating in a Shark Tank style pitch at York Racecourse in February 2026. Catch the video version of this episode here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ Daniel O'Sullivan on Linkedin ➡️ Sebastian Butterworth on Linkedin 📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

The Gamble & The Glory showcases founders that built their companies into category leaders in the betting and gaming industry. In S2 E2, we speak with John Levy, founder and former CEO of theScore. John shares the remarkable 25+ year journey behind one of Canada’s most iconic sports media and betting brands from its roots in cable television to becoming a digital powerhouse and ultimately exiting for over $2 billion. Hear him discuss: The early days of Sportscope and how it evolved into theScore How selling the TV network unlocked theScore’s digital transformation Selling the media assets to bet the future of the company on digital media and technology Why Penn’s acquisition derailed early and what went wrong with the integration Lessons from scaling a family-run business and defining clear leadership roles His candid thoughts on ESPN BET, Barstool, Dave Portnoy, and partnership misalignment How theScore Bet could have continued to grow under an independent model The future of sports betting across AI, microbetting, and next-gen fan behavior How theScore was able to punch above its weight, and John's advice to startup founders on how to do the same Why authenticity, resilience, and focus define long-term winners What’s next for John Levy, and whether another venture is on the horizon For more of John's comments on the recent ESPN Bet news, check out his recent podcast with Steve McAllister on Gaming News Canada: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2uocQx14rRzS92YF8wlnqC?si=ce3b2267cfad4a57 Video version of this episode can be viewed here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ theScore website ➡️ John Levy on Linkedin The Gamble & The Glory is made possible by Segev LLP, a full solutions law firm purpose-built for the gaming and betting industry. To learn more, visit: www.segev.ca.