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Episodes
Wednesday Jan 10, 2024
Wednesday Jan 10, 2024
Ep. 97 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 Jeffrey Haas (Dreamcraft Ventures), Quinton Singleton (Zero Labs) and Tom Waterhouse (Waterhouse VC).
The investors reflect back on a Q4 that saw more funding announcements, but also saw some evidence of early-stage companies struggling. They also discussed the importance of implementing sound governance at the early stage, what areas they’re looking at investing in this year, and their top book recommendations for founders’ reading lists.
As always, if you're building within the space, the Investor Vibe Check is a must-listen episode.
Learn more 👇
➡️ Jeffrey Haas on Linkedin
➡️ Quinton Singleton on Linkedin
➡️ Tom Waterhouse on Linkedin
The Betting Startups Podcast is presented by Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming market. If you’re attending ICE, visit the Optimove stand and mention you listened to this episode to receive an Amazon gift card!
Thursday Jan 04, 2024
Thursday Jan 04, 2024
We're back with Ep. 4 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 Pini Yakuel, Founder & CEO of Optimove.
Hear him discuss:
Life in Israel right now, and how the Optimove organization is adapting to the realities of being based in Tel Aviv
His background in math and data science, and how "it was mostly instincts" that led him to discover the opportunity for Optimove
The journey towards product/market fit for Optimove, and how he knew when they had found it
How technology and AI tools are enabling marketers to become "positionless"
His thoughts on the trend towards retention-led marketing by operators in the regulated US market
How to find success in B2B sales, and the concept of "investing in lines instead of dots"
Why he turned down a VC term sheet in the early days of Optimove, and why "you're insanely lucid" when you choose to bootstrap a business
His ambition to "give companies like Adobe and Salesforce a run for their money" over the next 10 years
Learn more:
➡️ Optimove website
➡️ Pini Yakuel 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
Wednesday Jan 03, 2024
Wednesday Jan 03, 2024
Ep. 96 features Kyle Wiltshire from Testa, which is crowdsourced quality testing built for the iGaming industry.
Hear him discuss:
His 10+ year background in the industry, and how that experience led him to discover the problem that Testa is now solving
The challenges faced by operators to localize the customer experience, and the role that crowdsourced testing plays in that
How his experience raising VC money for his last startup informed his decision to self-fund Testa
Why he decided to stop angel investing, and instead decided to invest in launching Testa
Why Vancouver has become a quiet hotbed for talent within the iGaming industry
His experience moving back to Canada after living in Asia for almost 10 years
His best new parent tips for Jesse :)
Learn more 👇
➡️ Testa website
➡️ Kyle Wiltshire on Linkedin
Tuesday Dec 19, 2023
Tuesday Dec 19, 2023
Ep. 95 features Jonathan Strause from Invincible GG, which is AI powered virtual sports.
Hear him discuss:
How InvincibleGG is combining AI, NFT’s, and horse racing to create a new category of “competitive gaming”
The multi-year journey building the Invincible GG technology, and how he feels about the impending beta product launch
The process to get AI simulated games approved by regulators in Nevada
Why they chose to incorporate NFT’s into the product mix despite the flight away from NFT’s in the current market
The challenges of embarking on a multi-year technology development project
The unique fundraising challenges he’s currently facing as a compliant, US-based web3 company
Learn more 👇
➡️ Invincible GG website
➡️ Jonathan Strause on Linkedin
Tuesday Dec 12, 2023
Tuesday Dec 12, 2023
Ep. 94 features David Isaacson from Spectrum Gaming Capital Tech Exchange, which is helping connect gaming industry companies and investors.
Hear him discuss:
His background as an investment banker in the real-money gaming industry for the last 10+ years
How the SGX platform is giving industry founders a new channel to reach investors with zero cost
The types of companies and businesses investors on the platform are looking to back
His expectation for capital markets and the general funding environment for industry companies in 2024
Why he thinks maintaining focus is one of the most important success factors for startup founders
His bucket list trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro this year, and why it made him feel a deep sense of gratitude after he did it
Learn more 👇
➡️ Spectrum Gaming Capital Tech Exchange website
➡️ David Isaacson on Linkedin
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This episode is presented by the NEXT NYC Summit in Manhattan on March 6-7, 2024. This is a can’t-miss event for any startup founders building within the real-money gaming industry.
There are a limited number of ticket discount codes available to listeners of The Betting Startups Podcast, so claim your $100 discount by using promo code JL50EH at checkout. Get your ticket now.
Wednesday Dec 06, 2023
Wednesday Dec 06, 2023
Ep. 93 features Shubs Kausal & Jaiden Sarai from SharpStakes, which turns your passion for sports into profits.
Hear them discuss:
Their passion for business and entrepreneurship, which led them to co-founding SharpStakes as full-time university students
How they’re taking a different approach to building betting tools specifically targeted towards Gen-Z
Their perspective on Gen-Z’s relationship with sports betting, and how SharpStakes is leaning into that
The story of traveling from Canada to England for a meeting on 1-day’s notice due to confusion around which London it was
The value they’ve gotten from attending conferences as relative newcomers to the industry
Why they’re currently looking for strategic investors despite being cashflow positive
Learn more 👇
➡️ SharpStakes website
➡️ Shubs Kausal on Linkedin
➡️ Jaiden Sarai on Linkedin
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This episode is presented by the NEXT NYC Summit in Manhattan on March 6-7, 2024. This is a can’t-miss event for any startup founders building within the real-money gaming industry.
There are a limited number of ticket discount codes available to listeners of The Betting Startups Podcast, so claim your $100 discount by using promo code JL50EH at checkout. Get your ticket now.
Sunday Dec 03, 2023
Sunday Dec 03, 2023
We're back with Ep. 3 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 Omer Sattar, co-founder & CEO of Sightline Payments.
Hear him discuss:
The importance of putting in the work, and why “10,000 hours is not enough” to become an expert in your domain
A crash course (and masterclass) on how payment networks function
The challenges he had establishing credibility in Sightline’s early days, and the role that his grit and tenacity played in helping it to break through
Sightline’s major innovation of building a bidirectional payments network for the gambling industry, which is now connected to 95% of all slot devices in the US
Why it's important for entrepreneurs to exercise patience
His major lessons learned from raising over $400 million in capital to fuel Sightline’s growth
Reaching 'unicorn' status, and what it means to be one of only ~700 private companies to reach that milestone
Learn more:
➡️ Sightline Payments website
➡️ Omer Sattar 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
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
Ep. 92 features Ty Masterson and Dan Gentile from Bettle Fantasy Sports, which is the future of social sports gaming.
Hear them discuss:
The stickiness of the season-long format, as evidenced by their 20+ years playing in the same fantasy league
How Bettle is enhancing the season-long player experience by introducing DFS-style mechanics to it
The growth potential of season-long fantasy despite wider trends towards instant gratification and declining sports viewership amongst Gen-Z audiences
Their take on what the launch of ESPN Bet means for ESPN’s season-long fantasy product
What the current regulatory scrutiny on pick ‘em-style DFS means for Bettle
Their current efforts to raise $1.5 million, and what types of investors they are looking to reach
Their predictions for the NFL playoffs :)
Learn more👇
➡️ Bettle Fantasy Sports website
➡️ Ty Masterson Linkedin
➡️ Dan Gentile Linkedin
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This episode is brought to you by InPlay.ai, the leaders in AI powered sports gaming technology.
Discover how they're using advanced AI to build the ultimate second screen experience, powered by the only full stack solution for micro same-game parlays, uninterrupted in-play markets, and fully-automated risk management.
To learn more about the future of sports gaming, visit www.inplay.ai
Wednesday Nov 22, 2023
Wednesday Nov 22, 2023
Ep. 91 features Mike Salvaris from Pro League Network, which is betable live sports.
Hear him discuss:
How thoroughbred racing inspired the idea for Pro League Network by creating betable content during off-peak times
What it looks like to launch and operate a “portfolio of leagues” like the World Putting League, Carjitsu, and Slapfight Championship
The revenue potential of owing everything “soup to nuts”, including IP rights, production, distribution, and wagering
Where PLN’s leagues fit within the wider landscape, and whether he thinks any of them have mainstream potential
The safeguards that PLN is putting in place to ensure that the integrity of its leagues are ensured at all times
Building a world-class roster of investors and advisors like Eberg Capital, Kevin Garnett, and Chris Grove
Learn more👇
➡️ Pro League Network website
➡️ Mike Salvaris on Linkedin
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This episode is brought to you by InPlay.ai, the leaders in AI powered sports gaming technology.
Discover how they're using advanced AI to build the ultimate second screen experience, powered by the only full stack solution for micro same-game parlays, uninterrupted in-play markets, and fully-automated risk management.
To learn more about the future of sports gaming, visit www.inplay.ai
Wednesday Nov 15, 2023
Wednesday Nov 15, 2023
Ep. 90 features Malcolm Wilkinson and Steve Steck from We The Bookie, which is Ireland’s only truly socially-responsible bookmaker.
Hear them discuss:
Integrating social impact into stigmatized industries, including gambling
Their unique model that sees We The Bookie share its profits with customers that have a losing month
Why they picked Ireland as their go-to-market jurisdiction to prove out the model before expanding internationally
Their experience going through the process of selecting a platform vendor, and the challenges associated with it
Why We The Bookie "won't ever have online slots"
Gaining experience pitching at industry conferences and events, including this week at SiGMA Malta
Learn more 👇
➡️ We The Bookie website
➡️ Malcolm Wilkinson on Linkedin
➡️ Steve Steck on Linkedin
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This episode is brought to you by InPlay Innovation, the leaders in AI-powered sports gaming technology.
Discover how they’re using advanced AI to build the ultimate second screen experience, powered by the only full-stack solution for micro same-game parlays, uninterrupted in-play markets, and fully automated risk management.
To learn more about the future of sports gaming, visit inplayinnovation.com.