Weeks 41 & 42, 2023

Hello and welcome back!

So look, did we have a fun and productive week at G2E? Yes we did.

Did we come home with a nasty bug and miss last week’s newsletter as a result? Also yes.

Are we back this week with an extra-full issue to make up for it? BIG YES!

Let’s get into it… ⤵️

📰 Headline news

• Gemini Sports Analytics, a no-code AI platform for predictive modeling, completed an oversubscribed $3.25m round led by Roger Ehrenberg. (Link)

• Underdog launched $1m investment fund to support RG startups. (Link)

• iGaming NEXT, the renowned conference organiser and leader in the iGaming industry trade media space, announced its rebrand to NEXT.io. (Link)

• Prophet Exchange deployed new GeoComply KYC platform in New Jersey. (Link)

• Social betting app BettorOff adds former FoxBet CEO to its advisory board. (Link)

• Slots content developer PDX Slots receives supplier license in Michigan, recently ranked as the largest state in terms of total igaming revenue. (Link)

• ESPN Bet revealed its new logo, which immediately drew comparisons to that of social betting platform Bro Throw. (Link)

Are you an industry startup with news to share? Send us your PR for inclusion here.

👔 G2E Roundup

A few summaries from a hectic week in the desert:

• iGaming Business published its synopsis of the event, and concluded that “the industry is in good health”. (Link)

• SBC Americas captured much of the conversation amongst operator CEO’s at G2E. (Link)

• GeoComply kicked off the week with its Challenger Series event for industry founders, which is quickly becoming a can’t-miss event for those lucky enough to get access. Check out the event recap video. (Link)

💬 Ink & airwaves

The best of what we read and listened to last week:

• 🎙️ The Betting Startups Podcast dropped its Q3 Investor Vibe Check episode, featuring Dave VanEgmond (Bettor Capital), Jon Von Deylen (Drive by DraftKings), and Lloyd Danzig (Sharp Alpha Advisors). The panel discussed the shifting operator landscape, AI, and funding advice in the current environment. Listen now (46:30): Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Web

• 🎙️ Ep. 87 of The Betting Startups Podcast featured Torey Korsunsky from Units, which is daily fantasy sports for the curious fan. Listen now (24:58): Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Web

• 🎙️ The Zero Latency podcast released an episode with Francesco Borgosano, CEO of pricing provider Huddle, who shares his view on the startup landscape and the challenges therein. Listen now (18:03): Web | Spotify 

• 📚 Q&A with Betr CEO Joey Levy on the next phase of customer acquisition. (Link)

• 📚 Sports tech development firm Locker Room Labs published a free whitepaper on the merits of developing in-house vs. outsourcing. (Link)

• 📚 FantasySpin, which recently acquired DFS platform BettorFantasy, shares some detail about its plans to enter the real-money DFS landscape. (Link)

Are you reading (or writing) something that you think belongs here? Hit reply and send it to us for inclusion

💼 Great gigs

3 of the top jobs we saw last week with awesome growth-stage companies:

• Social bet tracking app Pikkit is looking for a Product Engineer in its NYC office. (Link)

• Popular sports betting tool Outlier is searching for an AI Writer/Editor to help train its models. (Link)

• Industry conference & media outlet Next.io is looking for a Product Owner in its Malta offices. (Link)

🗓️ Industry event calendar

Upcoming events relevant to early-stage companies in the space:

• SBC Summit Latinoamérica is coming to Miami Oct 31 - Nov 2. Don’t miss this conference and trade show for senior executives in the Latin American betting and gaming industry.

  Use code BETTINGSTARTUPSVIP for 50% off your Full Event Pass ($300 discount!) Event Tickets

• NEXT Summit New York returns March 6-7, 2024 in a new state-of the-art venue in Manhattans financial district. The summit is focused on connecting startups with investors and operators with suppliers, which makes it THE conference where serious business gets done. Ticket info.

🤝 Deal corner

3 new deals hit our inbox this week! Take a look 👇

(Psst, founders: want to get your deal in an upcoming issue? Submit details here)

• 🆕 Raising: Leading provider of odds/pricing data is raising a $2.5m seed round to scale already growing operations with Tier 1 sportsbook operators, sports leagues, and global media properties. Minimum investment target is $250k, with some exceptions for strategic investors.

• 🆕 Raising: AI/ML-powered Responsible Gambling solution, focusing on early detection and management of at-risk players, effortless regulatory compliance, and real-time automated interventions. Backed by a team with 50 years of combined gambling experience, our early-stage startup is actively seeking a $500k investment to advance product development and widen market reach.

• 🆕 Raising: Esports gaming and influencer betting site with complete custom built technology and fully UK licenced. Early traction achieved with 100+ users, over 1000 bets and a betting handle of over £27k within 2 months. Minimum £50k, valuation negotiable.

Existing deals that are still open:

• Raising: Social Betting Platform with a robust user base and celebrity endorsement. Backed by a dynamic community and strategic partnerships in media, this company has recently reached milestones opening greater scale and growth to capture more market share in sports gaming.

• Raising: Early-stage online casino game studio based in the U.S. Its two founders have over 25 years of gaming experience. Has raised over half of its $900k rolling pre-seed round.

• Raising: Pre-seed startup that allows anyone to legally create or join communities of people who bet against each other. Live product with revenue. Raising 500k, 10k minimum.

Are you an investor that wants more details on these opportunities? Hit Reply and we’ll tee up an intro.

(also: our lawyers told us to say that none of this is investment advice, and we have not vetted the opportunities presented here. DYOR.)

You’re all caught up - catch you again next week! ✌️