This week: Outlier banks $11M Series A led by Discerning Capital

Outlier banks $11M Series A led by Discerning Capital

The news: Outlier has raised $10.7M in Series A funding to scale its sports betting analytics platform, combining $5.7M in equity led by Discerning Capital with $5M in dedicated user-acquisition financing. The company will use the capital to expand its product line, advance its underlying data models, and continue building out engineering and customer teams in New Orleans.

Zoom in: Outlier differentiates itself with a subscription-only model, which allows the company to focus on “delivering value directly to its users,” via access to real-time data, historical trends, and sportsbook odds. Co-founder and CEO Evan Kirkham tells BettingStartups that the momentum comes with both advantages and pressure: “We benefit from the trust and economies of scale that come with market leadership. But, we're challenged with having to continually innovate and question our own business assumption as headcount and subscriber growth frustrate our ability to stay nimble and open minded.” Kirkham adds that the “burden” the company faces is to continue educating the circle of prospective users that betting tools like Outlier exist and have a purpose even amongst the most novice bettors.

Why it matters: Outlier’s trajectory also highlights the growing momentum of Louisiana’s tech ecosystem, where the company has anchored its product development and continues to scale a full-time engineering team in New Orleans’ Warehouse District. Kirkham says the milestone hasn’t slowed their focus: “The journey has been completely and utterly wild, with intense emotions and lasting friendships materializing along the way. As for Outlier, our vision for the company is the same today as it was before the Series A… We're just building, building, building.”

Golden Camel wants to bring the Vegas sportsbook experience to your pocket

The news: Golden Camel, the new all-in-one betting companion, is taking a contrarian stance in a category dominated by sharper tools and optimization engines. The idea traces back to a night nearly 10 years ago at the opening of Levi’s Stadium, when cofounders Ryan Magrum and Artie Baxter spent the entire game toggling between offshore sportsbooks instead of enjoying it. “We realized two things… we lost every bet and we missed out on an amazing experience because we were glued to our phones,” Magrum said. That frustration became the seed for an app that keeps betting in one place rather than pulling fans away from the action.

Zoom in: The pair brought on San Francisco-based designer and startup veteran Ben Ramirez, who spent 20 years in tech, to turn that seed into a working product. When they pitched him the idea, Ramirez saw the opportunity through a slightly different lens, arguing the real value wasn’t just streamlining box scores and bets, but capturing the emotional energy of betting itself. “We wanted it to feel like a sportsbook in your pocket… we wanted to capture that emotion,” he said. Today, Golden Camel aggregates wagers across multiple sportsbooks, tracks live scores and props, and surfaces clean, confidence-driven AI insights without overwhelming users—resulting in a unified hub that strips out clutter and keeps the focus on the game.

Why it matters: With more states legalizing, prediction markets reshaping expectations, and betting culture moving from taboo to mainstream, the team feels they’re early in a big shift. Ramirez sees a widening audience finally ready for a product like this: “If we have an app that’s approachable and easier to use… it’s easier to dip your toe in.”

Listen to the full podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

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BeeBettor founder on shutting down his app, and the evolution of the betting tool ecosystem

The news: BeeBettor co-founder Jordan Murphy joined The Modern Edge podcast to break down his path from early EV bettor to tool builder—and ultimately to full-time educator in the betting tools ecosystem. Murphy offered a transparent look at why he launched BeeBettor, how the EV-tool category evolved around him, and why he eventually chose to shut the app down. His journey began like many new bettors: convinced that “ball knowledge” was enough to beat the market. “I definitely fell in that category and I wasn't very good,” he said, noting it wasn’t until discovering pricing principles that things finally clicked.

Zoom in: As a math major, the logic behind pricing and EV resonated immediately, pushing Murphy deeper into tools like OddsJam and eventually inspiring him to build BeeBettor. The frustration he felt with existing EV tools—especially the “lack of customizability”—shaped the core of the product. But as the ecosystem matured, Murphy saw the landscape shift into a commoditized “race to the bottom,” driven by copycat features and price competition. Meanwhile, he found himself more energized by teaching bettors how tools work rather than running one. “Educating new people and seeing that journey that I went on… it was really rewarding,” he said. Going tool-agnostic, he added, let him create content that was “easier, better, more informative, and just better for the customer.”

Why it matters: Murphy argues that the core of smart betting isn’t memorizing EV formulas—it’s price awareness. “I think to try and put it concisely is price… I wouldn't even say sensitivity. I would say awareness,” he said. The real edge comes from understanding where your number sits in the market and why. His advice for beginners: slow down, think, and build the habit of checking price even before fully grasping the math. As tool-driven wagering continues to scale, Murphy’s shift from builder to educator reflects an important truth about modern bettors: they’re not just looking for automation—they’re looking for understanding.

Listen to the full podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

News, money, and alpha

• DraftKings co-founder Matt Kalish revealed he will step down as the company’s president on Tuesday, but will remain involved as one of its Board of Directors.

• Waterhouse VC dives into why same-game parlays have become the most important (and profitable) product in modern sports betting.

• Betty has appointed Yotam Yogev as Group Chief Product Officer to lead product strategy and new ventures beyond Betty Canada.

• Applications are open for Zero Labs’ seventh Innovation Launchpad Cohort, a mentorship-driven accelerator on the hunt for startups shaping Las Vegas’ future economy.

From the studio

Catch up on the latest episodes of The BettingStartups Podcast.

• Bringing the fun back to sports betting w/ Artie, Ben & Ryan from Golden Camel

• Building 'Zapier for iGaming' w/ James King from Flows

• The future of racing w/ Daniel O' Sullivan & Sebastian Butterworth

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Are you a startup in real-money gaming looking to announce a new product launch, partnership, or funding round? Get it on our radar! Email: [email protected]