Posh Monkey secures strategic investment

The news: iGaming studio Posh Monkey has secured a strategic investment from Velo Partners via the RNG Foundry accelerator, alongside an exclusive development and distribution deal with Games Global, one of the industry's largest content aggregators. Terms were not disclosed.

Zoom in: The deal gives Posh Monkey access to Games Global’s network of 350+ operators and the full-stack support of RNG Foundry—from financing and tech infrastructure to business intelligence and regulatory guidance. The studio is led by industry veterans Connor Blinman and Deepak Bhinder, whose experience at Play’n GO and Print Studios is now backed by a growth model designed to scale fast in global markets.

Why it matters: This is a classic example of the “incubator-to-ecosystem” model working in iGaming. RNG Foundry and Velo Partners are doubling down on a new generation of game studios not just by writing checks, but embedding them with distribution, tooling, and strategic know-how. For Posh Monkey, that means skipping the years-long grind to integration and instead focusing on what matters most: building games players actually want.

Vor Interactive is designing widgets for the everyday sports fan

The news: UK-based Vor Interactive is making a bold bet on interactive sports data tools—not for pro bettors, but for affiliates and operators looking to convert casual fans. Co-founder Richard Acosta says the startup’s first product, Vor Turbo, automatically builds interactive “marketing narratives” that let users click around, view returns, and explore probability percentages—directly inside a typically static banner ad.

Zoom in: The widget is already live on an MLB campaign with Odds Shark and an affiliate in Italy, with plans to launch with ten “prominent” U.S. affiliates by NFL kickoff. And unlike most integrations that drag on for months, Acosta claims Vor’s product can be deployed in under 48 hours. That speed is powered by the company’s first-party predictive data infrastructure—machine learning models originally built for soccer and now expanding to U.S. sports.

Why it matters: While the iGaming industry tends to be a sea of sameness, Vor is offering something that feels fresh. Vor credits that to the founders’ sports marketing backgrounds, which Acosta says brought a new, outside perspective to a stale category and ultimately led to a more dynamic adtech tool. Two years in and things are going well so far, Acosta says—adding he thinks the company can see “some serious growth and penetration in the market” in the next three to five years.

Sponsored by SBC

The news: First Pitch is back this September (16-18) at SBC Summit 2025 in Lisbon, giving real-money gaming startups a chance to pitch live to industry leaders and investors for a prize package worth over $100,000.

Why it matters: First Pitch is where startups find out if their idea really holds up—or get a wake-up call to tighten up the story and roadmap. Whether you're looking for validation, visibility, or just want to test your idea in front of the right crowd, First Pitch is your stage. Applications are open now—click here to get involved.

Linemate posts double-digit growth in Q2

The news: Linemate—the sports gaming research engine for everyday fans—closed Q2 with 145K downloads, 8M sessions, and double-digit growth across subscriptions (+23%) and revenue (+17%), the startup shared online. All of it came during a down season for sports, with no NFL or March Madness on the calendar.

Zoom in: Built to simplify research for betting and fantasy, Linemate+ unlocks daily plays backed by combo trends, parlay insights, and advanced filters like injury impact and with/without data. CEO Calvin Konya called Q2 a “growth stack” moment where product, marketing, and ops came together to build through seasonality, not just ride it.

Why it matters: Sports fandom is daily—and Linemate is positioning itself as the go-to app for fans looking to save time and make smarter plays. With a strong foundation now in place, the company is heading into the NFL season with real momentum and an offering Konya says is built for scale.

News, money, and alpha

• FoodFight was awarded the Game Changer Visionary Award at the Zero Labs Innovation Launchpad for turning beers into a competitive currency.

• SportsGrid will air a NEXT keynote session from industry investor Chris Grove this Saturday at 7pm eastern. 

• In just six months since adding sports markets, Kalshi has crossed $2B in sports trading volume.

From the studio

Catch up on the latest episodes of The BettingStartups Podcast.

• Productizing first-party sports data w/ Richard Acosta from VOR Interactive

• Turning winning models into a startup w/ Ben Howard from EdgeSports

• The sports data platform for builders w/ Steven Kenway from Rolling Insights

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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]