Ep. 166: When a merger becomes a multiplier w/ Steve “Dakota” Happas & Sahil Patel from FantasySpin

Ep. 171 features Ben Howard from EdgeSports, which offers sports data and predictive AI at your fingertips. Ben shares how the company is capitalizing on the growth of live betting, building modular tech for both consumers and B2B clients, and bootstrapping the business using its own prediction engine.   Hear them discuss: The journey from sneaker software to Penn Entertainment to founder How a winning parlay sparked the earliest version of Edge Sports What makes their predictive models different from other research tools Why live betting is the future—and how they’re solving for latency The surprising win rates from their early Discord testing How B2B traction in Discords and peer-to-peer betting helps fund growth Why they’ve spent $0 on marketing to date and hit 10,000+ users How sportsbooks limiting users shapes their roadmap and partnerships What Edge Sports learned from SBC’s First Pitch and Startup Zone Their plan to launch live predictions in time for the NFL season Where Ben sees EdgeSports heading over the next five years   Applications now open for SBC Summit First Pitch competition returning to Lisbon this September 16-18. Eligible startups can submit their applications until July 25 for a shot at over $100,000 worth of prizes.    Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ EdgeSports website  ➡️ Ben Howard 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. 170 features John Wright from StatsDrone, a business intelligence platform helping affiliates eliminate revenue leak and unlock more value from their data. John shares how the company is centralizing fragmented affiliate stats, building tools for operators, and uncovering hidden opportunities in iGaming’s affiliate ecosystem.   Hear them discuss: The origin story from professional gambler to affiliate tech founder How revenue leak inspired the earliest version of StatsDrone Why “business intelligence” became the heart of their value proposition Who uses the platform today—from SEO affiliates to large networks How StatsDrone is building a global map of affiliate sites and links The surprising ROI hiding in broken tracking and closed casino Why affiliate CRM remains an underdeveloped opportunity How operators and affiliate managers are starting to use their insights What it’s like navigating investor interest and potential exit offers His two-year vision to unlock billions in affiliate-side revenue optimization   Applications now open for SBC Summit First Pitch competition returning to Lisbon this September 16-18. Eligible startups can submit their applications until July 25 for a shot at over $100,000 worth of prizes.    Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ StatsDrone website  ➡️ John Wright 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. 169 features Steven Kenway from Rolling Insights, a multi-sport data platform delivering reliable data to everyone from sharp bettors to startup founders. Steven shares how the team built powerful analytics tools and a developer-friendly API ecosystem to level the playing field in sports data access.   Hear them discuss: • How Rolling Insights spun out of a real estate startup and consultancy • Why Steven believes most fantasy leagues are won by spreadsheet junkies • How acquiring a U.S. data engine became a turning point for the company • Where Rolling Insights fits into the official vs. unofficial data debate • Why startups are the primary customers for their B2B data feeds • The growing demand from sharp bettors and AI modelers • How SportWise and the Breakaway Accelerator fit into their ecosystem • The technical challenges of scraping fast-paced sports like darts • Why he says “you gotta flow like water” when running a startup • His long-term vision to become an official data provider   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ Rolling Insights website  ➡️ Steven Kenway 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. 168 features Davis Catlin from Discerning Capital, which invests at the intersection of betting, sports, media, and technology. This episode was recorded on-site at SBC Summit North America 2025 in Fort Lauderdale.   Hear him discuss: Why starting Discerning Capital gave him new empathy for founders Building a deal-by-deal investor network in a regulated industry The playbook behind their first investment in Australian operator Picklebet Why Midnite is a “challenger brand” winning with faster paybacks How SlotCycle is unlocking a hidden market for used slot machines The opportunity in underinvested profit pools in Australia and the UK His high-level thesis on the total addressable market nearing $100B How the capital flow into sweepstakes models may be slowing Prediction markets like Kalshi and the regulatory gray zone they face What a Bet365 acquisition could look like—and why DraftKings might care Why Discerning Capital is launching a new program for user acquisition/growth  financing How it works: non-dilutive revolving credit tied to ad performance Why it's a win-win model for operators with strong unit economics   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ Discerning Capital website  ➡️ Davis Catlin on Linkedin The Canadian Gaming Summit is happening June 17–19 in Toronto! Don’t miss out — get 50% off your Full Event Pass using code BETTINGSTARTUPSVIP at checkout. Grab your ticket now: https://sbcevents.com/canadian-gaming-summit/ticket-options/   📩 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. 167 features Gino Donati from BetOPENLY, a peer-to-peer betting exchange eliminating the traditional sportsbook model by letting users bet directly against each other at true odds. This episode was recorded on-site at SBC Summit North America 2025 in Fort Lauderdale.   Hear him discuss: Growing up in a sports-betting Italian family and booking bets in high school How running numbers for syndicates gave him a window into the business Why BetOPENLY was originally built offshore and pre-PASPA repeal The core value prop of “win more, lose less” and how the 1% fee works How trolls on TikTok helped drive the platform’s early growth Why casual bettors and big action players both find value in the model How BetOPENLY avoids deposit bonuses and operates with ultra-thin margins Their “bet with friends” feature and zero-fee social sharing mechanic How the team is solving liquidity challenges through third-party partnerships with companies like Kutt, BettorEdge, and THNDR The legal framework that enables BetOPENLY to operate in 45 U.S. states Expansion plans including peer-to-peer blackjack, DFS, and prediction markets Gino’s other startup, Seed to Scale, and how he self-funds BetOPENLY Why he’s in no rush to raise or exit—and where he sees the ceiling for P2P betting   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ BetOPENLY website  ➡️ Gino Donati on Linkedin The Canadian Gaming Summit is happening June 17–19 in Toronto! Don’t miss out — get 50% off your Full Event Pass using code BETTINGSTARTUPSVIP at checkout. Grab your ticket now: https://sbcevents.com/canadian-gaming-summit/ticket-options/   📩 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. 166 features Steve “Dakota” Happas and Sahil Patel from FantasySpin, a real-money DFS platform reinventing the fantasy experience through a gamified, slot-style draft mechanic. This episode was recorded on-site at SBC Summit North America 2025 in Fort Lauderdale. Hear them discuss: How a friendly fantasy football bet led to the founding of BettorFantasy Steve’s journey from online poker and dating platforms to fantasy sports Why the two companies merged to form FantasySpin and how the deal came together How their slot-style drafting system introduces luck, skill, and replayability Why FantasySpin rewards users even when players in their lineup don’t play The biggest lessons from their first full NFL season post-merger How their gameplay translates into highly engaging, video-first marketing Why their future plans include spin-to-pick hybrid formats and arcade modes How they’re self-funding growth while selectively exploring strategic capital Their long-term vision to become the next billion-dollar DFS platform   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ FantasySpin website  ➡️ Steve Happas on Linkedin ➡️ Sahil Patel on Linkedin The Canadian Gaming Summit is happening June 17–19 in Toronto! Don’t miss out — get 50% off your Full Event Pass using code BETTINGSTARTUPSVIP at checkout. Grab your ticket now: https://sbcevents.com/canadian-gaming-summit/ticket-options/   📩 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.

Recorded live at SBC Summit Americas 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this episode recaps the excitement of the First Pitch competition.   In this episode, you'll hear from all five startup finalists just hours before they took the stage, and at the end of the episode, we bring back the winner for a celebratory chat fresh off their victory.   The five startups that competed for a prize package valued at over $100,000 were: Oliver Renner from PromptBet.ai Mark Antal from Staked AI Andrew Lea from Gamewagrs Kelson Quan from Wager Games Madhav Halbe from Sidebetz.ai   Catch the video version of this episode here. The Canadian Gaming Summit is happening June 17–19 in Toronto! Don’t miss out — get 50% off your Full Event Pass using code BETTINGSTARTUPSVIP at checkout. Grab your ticket now: https://sbcevents.com/canadian-gaming-summit/ticket-options/   📩 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. 164 features Alexander Monahan from OddsJam, a data-driven sports betting platform acquired by Gambling.com Group in a deal worth up to $160 million. Alex returns to the podcast after first joining in early 2023 to share what has changed and what has stayed the same since the nine-figure exit.   Hear them discuss: What life looks like after a $160M acquisition Why he is still focused on helping bettors win with data His reflections on the due diligence and acquisition process Why he and his co-founder stayed bootstrapped without raising capital How the US betting landscape has changed for sharp bettors since 2020 His thoughts on exchanges, promo arbitrage, and the future of sharp betting Why content creation became central to OddsJam’s growth How he balances founder pressure with long-term product vision What the integration with Gambling.com has looked like behind the scenes His advice for founders navigating high-stakes M&A conversations Why he still believes there is room for new tools in sports betting   SBC Americas makes its debut in Fort Lauderdale on May 13-15, and you won’t want to miss it! Get 50% off your Full Event Pass at checkout using discount code BETTINGSTARTUPSVIP. Secure your ticket now: https://sbcevents.com/en/sbc-summit-americas/full-event-pass/    Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ OddsJam website  ➡️ Alexander Monahan 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. 163 features Mark Antal from Staked AI, which is crafting an Amazon Alexa-like AI for sports to deliver personalized, real-time audio content. This episode was recorded on-site at the NEXT Summit New York in March 2025 with guest host, Thomas Coiner.   Hear them discuss: How his background in AI and machine learning at Vault AI led to building Staked AI Why audio is a breakthrough for sports engagement The importance of time-sensitive content and its impact on driving sportsbook engagement How Staked AI’s partnerships, like the one with Wager Games, validate the product’s impact Why sports’ emotional connection makes it the ideal industry for AI-driven personalization How his co-founder, Chris Shreeve, guided the decision to focus on a B2B model How Staked AI trains models to pronounce player names and speak authentically to fans The vision of cloning media personalities’ voices to scale one-to-one engagement The roadmap for Staked AI, focusing on speed, personalization, and conversational AI How his advisors from AT&T and Sportradar help accelerate B2B partnerships His approach to scaling the company, raising capital, and building an AI-first operation Why he believes decisive action is key to success in the fast-moving AI landscape   SBC Americas makes its debut in Fort Lauderdale on May 13-15, and you won’t want to miss it! Get 50% off your Full Event Pass at checkout using discount code BETTINGSTARTUPSVIP. Secure your ticket now: https://sbcevents.com/en/sbc-summit-americas/full-event-pass/    Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ Staked AI website  ➡️ Mark Antal 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. 162 features Owen Monagan and Oisin Tiernan from Layup, which is a FinTech company providing a gamified savings product that turns interest into free sports picks. This episode was recorded on-site at the NEXT Summit New York in March 2025.   Hear them discuss: Their journey from building a Fantasy Premier League app together to launching Layup How growing up with “prize bonds” in Ireland inspired Layup’s concept Why their product offers a responsible alternative to sports betting and lottery How Layup converts interest earned into sports picks that resemble parlays The mechanics of how users can win money without risking any principal The challenges of navigating state-by-state banking regulations in the U.S. Why user education and overcoming skepticism are key to their marketing strategy How early adopters are resonating with the concept of “winning without losing” Why they are targeting both FinTech and gaming-focused investors in their next round Their vision to build Layup into a culturally accepted alternative to sports betting How they aim to expand globally and bring Layup back to Ireland and the UK Why they see Layup as a “non-alcoholic beer” alternative in the sports betting space   SBC Americas makes its debut in Fort Lauderdale on May 13-15, and you won’t want to miss it! Get 50% off your Full Event Pass at checkout using discount code BETTINGSTARTUPSVIP. Secure your ticket now: https://sbcevents.com/en/sbc-summit-americas/full-event-pass/    Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ Layup website  ➡️ Owen Monagan on Linkedin ➡️ Oisin Tiernan 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.