SBC Summit Americas Boosts Startup Focus Through Partnership with BettingStartups

(AsiaGameHub) –   The area will host 13 exhibition booths and a dedicated lounge, providing startups with a prominent presence on the show floor and direct access to key decision-makers.

Press release.- SBC Summit Americas has partnered with BettingStartups to bolster its support for early-stage ventures, aiming to connect founders with investors and highlight emerging innovations within the Americas market.

Under this strategic alliance, BettingStartups will serve as the official host of the Startup Zone at SBC Summit Americas 2026. This space will feature 13 exhibition booths and a dedicated lounge, ensuring startups have a strong footprint and direct engagement with key decision-makers, 51 percent of whom held budget authority at last year’s event.

Recognized as a major force in the early-stage gaming sector, BettingStartups is known for supporting founders through its media platform, podcast, newsletter, events, and investment division. By leveraging this network, the partnership will curate a group of high-caliber startups, offering attendees the opportunity to discover and connect with the next wave of industry innovation.

A primary feature of the Startup Zone will be the First Pitch Americas Competition, scheduled for Thursday, 11 June (14:00 – 14:40) on the Leaders Stage. Moderated by BettingStartups founder Jesse Learmonth, the event will showcase five selected startups pitching live to a panel of prominent investors and executives.

Contestants will vie for a grand prize package valued at $108,900, intended to boost their growth and industry profile. The prize includes a 3x3m exhibition booth at SBC Summit Americas 2027, along with contributions from Are You Watching This?!, MetaBet, AWS, GameOn, Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld LLC, Square in the Air, and Vegas Kings.

The judging panel consists of:

• Paris Smith, Founder and CEO, Defy the Odds
• Javier Altamirano, Global Head of Startup, Sportradar
• Evan Meyer, Managing Partner, Astralus Capital Management
• Scott Secord, Partner, Cardinal Sports Capital
• Meredith McPherson, CEO and Managing Partner, DRIVE by DraftKings

Applications for the First Pitch Competition are currently open until the 17 April deadline, with selected participants to be informed by 4 May. The 2025 top prize was awarded to B2B social sports betting software provider Wager Games.

In addition to the competition, attendees can participate in specialized educational programming, such as the “Fundraising 101: Win Your First Round” workshop, held on Thursday, 11 June (11:00-12:00). Led by Shaun Gold, Chief Evangelist at OpenVC, the session will offer founders a practical guide to securing early-stage funding.

This partnership aims to establish SBC Summit Americas as a premier destination for startups, investors, and regional operators. By merging SBC’s global reach with the specialized ecosystem of BettingStartups, the collaboration seeks to attract high-potential firms, build pre-event momentum, and provide unique, startup-centric content.

Through curated participation, targeted marketing, and dedicated programming, BettingStartups will also assist in growing attendance, with the goal of driving new registrations from its active community.

Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & founder of SBC, stated: “This collaboration reinforces our dedication to innovation and to supporting the next generation of companies defining the future of gaming in the Americas. BettingStartups brings a highly engaged community and deep expertise in the startup ecosystem, which will enhance both the caliber of exhibitors and the overall attendee experience.”

Jesse Learmonth, founder of BettingStartups, added: “SBC Summit Americas is a vital meeting point for the regional industry, and we are thrilled to take a leading role in expanding its startup offerings. Our goal is to bring the most compelling early-stage companies to the event and provide founders with a platform to be seen, heard, and funded.”