The scope of this year’s LaunchPad in Boston was larger than ever, with sports betting start-ups eligible to pitch alongside businesses from interactive gaming, esports, iLottery and the affiliate space. The LaunchPad initiative will next take place at iGBLive! (16th - 19th July 2019 RAI, Amsterdam), and Rattner had this advice for entrepreneurs looking to participate in future competitions. “With the LaunchPad you know who you are pitching to. VCs like to hear big ideas backed by great teams. Since most of the LaunchPad companies are meant to be early stage, investors and those interested in being involved are betting - no pun intended - primarily on the team and the market. Be excited, be different, but be ready. It’s a great networking opportunity and provides awesome exposure for early stage gaming companies. If you’re thinking about applying, stop thinking. Send in the application now!”

Clarion Gaming’s Head of Content, Ewa Bakun, who is responsible for the forward-thinking LaunchPad initiative, said: “iGB Live! brings together the iGaming industry's greatest minds offering endless opportunities for attendees and start-ups to meet and build their networks across the industry and beyond. The iGB Live! LaunchPad is always an exciting competition providing start-ups with an opportunity to debut their companies to a senior level executives in search of new products and new partners, and in front of potential investors, both VCs and strategic. Last year saw a tie between two companies, Moonify.io and Betflow.com, in Amsterdam so it will be interesting to see who will be awarded with the recognition of the most innovative iGaming start-up in 2019.

"Getting exposure and obtaining funding is hard, even more so for start-ups in the gambling space and the LaunchPad is a great way for new companies to promote their innovations and to get some traction. It is an ideal place to get noticed by both investors and business partners alike."

LaunchPad will take place alongside iGB Live! HQ, the free-to-attend invite-only area of the iGB Live! Exhibition, which brings together the igaming industry's best and most senior minds including C-Level leaders, influencers, disruptors and decision makers to discuss and debate the industry's most controversial topics. The influential agenda takes place across four conference rooms, Boardroom, Elevator, Counsel and The Hive featuring sessions designed for those with a real desire to change the future of the industry.

The submission deadline for iGB Live! 2019 Start-up is 7 June 2019. To begin the submission process, visit: igblive.com/start-up-launchpad