SBC Summit Americas Partners with BettingStartups to Boost Startup Ecosystem in Americas

SBC Summit Americas has announced a strategic partnership with BettingStartups to enhance its focus on early-stage companies in the Americas iGaming market. The collaboration aims to foster connections between founders and investors, while spotlighting innovative startups shaping the industry’s future.

As part of this alliance, BettingStartups will serve as the official host of the Startup Zone at SBC Summit Americas 2026, featuring 13 exhibition booths and a dedicated lounge. This space will provide startups with direct access to key decision-makers, with 51% of last year’s attendees holding budget responsibility.

BettingStartups, a well-known player in the early-stage gaming ecosystem, will leverage its media platform, podcast, newsletter, events, and investment arm to curate a high-quality lineup of startups for the event. This partnership is designed to attract innovative companies and generate momentum ahead of the summit.

A highlight of the Startup Zone will be the First Pitch Americas Competition, hosted by Jesse Learmonth, founder of BettingStartups. The competition, taking place on Thursday, 11 June (14:00 – 14:40), will see five standout startups pitch live to a panel of leading investors and executives. The grand prize package, valued at $108,900, includes a 3x3m exhibition booth at SBC Summit Americas 2027 and contributions from Are You Watching This?!, MetaBet, AWS, GameOn, Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld LLC, Square in the Air, and Vegas Kings.

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

Applications for the competition are open until 17 April, with selected participants notified by 4 May. Last year’s winner, Wager Games, a B2B social sports betting software provider, secured the top prize.

In addition to the competition, attendees will benefit from the “Fundraising 101: Win Your First Round” workshop, led by Shaun Gold, Chief Evangelist at OpenVC. This session will provide founders with a practical roadmap to securing early-stage investment.

“This partnership strengthens our commitment to innovation and to supporting the next generation of companies shaping the future of gaming in the Americas,” said Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder of SBC. “BettingStartups brings a highly engaged community and deep understanding of the startup ecosystem, which will elevate both the quality of exhibitors and the overall experience for attendees.”

“SBC Summit Americas is a key meeting point for the industry in the region, and we’re excited to play a central role in building out its startup offering,” added Jesse Learmonth, Founder of BettingStartups. “Our focus is on bringing the most exciting early-stage companies to the event and giving founders a platform to be seen, heard, and funded.”

SBC Summit Americas will take place from June 9-11 at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale. The event introduces new features, including the SBC Connections networking program and a five-tier ticketing system, designed to enhance attendee experiences based on business priorities.