Six startups were meticulously selected from over a hundred applicants to compete on stage. Each company presented their unique ideas and solutions to a panel of industry experts, including Robert Duboff (Director at Velo Partners), Marianna Tavella (Chief Legal Officer at SiGMA Group), Harmen Brenninkmeijer (Managing Partner at NYCE International), Mariusz Gąsiewski (Head of Mobile Gaming and Apps for Central and Eastern Europe at Google), Vinicius Moraes De Carvalho (Investment Partner at Ikigai Ventures), Vladimir Malakchi (CEO and Managing Partner at Xanada Investments), and Jarek Bialek (CEO at Revenue Capital). Although all competitors showcased impressive concepts, Watchers' seamless integration of community chat, audio and video streams, and AI moderation allowed it to stand out.
Watchers' innovative features, such as the copy betting widget to stimulate transaction growth and badges to enhance user engagement, resonated with the judges. The company's ability to enhance user engagement and drive revenue for iGaming platforms was a key factor in its success.
As the winner of the SiGMA startup pitch, Watchers will gain valuable exposure and networking opportunities within the iGaming industry. The company's victory highlights the growing importance of social features and innovative technology in the online gambling sector.
While Watchers won the top prize, the other competing startups also showed great potential. Their participation in the SiGMA startup pitch provided them with valuable feedback and exposure, which can help them further develop their ideas and achieve success in the future.
"Watchers is a company with a monthly revenue of $80,000. It is a mature company. I also really like the way they try to introduce gambling business through the copy betting widget (with chat functionality). These are the ways gambling is evolving, introducing social features."
– Robert Duboff, Director at Velo Partners
