Defy the Odds and BettingStartups have announced a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening the role of startups in the iGaming and sports betting sector. The collaboration brings together two organisations that share the view that early-stage companies are critical to the industry’s future and need better access to networks, funding, and collaboration opportunities.
DTO, which supports founders across iGaming, sports betting, sportstech, and fintech, will combine its advisory network with BettingStartups’ global ecosystem to help bridge the gap between startups and the wider industry. The partnership seeks to address common challenges such as limited visibility, fragmented networks, and difficulty accessing sector-specific investment.
By joining forces, the two platforms aim to create stronger pathways for startups to gain exposure, secure funding, and connect with operators, investors, and industry experts. Investors will gain better access to emerging ventures, while established companies will have earlier insight into new products and innovations.
The collaboration is built around three key pillars: community, collaboration, and capital focusing on knowledge sharing, meaningful partnerships, and investment readiness. Both organisations will support founders with pitch preparation, financial modelling, and introductions to active investors.
Kelly Kehn, Co-Founder of DTO, said:
Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens when founders connect, share ideas and push each other forward. That’s what community does. This partnership with Bettingstartups is about bringing more startups together and making sure the wider industry pays attention to what they’re building. Because the future of our industry is being shaped by these founders.
The partnership’s first joint initiative will take place at the SBC Summit Americas in Fort Lauderdale (June 9–11), where they will host startup-focused activities and connect early-stage companies with key stakeholders. Further initiatives are planned throughout 2026.
Jesse Learmonth, founder of BettingStartups, adds:
We’ve always been about providing high-signal infrastructure for founders to scale. This partnership with DTO doubles down on that mission, linking our audience with a community that actually opens doors. Starting with the startup zone at SBC Americas, we’re giving founders a direct, affordable line to the operators and investors who define this industry.
