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Digital Entrepreneurship in Sports: former professional athletes present 4 projects to innovate in sport business
The entrepreneurial ideas that have been elaborated during the training program powered by SKS365 were showed to the public in the HUB of LVenture Group
A marketplace for sponsorships, an on-demand physiotherapy platform, a corporate placement network for athletes and an app that optimizes the experience of sports tourism are the four projects that see the light at the end of the training course Digital & Entrepreneurship in Sports.
The project, powered by SKS365 and LVenture Group, a listed VC operator among the main startup accelerators at the European level, took place in the first half of 2021 with the goal of meeting the needs of many former professional sportsmen and women. Most of them, in fact, find it difficult to reintroduce themselves into the job market once they finish their sports career. The challenge is to integrate the soft skills developed as athletes (competitive approach, goal-oriented mindset, team spirit) with technical skills allowing them to be successful in one of the sectors with more future perspectives: the digital economy.
“Training is one of the key values of our Corporate Identity, and sport represents the universe in which we operate and that we want to contribute to developing a more systematic and functional way, especially in these unprecedented times due to the pandemic – commented Brian Dean, SKS365 Chief People Officer – We are therefore very happy to have contributed to the reskilling process of the former professional athletes who took part in the training program. From the very beginning, we were pleasantly impressed by the spirit of initiative and entrepreneurship that the class has shown. The projects presented today are concrete proof of the commitment, the proactive approach, the great team work and skills that the former sportsmen have developed during this journey with us. They also prove the ex-athletes’ capability to turn an idea into a successful business project.”
The athletes who took part in this first edition of Digital & Entrepreneurship in Sports were divided into teams to work on four projects that were presented in Rome, at LVenture Group’s HUB.
Sponsorboom is the project presented by Andrea Fontanella, Carlotta Oggioni, Giulia Paolillo, Luca Alpozzi and Sonja Percan, with the aim of bridging the gap between the offer and the demand for sponsorship in the sports environment. Andrea Coronica, currently a basketball player at Allianz Trieste, presented Morbin, along with the team made up of Manuel Pascali, Stefano Bossi, Stephen Makinwa and Coronica himself. It is an app dedicated to personalized training and rehabilitation with a science-based approach. Another app has been developed by Giulio Alberto Silva, Marco Ponteri, Nicola Sesto and Rabia Jendoubi: Travel Sport is dedicated to supporting travel and tourism linked to sports events. The fourth project is called Sport2Work, developed by Andrea Radin, Daniele Postiglioni, Giorgio Barbareschi and Lara Peyrot. The team has presented a customized platform to define the best training path for athletes, based on their soft skills and providing them tutoring and mentoring courses as well as online training and internships in companies.
“This program gave the opportunity to explore the connections between sport and digital economy, enrichingus with a new point of view, that of the participants, highly qualified thanks to their great experience in the sport sector. The projects which have been developed thanks to the collaboration with the SKS365 Training Program, the work of our Open Innovation team and the mentors involved, respond to the new needs of various stakeholders in the sports industry. This confirm show digital can open up new training, professional and business growth scenarios in a sector that is more and more oriented to innovation”, said Antonella Zullo, Head of Open Innovation at LVenture Group.
The final event, directed by the sports journalist Giulia Mizzoni, was also an opportunity to discuss the new scenario of the digital economy for the sport industry. Among the panelists, there was also Paolo Carito, Executive Manager and Visiting Professor in Sport Management, Andrea Bellamio, CEO of Mister Calcio and Mandarino Adv, Stefano Gobbi, Senior Program Manager Sport e Salute and Matteo Musa, CEO of Fitprime.
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SharpLink Gaming, Inc., an online performance-based marketing company serving the U.S. sports betting and iGaming industries, today announced that it will host its Annual General Meeting of Stockholders (the “Meeting”) on Monday, December 9, 2024 at 4:00 PM Central Time at SharpLink’s corporate headquarters, located at 333 Washington Avenue North, Suite 104, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401, and thereafter as it may be adjourned or postponed from time to time.
At the Meeting, stockholders will be asked to approve the following proposals and adopt the following resolutions in connection with the proposals:
| 1. | The reelection of Rob Phythian, Obie McKenzie, Robert Gutkowski and Leslie Bernhard as members of the Board of Directors for a term expiring at our 2025 Annual General Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified; |
| 2. | The approval of a reverse stock split of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), by a ratio of up to and including 6:1, to be effective at the ratio and on a date to be determined by the Company’s Board of Directors, and amendments to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect such reverse stock split; |
| 3. | The ratification of the appointment of Cherry Bekaert, LLP, registered public accountants, as our Company’s independent registered public accountants for the year ended December 31, 2024 and the authorization of our Board of Directors to fix such independent public accountants’ compensation in accordance with the volume and nature of their services or to delegate such power to our Audit Committee; |
| 4. | The approval of a non-binding advisory vote to approve the compensation paid to our named executive officers (the “Say on Pay Proposal”); and |
| 5. | To transact any other business properly coming before the Meeting. |
Shareholders of record at the close of business on November 12, 2024 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. It is anticipated that on or about November 19, 2024, the Company shall commence mailing to all stockholders of record, as of the Record Date, the proxy notice, the proxy statement that describes the proposals to be considered at the Meeting and a proxy card. The definitive proxy notice, proxy statement and form of proxy card was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday, November 18, 2024 on Schedule 14A.
The approval of the election of the directors under Proposal 1 requires the affirmative vote of holders of the plurality of the Common Stock (on an as-converted basis, subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below)), represented at the Meeting, in person or by proxy, entitled to vote and voting on the matter. Proposal 2 requires votes cast for the reverse stock split to exceed the votes cast against such proposal. Proposals 3 and 4 require the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the Common Stock (on an as-converted basis, subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below)), represented at the Meeting, in person or by proxy, entitled to vote and voting on the matter presented for passage. The Beneficial Ownership Limitation is defined in our Certificate of Incorporation as 9.99% of the number of our Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Preferred Stock and warrants held by the stockholder that is subject to such Beneficial Ownership Limitation.
Our Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the election of each director and the other proposals set forth in this proxy statement.
The primary purpose for the proposal for the reverse stock split, should the Board of Directors choose to effect one, would be to increase the per share price of our Common Stock to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement for continued listing set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). On July 11, 2024, we received a letter from Nasdaq Listing Qualifications (the “Letter”) indicating that the Company is no longer in compliance with the minimum bid price requirements for continued listing set forth in Listing Rule 5550(a)(2), which requires listed securities to maintain a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share. The rules also provide us a compliance period of 180 calendar days to regain compliance. According to the Letter, we have until January 7, 2025 to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement.
SharpLink knows of no other matters to be submitted at the Meeting other than as specified in the press release. If any other business is properly brought before the Meeting, the persons named as proxies will vote in respect thereof in accordance with the recommendation of SharpLink’s Board of Directors.
Stockholders can vote either by mailing in their proxy, by Internet, by phone or in person by attending the Meeting. If voting by mail, the proxy must be received by SharpLink’s voting processing agency at least 48 hours prior to the appointed time of the Meeting or at our registered office in Minneapolis, Minnesota at least four (4) hours prior to the appointed time of the Meeting to be validly included in the tally of Common Stock. If voting by Internet or phone, votes must be received by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on Thursday, December 5, 2024 to be validly included in the tally of the Common Stock voted at the Meeting. If a stockholder elects to attend the Meeting, he or she may vote in person and your proxy will not be used. Detailed proxy voting instructions are provided both in the proxy statement and on the enclosed proxy card.
SiGMA Europe 2024 closed the year with a bang, and GR8 Tech seized the spotlight, leaving a lasting impression on industry leaders and professionals. The event proved pivotal for GR8 Tech, with nearly 300 meetings showcasing robust interest in its offerings. Of these, 15 discussions are already progressing toward long-term agreements, laying the groundwork for expanded partnerships and future business launches. The event highlighted the demand for customizable iGaming solutions and GR8 Tech’s impactful presence at the year’s grand finale.
Kiril Nestorovski, Sales Director at GR8 Tech: “What’s really grabbed attention in SiGMA Europe is our openness to discuss and be flexible, but what truly surprises people is the quality of our products. I’ve had clients react with phrases like, “Can I touch the screen to see if it’s real?” when they saw our demos. That kind of response speaks volumes about the impact our products have, especially in the sportsbook area.”
Sharing Expertise: Panel Discussion Takeaways
At the “Trends and Predictions for 2025” panel, GR8 Tech CEO Evgen Belousov and other industry leaders shared insights into esports and sportsbooks’ future, spotlighting AI-driven personalization, opinion-based betting, and esports as key disruptors.
The panelists drew a fascinating parallel between sportsbooks and streaming platforms. As competition intensifies, operators are now juggling multiple feed suppliers to deliver exclusive, tailored content. Much like streaming services fighting for exclusive rights, sportsbooks are investing in diverse and unique betting experiences to stand out. Diversification is now becoming essential for staying relevant in the market.
Belousov explored how sportsbooks are evolving from casino add-ons to profitable standalone ventures, redefining their role within the iGaming ecosystem. The panel underscored AI’s transformative impact on player acquisition, gamification, CRM, and risk management – all the areas where GR8 Tech leads the way with practical innovations aimed at increasing operators’ profitability.
Opinion-based betting – wagering on elections or entertainment outcomes – emerged as a rising trend, appealing to younger, tech-savvy players seeking interactive experiences. Esports also increased its role as a game-changer, with younger generations gravitating toward familiar titles like Dota 2 and Counter-Strike over traditional sports.
Focus for 2025: Driving Innovation
Yevhen Krazhan, CBDO at GR8 Tech: “As we wrap up 2024, I’m proud to say that GR8 Tech has exceeded expectations, performing at 150% of our initial goals. The demand and interest in our solutions have been overwhelming, and we’re excited to see how the trends of reactivation and investment growth continue into 2025. With strong momentum from events like SiGMA and the upcoming ICE, we are poised for another successful year. Our strategic focus remains clear – leading the charge as a global sportsbook platform. We’re ready for what lies ahead, and we’re confident that 2025 will be another great year for GR8 Tech.”
As the year comes to a close, the partnerships forged at SiGMA Europe 2024 have paved the way for GR8 Tech’s next major event: ICE 2025. Building on this year’s success, GR8 Tech will showcase its cutting-edge solutions and push iGaming boundaries, solidifying its industry leadership. Stay tuned for exciting developments and join us at ICE 2025!
The post GR8 Tech Closes the Year at SiGMA Europe 2024 with Industry Success appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
DATA.BET has announced a strategic partnership with Nubet. Through this partnership, Nubet will leverage DATA.BET’s Single Page Application with Data Feed that covers over 60 disciplines for both esports and classic sports. Advanced Risk Management that blends AI-driven analytics with expert oversight to optimise profitability while safeguarding against market volatility.
The company offers Nubet a fully customisable platform with greater flexibility and integration options. Optimised for SEO and supporting over 25 languages, it enables the betting brand to effectively reach diverse markets while providing a seamless, personalised experience that aligns with the specific needs of users from the North European region.
DATA.BET provides Nubet with an odds line built on official data that is expertly processed by its in-house trading team. This Data Feed offers unparalleled accuracy, with market delays reduced to as little as 1 second. Also, the partner will get a suite of interactive Widgets, such as Scoreboards and the Pitch Tracker, all supported by trusted data partners.
“We look forward to partnering with our new client to boost revenue through our progressive technologies and dedicated team. This collaboration not only enhances the user experience in esports betting but also represents a strategic entry into an exceptionally promising region for us,” said Otto Bonning, Head of Sales at DATA.BET.
Niko Marttinen, Head of Trading, added: “We are delighted to collaborate with DATA.BET, whose technology and industry expertise align perfectly with our mission to deliver exceptional value to our users. Partnering with us as a premium provider, powered by licensed content from DATA.BET, marks a transformative step forward for our company.”
The post DATA.BET Announces Strategic Partnership with Nubet appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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