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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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Dublin
SolutionsHub opens Dublin office to support iGaming clients entering new €8bn market
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Expansion comes as Ireland rolls out new gambling regulatory framework, with industry valued at over €8 billion annually
SolutionsHub, a trusted provider of regulatory and operational solutions for the iGaming sector, has announced the opening of a new office in Dublin to support clients entering the Irish market as the country implements its new gambling regime.
The Gambling Regulation Act 2024, which established the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) earlier this year, represents the most significant change to gambling oversight in the country in decades. Full licensing enforcement is scheduled for mid-2026, transforming a market currently valued at more than €8 billion annually and positioning Ireland as one of Europe’s most closely watched iGaming jurisdictions.
SolutionsHub’s new Dublin office provides a local base to assist existing clients and international operators seeking Irish or wider EU licences, positioning the firm at the centre of one of the world’s most dynamic technology and financial services hubs.
As part of the application process, the GRAI will conduct a risk-based review of the applicant’s suitability. Applicants must demonstrate sound governance practices, financial health, and compliance frameworks, such as anti-money laundering, responsible gambling, and risk management. Additional requirements include disclosures of beneficial ownership, tax clearance, any criminal history and/or previous regulatory action. SolutionHub’s presence will bolster all operator applications with in-the-market guidance and support.
“With the Gambling Regulation Act now in effect and enforcement deadlines approaching, demand for expert support is at an all-time high,” said Lee Hills, CEO of SolutionsHub.
“Several of our clients are already preparing to apply for Irish licences, and our new Dublin office ensures they have direct, on-the-ground guidance to meet the requirements and enter the market with confidence.”
SolutionsHub is recognised for securing first-of-their-kind approvals in iGaming, fintech, and blockchain, and for guiding companies through complex regulatory lifecycles in multiple jurisdictions. Unlike traditional consultants, the firm supports clients from initial licence applications through to long-term compliance and operational success.
“Dublin is already a global centre for technology and financial services, and Ireland is now set to become one of Europe’s most important regulated iGaming markets,” said James O’Kelly, Head of Corporate Development at SolutionsHub. “By establishing a permanent base here, we can work more closely with clients and partners, while also building our local team to support long-term growth, innovation and job creation under Ireland’s new gambling framework.”
SolutionsHub continues to be a trusted authority in licensing, compliance, and operational support. The firm’s Irish office positions it at the forefront of a new era for the country’s gambling sector, helping operators capitalise on growth opportunities while ensuring robust compliance.
The post SolutionsHub opens Dublin office to support iGaming clients entering new €8bn market appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Andrew Humphreys Chief Product Engineering Officer
C-Suite Product Engineering Appointment at Bede Gaming
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Bede Gaming has announced a new leader in its Executive team with the appointment of Andrew Humphreys as Chief Product Engineering Officer.
Humphreys brings 16 years of experience in software engineering, with specialised expertise in end-to-end solutions and player experience. With a valuable customer-minded technical perspective, this addition to the platform provider’s seniormost team demonstrates a dedication to innovative UX in Bede’s product strategy.
An internal promotion, Humphreys climbed the ranks at Bede from a front-end developer and solution architect, progressing on through several positions of leadership and making a significant contribution to many of Bede’s key achievements along the way. As one of its longstanding employees, Humphreys has grown professionally with Bede, influencing its long-term strategic direction and witnessing firsthand the company’s transformational growth from start-up to a market-leading, international full-service platform provider.
Most recently, as Head of Product Engineering and a core member of the company’s senior leadership, Humphreys has led on product and technical solutions for customer projects, forward-thinking roadmap development, and introducing a performance-focused development culture throughout Bede’s product engineering teams.
This experience and tenure within Bede’s engineering department have positioned Humphreys for the newly created C-level position, in which he will retain responsibility for the continued delivery of high-quality products and features for the platform, including player account management, player engagement and front-end web & app.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Andrew to the Executive team. He has already demonstrated exemplary leadership and strategic thinking in managing our product development workstreams,” said Colin Cole-Johnson, Bede Chief Executive Officer. “Andrew has a keen eye for measurement, optimisation and continuous improvement that I’m sure will take our product engineering functions from strength to strength.”
“This promotion is an exciting step forward in my career, and one of many highlights that I have enjoyed during my time at Bede. As an engineering leader, I aspire to bridge the gap between our customers and our development teams. By fostering these relationships, we have delivered cross-functional, end-to-end solutions to an exceptional standard. I’m passionate about what we’ve built so far at Bede, and I’m excited to continue innovating with such a talented, dedicated team. I couldn’t see myself working anywhere else.” Humphreys said.
The introduction of the new Product Engineering C-Suite position comes as Bede’s Chief Operating Officer Paul Dinning announces his retirement at the end of 2025, after 9 years with the company.
The post C-Suite Product Engineering Appointment at Bede Gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Affluck
iGaming Wise Officially Rebrands to Wise Connections
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Following two years operating as iGaming Wise, and more than three years previously as Affluck, the company is entering a new chapter under its new name: Wise Connections.
The rebrand reflects the company’s continued evolution and its commitment to delivering clear value, stronger matchmaking, and more direct, effective connections for partners across the iGaming sector.
Wise Connections is built on a simple idea: quality beats quantity. Instead of pushing generic introductions or relying on outdated directories, the platform focuses on personal, vetted, and direct connections. Every introduction is made manually through trusted channels like Telegram, LinkedIn, or email, ensuring that both sides meet with full context, purpose, and confidence.
The core services remain the same: Marketing & PR, Consulting, Affiliate Management, but they are now tied together under a stronger single identity. And the biggest focus moving forward is the B2B Matchmaking, which has already proven to be one of the most effective ways to help operators, providers, affiliates, and service companies expand into the right markets.
Founder & CEO Gjorgje Ristikj describes the change as a natural step in the company’s growth: “We wanted a name that reflects what we really do. We connect companies with people who matter, and we do it the right way, personally, transparently, and with purpose.”
Wise Connections is not just a new name, it’s a clearer direction. A more structured approach. And a stronger commitment to building long-term partnerships that actually move businesses forward.
The post iGaming Wise Officially Rebrands to Wise Connections appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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