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Sharp Alpha Closes Fund II With Over $25 Million To Back Sports, Gaming, Entertainment Startups
Sharp Alpha Advisors announced the closing of Sharp Alpha Fund II, an oversubscribed $25 million venture capital fund investing in early-stage sports, gaming, and entertainment businesses.
Existing investments in Fund II include C15 Studio, which recently emerged from stealth mode as the operator and distributor of Formula 1’s new streaming channel. Previous investments include Almost Friday Media, Jackpot.com, and Betcha (acquired by Vivid Seats).
The fund targets seed investments ranging from $1 – 2 million. Sharp Alpha also operates a co-investment vehicle that provides limited partners the ability to invest additional capital in select deals alongside the fund.
Managing Partner Lloyd Danzig was recently named to Business Insider’s Top Venture Capitalists in Sports and ELG’s 40 Under 40. He is frequently featured by CNBC, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.
The fund is backed by public companies, US fnancial institutions, pro sports team owners, family offces, top venture capitalists, and funds of funds, among others.
According to Danzig, there is a signifcant opportunity at the intersection of sports, gaming, media, and technology. “The competitive entertainment category is experiencing exponential growth but at the same time is desperate for innovation that early-stage companies are best positioned to supply.”
The fund has exceeded its $25 million capital raise target and expanded the size of its deal team.
Commenting on current market conditions, Danzig explained, “we are entering the most favorable period in the last 15 years to bet on great founders.”
Sharp Alpha’s advisory board includes Keith Horn, founder of Loring Capital Advisors and former COO of Elliott Management and Global Head of Leveraged Finance at Merrill Lynch; Emanuel Pearlman, the former Chairman of Empire Resorts and board member at several public companies; Daniel Bernard, Founder and Chairman of Redwood International Sports; Roy Behren, the President and Chief Investment Offcer of a $5.2 billion asset manager; and Don Kornstein, the Vice Chairman of Caesars Entertainment and former executive at numerous successful gaming companies.
In addition to investment capital, the frm provides portfolio companies with a suite of resources and opportunities spanning fundraising, revenue generation, brand awareness, commercial strategy, fnancial planning, and product development.
At the heart of the exhibition is the IRIS platform, R. Franco Digital’s GLI-certified, open-architecture solution. Designed to deliver a seamless experience across casino, sports betting, and retail operations, IRIS gives operators the flexibility, scalability, and security required to grow efficiently across multiple Latin American markets.
In addition to its robust infrastructure, R. Franco Digital will present its latest high-performance gaming titles, including Strange Spins, Genie Triple Bonanza, Diamond King Gorilla, Luxury Blast, Zorro: Final Duel, and The Phantom. Each game incorporates localized mechanics and culturally relevant themes, ensuring maximum engagement for LatAm players.
Javier Sacristán Franco, International Business Director at R. Franco Digital, commented:
“Latin America is a cornerstone of our global strategy. GAT Expo Cartagena provides an essential platform to connect with partners and showcase how our technology evolves alongside the region’s regulatory landscape. We are excited to highlight the latest advancements in our IRIS platform and our expanding game portfolio, both designed to deliver operational excellence and support regulated operators across LatAm.”
Visitors to the expo will be able to experience live demonstrations of the IRIS platform and explore R. Franco Digital’s diverse content offerings, emphasizing the company’s commitment to innovation, localization, and operator success in the region.
The post R. Franco Digital to showcase premium portfolio at GAT Expo Cartagena 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
R. Franco Digital, the Spanish iGaming provider, has announced its participation at GAT Expo Cartagena in Colombia, continuing its strategic push across the most prominent regulated markets in Latin America.
The company will be at the Las Américas Convention Center from March 24 to 26 to present its comprehensive ecosystem of products and services, specifically engineered to meet the sophisticated demands of the LatAm gaming sector.
The centrepiece of the exhibit will be the IRIS platform, R. Franco Digital’s powerful, GLI-certified open architecture solution. Designed to provide a seamless experience across casino, sports betting, and retail, IRIS equips operators with the flexibility, security, and scalability needed to grow efficiently across multiple markets.
In addition to its technical infrastructure, R. Franco Digital will debut its latest high-performance gaming content, including recent releases such as Strange Spins, Genie Triple Bonanza, Diamond King Gorilla, Luxury Blast, Zorro: Final Duel, and The Phantom.
All titles feature the localised mechanics and themes that have become a hallmark of R. Franco Digital, ensuring relevance and engagement across LatAm markets.
Javier Sacristán Franco, International Business Director of R. Franco Digital, said: “Latin America is a cornerstone of our global strategy. GAT Expo Cartagena provides an essential forum for us to connect with partners and demonstrate how our technology continues to evolve alongside the region’s regulatory landscape.
“We are excited to showcase the latest iterations of our IRIS platform and our continually expanding portfolio, both designed to deliver operational excellence and support regulated operators across LatAm.”
The post R. Franco Digital to showcase premium portfolio at GAT Expo Cartagena 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
DR Gaming Technology
DR Gaming Technology Appoints Stephane Henault as Director of Technical Services
DR Gaming Technology (DRGT) has appointed Stephane Henault – formerly of Light & Wonder, Scientific Games and Bally’s – as its new director of technical services.
The newly created role comes amid pending deals for DRG that will see it expand in Latin America and Africa.
“This is an important appointment for DRGT as we continue to scale our operations globally,” said company CEO Marco Herrera.
“Stephane brings a wealth of technical and operational experience, as well as a deep understanding of the evolving needs of casino operators. His expertise will be instrumental in further strengthening and streamlining the services we provide to our partners.”
“I see this opportunity as the perfect way for me to re-connect with operator partners directly, leveraging the experience gained over the last three decades working for both a start-up, and of late, a massive multinational, and to contribute in a very practical way to their day-to-day success,” said Henault.
“DRGT’s current growth trajectory presents an exciting challenge, particularly in ensuring that as the business expands, its technical service delivery remains efficient, scalable, and aligned with operator requirements.
“Being part of that journey and helping to build processes and structures that support it, is hugely motivating. Right now, I wake up every morning with a spring in my step – that’s special.”
The post DR Gaming Technology Appoints Stephane Henault as Director of Technical Services appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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