iGB L!VE organisers have confirmed the five trailblazing start-up businesses who will be showcasing their ground-breaking ideas to a panel of industry entrepreneurs in the final of LaunchPad which is taking place in the Pulse Theatre 16:30 – 18:00 on 18 July. 

The visionary enterprises who will be pitching to the judging panel are Match Hype, Swap Profit, AMARIX, SavageTech GmbH and Lucky Lady Games.

Confirming the shortlist which was handpicked by the iGB L!VE team, Clarion Gaming’s Jamie Coles who is leading the exciting new initiative said: “These businesses will not only gain invaluable exposure, but they will also compete for substantial cash prizes and receive expert guidance from our judging panel of industry titans comprising Michael Caselli, Non-Executive Chairman – Clarion Events; David Sargeant, Investor, Advisor, Consultant – iGaming Ideas; Vladimir Malakchi, CEO and Managing Partner – Xanada Investments; Tony Pearce, CEO and co-founder – Reality+ and Justin Anastasi, CEO, VentureMax Group.

“We are also extremely grateful to Becky Liggero Fontana, Reporter, Producer and Host of Coingeek for agreeing to chair this first edition of LaunchPad @ iGB L!VE.”

He continued: “LaunchPad is not simply a competition; it’s a platform to showcase ground-breaking ideas, pitch to a panel of influential leaders, and secure the support required to take start-ups to the next level. Our vision is to discover those scalable solutions which have the potential to revolutionise the market.”

LaunchPad judge Michael Caselli who also serves as Non-Executive Chairman at Clarion Events highlighted iGB L!VE’s status as a hub for innovation in the industry. He explained: “With Launchpad we are highlighting the latest innovations in the industry and providing a formal platform for innovating businesses to attract the funding or partners they need to make their visions a reality. That is very much the ethos and the DNA of the show.

“Bank finance is a difficult issue as some banks and funds are excluded from backing gaming companies. iGB L!VE is totally different in that we have individual and institutional investors that are actively looking to invest in this space and have the knowledge and experience in the sector to know what projects fit their portfolios.”

“We don’t see supporting entrepreneurs as a responsibility as much as a pillar of what we do and what we stand for. The core value of iGB L!VE is to bring all elements of the industry together to foster collaboration and partnerships in order to drive the iGaming industry forward. Supporting iGaming entrepreneurs is fundamental to that formula.”

Part Dragons Den part Shark Tank, LaunchPad has been curated to add to the onsite experience. Finalists will be limited to a 10-minute on-stage presentation followed by a scrutiny session by the judging panel. The top three will receive a cash prize comprising €6,000 for first place, €3,000 for second and €1,200 for third.

A projected 10,000 delegates are expected at iGB L!VE 2024 which will feature 300+ exhibitors and sponsors occupying 21,000+ square metres of gross space, a figure which is 35% higher than in 2023.