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SOFTSWISS Founder Ivan Montik Turns 40 – Interview
SOFTSWISS Founder Ivan Montik turned 40 in January. He agreed to talk to us about this milestone in his life, about his career and his experience of managing a company.
You are the Founder of one of the most successful software gambling companies in the world, which now has more than 1,000 employees. Could you imagine something like this in your 20s and what key decisions led you to your current role?
I actually imagined something like this when I started SOFTSWISS as a small custom software development company in 2009. Growing it to 1,000 employees was not a coincidence but a result of the long-term strategy and hard work of many like-minded people. Without thinking big, you’ll never grow big. When we founded SOFTSWISS, it wasn’t just to make a living (although profit was an important goal) but to create a company that would stand out among the competition with its quality of services and become a well-known name on the market.
There were many decisions made on the way. Switching from custom software development to creating our own products was an important step, and of course entering the iGaming industry played a crucial role. We didn’t just create a quality software platform, but developed our own White Label Solution, a unique service at that time. It brought us our first clients, casino operators, and some of them became key players in the market and contributed greatly to our mutual success.
Integrating cryptocurrencies into our software was another important decision and a turning point in the history of SOFTSWISS. We were the first company to offer a Crypto Casino Solution to the market. Becoming a pioneer in crypto gaming, we took a special place in the industry and made it a large part of our current business.
Launching various microservices and developing them into separate brands was a series of right decisions, too. Now we have such successful products, as a game studio, game aggregator, affiliate system, and payment provider, all functioning as standalone solutions and contributing to the brand’s overall success.
Finally, partnering with people who have been beside me in good and bad times, working with me on the most challenging tasks and showing their trust has definitely helped to lead the company to where we are now.
You have mentioned many times in interviews that you have a degree in economics but not IT, nevertheless, you have managed to build one of the most innovative companies in the online gambling industry. In your experience, in order to create a successful and, most importantly, in-demand product, which background is more important?
Although economics and management were in focus during my university years, computer science and programming were also there. It’s been my long standing passion. When I was at school, I sold my piano to purchase my first computer and learn the basics of programming on my own. This passion played an important role in choosing what business to do and helped me make many useful contacts among technical gurus. However, to lead a company to success, it was more important to have a business vision. You need to have an understanding of how to organise people and establish effective working processes. The knowledge of economics and management is very helpful here, but it’s also about personal qualities, such as the ability to take risks, evaluate partnerships and pursue business ideas which you believe are worth pursuing.
What obstacles have you faced during the creation and development of SOFTSWISS? Tell us about the most difficult personal and professional challenges you have had to overcome.
Entering the iGaming market was a risky idea on its own, as our team had no prior experience in this area and we were almost unaware of how complex it was. The conclusion I made was that ignorance is bliss as it keeps us connected to real-time challenges and helps tackle problems fearlessly. I learned all aspects of the industry from scratch, from the principles and requirements of gambling jurisdictions to the technical details of casino payment processing, to the peculiarities of the local gaming markets and player preferencences. It was my biggest personal challenge, but acquiring this knowledge has made the most positive impact on business.
Another challenge I faced several times in the company’s history was managing partnerships. When you grow big and do successful business, you become very noticeable and people start thinking about how they can become part of your success. Some of them are really eager to contribute their knowledge and/or money and establish a fair and mutually beneficial relationship, but unfortunately that’s not always the case. Others just want to jump in and take advantage of the company without any real contribution. I’ve had several negative experiences with unscrupulous partners who have had a destructive impact on the business, but we managed to overcome it. In the end, it made all of us stronger and taught us to be more picky when it comes to investment and partnership offers.
Having achieved success, it is sometimes difficult to maintain the same rhythm and not be tempted to relax and reap the rewards of your work. Where do you find points of growth and motivation to develop yourself?
I have several sources of motivation that help me stay tuned. First of all, I follow the example of the outstanding people who have reached much bigger success than myself and still haven’t stopped climbing new heights. I’m talking about the leaders of such giants, as Amazon and Google, but there are also people in our industry who I admire. The desire to stay on top of the competition is a strong driving force. iGaming is a fast changing market with new strong players appearing every day and evolving trends. If we stop and relax, it won’t take them long to take our market share.
The responsibility for the people who work with us, supporting them in their career and providing growth opportunities is another strong driving force for me. They joined SOFTSWISS and shared our corporate goals to become part of the common success, and I’m not allowed to let them down.
Finally, my passion for innovation doesn’t let me stop at where we are. There are so many new areas to explore, both within the iGaming industry and outside of it, and so many new projects to investigate. With the opportunities I have now, I can’t help taking on new technological challenges and investing into innovation.
What was your approach as a manager towards driving SOFTSWISS to success? Tell us about your managerial principles and practises. Were there any surprising revelations over the several years of managing your own company?
My main approach is staying flexible in all situations. You can’t manage the company of 1,000 people the same way you did when there were just 10. When it all just started, I was interviewing each new candidate myself before making them the final job offer. It was extremely important for me that our employees shared my personal values, that we were on the same page. It hasn’t changed much and I’m still worried about sharing the corporate culture, but I already can’t interview each employee. So I make sure that the C-level management are the people I trust, and it’s their responsibility now to communicate the corporate culture to others.
I’m also a big supporter of the agile approach and at SOFTSWISS we try to organise our daily routine according to agile practices. From the very beginning, even before I knew what agile meant, I intuitively understood that people were our biggest asset and tried to empower each employee to take decisions and act quickly. Now, with over 1,000 employees and with our industry changing so quickly, I know it’s the only way to stay competitive. So I trust people and motivate them to take the responsibility by showing how unlimited their growth opportunities are. I noticed that when people get an opportunity to participate in the company’s profit, it’s a much better motivation than a high salary on its own. So we try to empower everyone to become part of the common success story.
Talking about the personal part of the subject, does managing such a company leave time for your personal life?
Finding a balance between work and life is just a myth, I think. It’s a never ending battle. However, practice makes perfect, and I think I found some tricks that help me combine both so that neither suffers too much. I used to have some difficulties with delegating responsibility, trying to accomplish all tasks on my own quickly rather than explaining it to somebody and facing unfulfilled expectations afterwards. I’ve worked on it and noticed that wise delegation saves so much time. I concentrate on the strategically important things now and let people I trust do other tasks.
Setting priorities is also important. For me, health is the top priority and sport is the only way to stay healthy. I do boxing and it keeps me sane both physically and mentally. Combined with the Russian sauna, it gives amazing results. Also, I never miss an opportunity to build new neural connections in my brain by learning something new. My latest achievement is snowboarding. Besides sports, time with family and friends is what makes me feel happy and complete.
Looking back on the four decades behind you, do you think you have become wiser and now make better decisions from both a managerial and a personal point of view?
I’ve definitely become wiser. Although I’m still demanding a lot from the people I work with, I’m less of a perfectionist today and I don’t expect it from my employees. As I said before, I’ve become more cautious in choosing partners and going into business relationships. Unfortunately, it’s the effect of some wrong decisions made in the past, but learning from my own mistakes is also an achievement. I still believe that it’s more important to take a risk and make a mistake than not to take a risk and miss a chance. So I can always forgive mistakes but I rarely forgive missed chances.
Finally, where to next? Has turning 40 changed anything? Do you feel just as energetic and motivated as before, looking for further ventures, or do you have other ambitions in mind?
I feel as motivated and energetic as I never did before. Life only starts at 40, doesn’t it? I have the experience, resources and people by my side to pursue new ventures. There are several exciting projects in the pipeline now, both for SOFTSWISS and outside of it. I’ll continue investing in innovation and supporting fresh ideas because this means investing in the future.
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Boomerang Partners celebrates 4th anniversary as a global leader in the affiliate marketing industry
Boomerang Partners, an affiliate iGaming & Betting Marketing Agency, is celebrating its fourth year of growth and success. Over the past four years, the company has added more than 18 iGaming brands to its portfolio, operating in over 40 geographical regions in compliance with local regulations. Boomerang is one of the industry leaders, with over 3,000 affiliate partners. From 2024 to 2025, their number increased by 120%. During the same period, the company achieved impressive growth across multiple metrics:
- A 5x increase in the online sports betting segment
- A 2x growth in the online gambling segment
- 194% YoY increase in sports traffic
- 86% retention rate among activated sports affiliates
- 5x growth in active users
Strategic partnership with AC Milan
In the summer of 2025, Boomerang Partners celebrated the first anniversary of its strategic partnership with AC Milan. As the Official Regional Partner of the Club, the brand significantly enhanced its visibility in the industry. The partnership garnered over 300 global media mentions and achieved a 15%+ growth in organic branded search. Sports traffic across Boomerang’s affiliate ecosystem increased by 194%, audience interest in sports topics rose by 81%, and loyalty to the Boomerang brand grew by 23%. Additionally, AC Milan Legends Andrea Pirlo, Serginho, and Massimo Ambrosini supported Boomerang at various events.
Golden Boomerang Awards
In 2024, Boomerang Partners hosted the first season of the annual affiliate traffic tournament, the Golden Boomerang Awards. The second season of the competition, held from February to May 2025, was even more high-profile. Participating teams increased from 226 to over 400 compared to the first year. The award ceremony was held at iconic San Siro Stadium in Milan, where awards were presented in 11 categories. The Golden Boomerang Awards have become a landmark event in the industry, providing affiliate teams from around the world with the opportunity to showcase their expertise and gain recognition on a global scale.
Golden Boomerang League
This fall, Boomerang Partners will host the Golden Boomerang League for the first time. This tournament is a unique opportunity for current and new partners of the company to qualify for the third season of the Golden Boomerang Awards by bypassing the competition for the top 30 or inclusion in nominations. From September 1 to October 31, 2025, participants need to generate 20+ sports FTDs on brands from Boomerang’s portfolio to access the final prize draw. In addition to qualifying for the GBA 2026, the prize includes a 2x AC Milan Experience, including flight, accommodation, and attendance at a home AC Milan match.
Presence at industrial exhibitions
Boomerang Partners regularly attends the largest industry exhibitions. Over the past four years, it has participated in over 20 conferences worldwide, including status events like iGB, SiGMA, and SBC. Boomerang consistently attracts event visitors with a wide range of collaboration opportunities, exciting prize draws, and creative presentations at their booth.
Awards and nominations
Boomerang Partners’ achievements are regularly recognized at prestigious industry awards.. From 2022 to 2024, we won:
- ‘Commission Offer of the Year’ at the AffPapa iGaming Awards 2022
- ‘Casino of the Year’ at the SiGMA BALKANS/CIS Awards 2023
- ‘The Best PPC Affiliate’ at the SiGMA Europe Awards 2023
- ‘Marketing of the Year’ at the AffPapa iGaming Awards 2024
- ‘Rising Star in Sports Betting’ (Operator) at the SBC Awards 2024
- ‘Best Player Engagement’ at the SiGMA Europe Awards 2024
In 2025, Boomerang Partners took home the ‘Unique Gaming Company of the Year’ award at the International Gaming Awards 2025, and its affiliate team lead, Kristina Shkredova, was named a Best Affiliate Manager AskGamblers 2025.
Additionally, in 2025, two Boomerang YouTube channels exceeded 100,000 subscribers and received the YouTube Silver Play Button. This demonstrates the company’s effectiveness in working with the audience and the high quality of its content.
This fall, Boomerang is in the running for 9 awards at the SBC Awards 2025 and SBC Affiliate Leaders Awards 2025, and has been shortlisted in 2 categories at the EGR Operator Awards 2025.
Anton Eshtokin, CMO of Boomerang Partners, commented on the company’s anniversary: “A year ago, I had the privilege of joining one of the most ambitious and unique companies in this niche, and I am delighted to contribute to its growth and help shape its recognizable image. The accumulated expertise, cutting-edge approaches and technologies, and genuine passion for the work ensure the Boomerang Partners’ notable development. 4 years is a wonderful milestone, symbolizing stability and opening up great global prospects.”
Boomerang Partners is set to keep growing and setting new standards in the affiliate marketing industry. By the end of 2025, it plans to expand its portfolio of projects, participate in top industry events (such as SBC and SiGMA), and continue its development as a top sports affiliate program. Join the company’s affiliate partners, set ambitious goals, and live without limits.
About Boomerang
Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global brand offering a wide range of services. Boomerang is the Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards — a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. Boomerang launched six new products in 2024, contributing to a nearly 1.5-fold increase in product users.
Boomerang’s portfolio contains 18+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across 40+ markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide personalized bonuses and 24/7 multilingual support.
The post Boomerang Partners celebrates 4th anniversary as a global leader in the affiliate marketing industry appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
nanocosmos, an award-winning pioneer in real-time video streaming, today unveils a major technology upgrade to its global real-time streaming platform based on MOQ, which will be demonstrated live at IBC 2025 (12–15 September, Amsterdam) on Stand 5.A34.
nanocosmos is presenting their production-ready global rollout of MOQ, built on a Media over QUIC (MOQ) CDN and player. The nanocosmos MOQ platform uses QUIC, WebTransport, and HTTP/3 to deliver end-to-end latencies under 500 milliseconds.
The major technology upgrade to MOQ moves the platform to true broadcast-grade delivery with real-time interactivity on any browser or device. MOQ has not only been implemented for the last mile for video playback on all browsers, but was made an integral part of the CDN, with a high impact on improving the origin-edge network transport, especially for global media transport. Therefore nanocosmos is the first CDN operating globally with MOQ/Webtransport.
For 10 years, nanocosmos’ platform has been purpose-built for ultra-low latency, large-scale, one-to-many live streaming based on its proven H5Live technology, serving businesses where every millisecond counts — from gaming, sports betting, and live auctions to stock trading, live commerce, corporate communications, education and large-scale virtual events.
“MOQ is superior to WebRTC in terms of video quality, stability and flexibility and we are proud to introduce the first MOQ-based real-time streaming solution on a CDN foundation that is ready for worldwide deployment. With more than 25 years of experience as an innovation leader with technology made in Europe, we are once again demonstrating the great potential of European development work in global competition,” said Oliver Lietz, CEO and founder of nanocosmos.
nanocosmos’ leadership in ultra-low latency streaming has also been recognised by the industry. The company was named Winner of the “Realtime Streaming Solution” category in the 2025 Streaming Media European Innovation Awards for its nanoStream platform.
The nanocosmos MOQ platform is a complete end-to-end solution, from ingest to playback, ready for instant deployment with zero configuration. By combining QUIC, WebTransport, and HTTP/3 with nanocosmos’ proven infrastructure, it delivers sub-second latency worldwide across 1,000+ CDN nodes, with broadcast-grade one-to-many distribution and seamless browser-native playback even under challenging network conditions.
Meet nanocosmos at IBC 2025
Visit nanocosmos in Hall 5, Booth A34 for live demos of its MOQ-based real-time streaming platform, 12th to 15th September at IBC.
Special events on the Content Everywhere Stage (Hall 5.A28) include the following presentations by CEO Oliver Lietz:
- September 12th at 12.15: Next-Generation Video Streaming with MOQ – how to build a comprehensive platform
- September 14th at 16:00: Media Over QUIC in Action: A Production-Ready Real-Time Video Platform
nanocosmos will also host a MOQtail Boat Party, on Sunday, September 14th, in association with Ali Begen, PhD, MOQ expert & founder of the MOQtail project.
The post nanocosmos Unveils Global MOQ Real-Time Streaming Platform at IBC 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Football Stats Startup Challenges Multi-Million Company With Free Publication Of Blueprints
A little company from Poland does something very odd for the competitive market — and thinks that one man’s dream can ignite a revolution in how we treat amateur football.
Prawn, the fresh startup from Eastern Europe with the international team, has announced its first hardware solution for recording football matches. But it is not on the shelf of the local store and does not pop out on the web page as an annoying ad. The users can literally obtain blueprints free of charge and craft it themselves.
Such an unusual decision is aimed at challenging the market that has been ignored and omitted by the big sports tech companies for years or even decades. Amateur football is miles and generations behind the professionals in the way players can assess their performance and improve — that is what Prawn dared to change.
They have already entered the market with the PrawnApp[a] that provides analytics for amateurs who record their match performance and upload the video. Powered by an AI, this system gives some key figures — goals, passes, dribbling attempts etc. — and, which is important, some tips for improvement. The service can be also used as a platform for creating highlights thanks to its ability to combine footage from different angles. The app is easy to try: each user is granted one month free of charge.
In this field Prawn faces some obvious competition. Other companies have released their own vision of prone holders for recording matches which is not much of a difference in functionality to what the Polish startup gives away for free on their Instagram page for following and tagging a friend. But there is a difference — the price tag.
Prawn developers, passionate football players and fans themselves, know exactly what the amateur footballers want — affordable tech for capturing their games and great service for analytics and improvement. That is exactly what PRAWNER[b] (that is how the phone holder is labeled) and PrawnApp are about.
The company has already proven that its ideas resonate with the players and sports industry: the initiative to create a global map of available pitches was mentioned 152 times in U.S., European and even Indian media, and their web page was visited by thousands of people within a couple of weeks. The Polish startup promotes its vision with a simple principle: those who love football and want to be better at it should not pay more, but play more.
The post Football Stats Startup Challenges Multi-Million Company With Free Publication Of Blueprints appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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