Fantasy Sports
FTN Network Leverages Strong Q1 2023 Growth to Close $500k Bridge Round from Techstars Sports Accelerator
FTN Network, a data company specializing in delivering affordable, customizable, extraordinarily detailed and accurate data for betting, season-long fantasy and daily fantasy announced the closing of its $500,000 Bridge Round, which oversubscribed; with the help of Techstars, a global accelerator for technology startups. FTN was selected to participate in the Techstars Sports Accelerator Powered by Indy program in Indianapolis in April 2022. FTN is now actively raising a $3ā5 million seed round to help expedite and scale the company, building on its robust early growth in traffic, subscription revenues and social media engagement.
More specifically:
- Q1 2023 traffic was up 54% (year-over-year) across the FTN network of sites.
- Q1 2023 subscription revenue was up 34% (year-over-year) across the FTN network of sites.
- FTN YouTube views are up 32% (year-over-year) and overall subscribers are up 31% (year-over-year).
- FTN Podcast Network downloads are up 25% (year-over-year).
āOur goal and mission with FTN was to create a fantasy and sports betting data company that allowed any user ā from those with a limited budget to a top-of-the-line sportsbook ā the flexibility to use our data and tools in ways that fit their specific needs. We never wanted to box our customers into a rigid system. Our exemplary year-over-year results are proof that our vision is filling a great need in the market,ā said Kevin Adams, CEO of FTN Network.
āThe closing of our bridge round from the Techstars Accelerator is going to help us invest in areas of our business where weāre seeing strong engagement, create new strategic partnerships with providers, tech companies and sportsbooks, and expand our talent pool with new developers and advisors to continue scaling and building one of the most innovative sites in the industry,ā Kevin Adams added.
In recent months, FTN has signed strategic partnerships with companies such as Sorare, Bettle and Prediction Strike, and rolled out two significant new tools which are gaining popularity with users and achieving significant traction in Google search results. First, its Same Game Parlay Tool on FTNBets.com takes APIs from the six largest US sportsbooks and compares a userās same game parlay line with FTN Data projections to create āTrue Odds.ā This allows the user to stay away from bad payouts and shop for the best odds. Second is their Player Prop Tool, which shows the best player prop bets available using their FTN Data projections to calculate win%, edge and expected value while offering the best line on the market to place that bet. This allows users to leverage FTN Data to make the most educated player prop bets as possible.
āAs we look toward our next round of funding, our sights are focused on scaling our existing products and services, and integrating the NBA and PGA into FTN Data, all while expanding into the business-to-business (B2B) market with FTN Data. By investing in more charters (people watching games and collecting data in real time) weāll have the ability to push our data to clients quicker, creating an opportunity for our users to make smarter and faster decisions. We at FTN are relentless in our approach to innovation and our goal of providing the most customizable data sets and products for each customer or corporation,ā said Stefano Vaccarino, FTNās Chief Marketing Officer.
Fantasy Sports
RotoUnderworld Closes $1.5 Million in Pre-Seed Round to Transform Fantasy Sports & iGaming with FastDraft Mobile Platform
RotoUnderworld, a technology company that analyzes statistical data for fantasy sports, announced that it has raised $1.5 million in a pre-seed funding round to build the next-generation fantasy gaming platform. The round was led by iGaming mavens and technology investors recognizing the companyās hyperactive user base and mobile development capabilities.
RotoUnderworldās new FastDraft app is revolutionizing the iGaming sector with high-engagement fantasy contests that appeal to both low and high-volume customers. By reducing draft times, simplifying the user experience, and providing more actionable in-game data, FastDraft is accessible to a wider audience of sports fans and fantasy enthusiasts.
āRotoUnderworld is on a mission to bring knowledge and joy to sports. Soon after our sports data business ramped up, we were inundated by fantasy sports consumers eager for more mobile fantasy gaming options, especially in the rapidly growing best ball vertical. We listened and delivered,ā said Matthew Kelley, founder of RotoUnderworld and gameplay architect of FastDraft.
āOur drafts finish in under 5 minutes, which is 10 times faster than traditional best ball formats. By simplifying the scoring and reducing the time to draft, FastDraft appeals to over 50 million fantasy gamers worldwide who love drafting but often feel overwhelmed by the complexity, competition and time commitment. FastDraftās streamlined format makes it easy to engage with the app and significantly increases user spend per session,ā said Kelley.
After acquiring more than 1000 new FastDraft users in the first month, the company is preparing a seed funding round to scale the platform, introduce new contest formats and promote the brand to the millions of fantasy gamers worldwide eager to start drafting faster.
Fantasy Sports
WagerWire Launches Buying and Selling of Fantasy Entries in App
WagerWire, a sports gaming marketplace technology company serving sportsbooks and fantasy operators, announced that buying and selling is now live in their app, available in the iOS and Google Play stores. This marks the first time that fantasy players can legally buy and sell daily fantasy Pickāem entries with the tap of a button.
WagerWire users are now able to buy and sell RealTime Fantasy Sports entries on the app, with more fantasy operators to be added for trading soon. WagerWire announced their integration with RealTime Fantasy in January 2024, allowing users to sell their Pickāem lineups while in progress, including during the actual game, directly on the RTFS platform. During the NFL playoffs, the marketplace saw 12% of all DFS Pickāem lineups sell on the secondary market.
āThis is a paradigm shifting moment for fantasy. This launch represents a way to bring more ownership and control over their entries. For the first time, there is a way to cash in on your lineups even if they go on to lose – by selling it to a friend or on the open market. The excitement is palpable,ā said WagerWire Co-Founder and CEO Zach Doctor.
The newly launched fantasy marketplace is the latest addition to the growing technology portfolio of WagerWireās parent company Wire Industries Inc. Their app already hosts an array of marketplace tools for both sports betting and fantasy including stat tracking, account syncing, bet value graph builders and calculator, and social features that allow users to follow how their friends, influencers, or sharps are playing.
āIāve been playing fantasy for years, but being able to sell my DFS lineups is game-changing. Iām also loving being able to buy and sell in-game and see the progress of my picks with live price suggestions. The RT marketplace in the WagerWire app takes an already great and easy-to-use experience to the next level,ā said Braiden Payne, RealTime Fantasy Sports veteran user.
WagerWire was recently shortlisted for two awards at SBC North America ā Rising Star of the Year and Affiliate of the Year, in addition to EGRās Rising Star of the Year and Hashtag Sportās Best X Presence award.
Fantasy Sports
Canton Welcomes the Return of the Country’s Largest Fantasy Football Expo to Hall of Fame Village in August
Hall of Fame Village announced that the largest Fantasy Football Expo in the country will be making a comeback, and looks to bring thousands to Canton. Fantasy Football Expo 2024 will be hosted on the Hall of Fame Village campus at the Center for Performance from August 9 to 11, 2024. This event, in its 5th year, takes place for a second time at the Village and brings together passionate fantasy football fans and top experts from around the country for 3 days of ultimate fantasy football fun.
Fantasy Football Expo 2024 has 3 days of experiences planned, uniting enthusiastic fans and leading experts nationwide. The weekend includes a blend of fantasy drafts, networking opportunities, and expert insights, bringing together seasoned veterans and newcomers to experience all things “fantasy football” under one roof.
“Hosting the Fantasy Football Expo 2024 fits perfectly within our Company’s model of bringing sports and entertainment together, especially with fantasy and the virtual experience being such integral parts of how fans engage with sports. We are thrilled to leverage our world-class venue to enhance and elevate this extraordinary event, considering the popularity of fantasy football and our mission to inspire and entertain guests,” Michael Crawford, President & CEO at Hall of Fame Village, said.
Bob Lung, Director of the Expo, said: “I’m incredibly thankful to work with Hall of Fame Village to bring the Expo back for another fantastic year. Hall of Fame Village offers an unparalleled backdrop for the event, providing the perfect setting for fantasy football enthusiasts to come together and celebrate their passion.”
Key highlights of the event include the introduction of Sports Betting Saturday, Presented by Underdog Fantasy, offering a unique opportunity to learn strategies and techniques to help enhance your experience in the sports betting world. Expert panels and workshops will be a focal point, delivering valuable insights and strategies from esteemed names in the sports betting and fantasy football industry. Sports Betting Saturday is committed to promoting responsible gaming practices and recognizing the importance of maintaining a safe and enjoyable environment for all participants. With dedicated sessions led by experts and sports gaming representatives, attendees will gain comprehensive insights into responsible gaming measures, including strategies for setting limits, recognizing problem gambling behaviors, and accessing support resources.
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