Ep. 168: Launching a non-dilutive capital model w/ Davis Catlin from Discerning Capital

Ep. 168: Launching a non-dilutive capital model w/ Davis Catlin from Discerning Capital

Author: BettingStartups.com June 10, 2025 Duration: 30:54
Ep. 168 features Davis Catlin from Discerning Capital, which invests at the intersection of betting, sports, media, and technology. This episode was recorded on-site at SBC Summit North America 2025 in Fort Lauderdale.   Hear him discuss: Why starting Discerning Capital gave him new empathy for founders Building a deal-by-deal investor network in a regulated industry The playbook behind their first investment in Australian operator Picklebet Why Midnite is a “challenger brand” winning with faster paybacks How SlotCycle is unlocking a hidden market for used slot machines The opportunity in underinvested profit pools in Australia and the UK His high-level thesis on the total addressable market nearing $100B How the capital flow into sweepstakes models may be slowing Prediction markets like Kalshi and the regulatory gray zone they face What a Bet365 acquisition could look like—and why DraftKings might care Why Discerning Capital is launching a new program for user acquisition/growth  financing How it works: non-dilutive revolving credit tied to ad performance Why it's a win-win model for operators with strong unit economics   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ Discerning Capital website  ➡️ Davis Catlin on Linkedin The Canadian Gaming Summit is happening June 17–19 in Toronto! Don’t miss out — get 50% off your Full Event Pass using code BETTINGSTARTUPSVIP at checkout. Grab your ticket now: https://sbcevents.com/canadian-gaming-summit/ticket-options/   📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/   -- This podcast is presented by Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Since 2012, Optimove has served iGaming Operators from startups to industry leaders. Today, 4 out of the Top 5 US Operators Personalize Player Experiences with Optimove. iGaming operators know their growth journey begins and continues with Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry.

Ever wonder what it's actually like to build a company in the fast-paced and often secretive world of sports betting and online gaming? The Betting Startups Podcast pulls back the curtain, offering a rare, unfiltered look at the people trying to reinvent this multi-billion dollar industry. Instead of just analyzing markets or trends, each episode sits down with the founders and CEOs themselves-the individuals navigating complex regulations, fierce competition, and rapidly changing technology to turn an idea into a viable business. You'll hear firsthand accounts of the early struggles, the pivotal moments of securing funding or launching a product, and the unique challenges of building trust in a sector where it’s paramount. This isn't about theoretical business advice; it's a series of real stories from the trenches of entrepreneurship in one of today's most dynamic digital landscapes. Presented by BettingStartups.com, the podcast provides a genuine narrative around innovation, capturing the human ambition and strategic thinking driving the next wave of companies in fantasy sports, iGaming, and beyond. Tune in for conversations that are as much about resilience and vision as they are about the specifics of the betting industry.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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Ep. 212: Meet the First Pitch finalists competing for $100k in prizes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:22
Ep. 212 is the official First Pitch preview episode, where we will meet the 5 startups selected to present at SBC Summit Americas on June 11 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In this episode, you will hear from the five final…