Ep. 183: Bringing gamified avatars to iGaming w/ Tom Lemke of Savage Tech

Ep. 183: Bringing gamified avatars to iGaming w/ Tom Lemke of Savage Tech

Author: BettingStartups.com October 1, 2025 Duration: 33:01
Ep. 183 features Tom Lemke, founder of Savage Tech, the world's first true gamified retention engine for the iGaming industry.Hear him discuss: His review of the recent SBC Summit conference in Lisbon How his experience co-founding esports teams shaped his understanding of player engagement How avatars, achievements, and progression systems improve retention and customer loyalty Why being likeable is an underappreciated quality when it comes to B2B sales The importance of continuing to show up "on the circuit" at iGaming industry events and conferences Why he decided to retire from participating in industry startup pitch competitions Lessons learned from Adar Ziv, the self-proclaimed "Chief Linkedin Officer" His experience having just closed a seed round, and the importance of smart money over just money How Savage Tech is approaching localization for markets like Asia, Brazil, and Africa   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ Savage Tech website  ➡️ Tom Lemke on Linkedin   📩 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: 50

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Ep. 227: Meet the First Pitch finalists for SBC Summit in Lisbon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:23
Ep. 227 is the official First Pitch preview episode, where we meet the 5 startups selected to present at the SBC First Pitch Competition during SBC Summit in Lisbon on October 1st, 2026. In this episode, you will hear fr…