Ep. 174: Managing the grind of going from starting to scaling w/ Evan Fisher from Sparket

Ep. 174: Managing the grind of going from starting to scaling w/ Evan Fisher from Sparket

Author: BettingStartups.com July 30, 2025 Duration: 40:11
Ep. 174 features Evan Fisher from Sparket, which is a B2B platform helping operators reach new demographics through alternative betting markets and gamified slots. Hear him discuss: How he and co-founder Aaron built Sparket after work hours while still at Google and in finance Why Sparket is doubling down on alternative markets like pop culture and reality TV to attract underserved bettors New partnerships with Penn Entertainment and Wonder Nation, and what they signal about Sparket’s momentum Their soon-to-be-granted patent for AI-powered market creation, filed back in 2020 How Sparket raised ~$2.5M through angel investors while avoiding institutional capital (so far) What winning “Startup of the Year” at The Starties meant to him and why it felt different from other industry awards His honest take on the mental toll of founding a startup, and how he manages the grind Why gratitude, yoga, and stepping away from the screen help him stay sane while building How Sparket is preparing for NFL season with Swift-Kelce-themed contests and slot-credit tie-ins   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ Sparket website  ➡️ Evan Fisher on Linkedin ➡️ Check out Evan's article here.   📩 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.  

Tune into The Betting Startups Podcast for a direct line to the minds building the future of gambling and interactive entertainment. This isn't about tips or odds; it's a rare, behind-the-scenes exploration of the business itself. Each episode features candid conversations with the founders and CEOs who are launching innovative companies into the high-stakes world of sports betting, fantasy leagues, and iGaming. You'll hear firsthand about the unique challenges of navigating a rapidly evolving and heavily regulated industry, the strategies for capturing market share, and the personal journeys of entrepreneurship at the intersection of technology and gaming. Hosted by BettingStartups.com, the podcast serves as an essential audio companion for anyone interested in the business mechanics driving this multi-billion dollar sector. Whether you're an investor, an aspiring entrepreneur, or simply curious about the industry's new players, these discussions provide unfiltered insights you won't find elsewhere. Discover the stories of risk, innovation, and competition that are reshaping how the world plays and bets.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Betting Startups Podcast
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