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Pre-Submission Check-Up: Is Your Project Ready for an Investment Fund?

Published

1 month ago

March 10, 2025

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Securing investment is a crucial step in the growth of any business, but before submitting an application, it is essential to critically assess its readiness. Does the team have the necessary expertise? Is the product in demand in the market? Is there a well-thought-out development strategy and financial model?

Founders often become so engrossed in their ideas that they overlook critical aspects that are key for investors. Investors evaluate not just the concept but also the actual viability of the business—market demand, team professionalism, financial stability, and scalability potential.

One of the funds that support promising companies, teams, startups, and technologies and help them grow is PIN-UP.INVESTMENTS. The fund follows a meticulous selection process, investing in verified projects that are prepared for sustainable development. COO Ihor Denysov has outlined the key criteria that define an ideal candidate for investment, emphasizing strategic business development and scalability potential. These criteria serve as guiding principles rather than strict requirements, helping projects better align with the fund’s vision.

Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 (25-26 March)

1. Strategic Investment Focus Areas

To attract investment, the product of potential investee must align with the verticals that match current investor focus areas. Essential alignment niches include:

MarTech Solutions — traffic solutions, advertising agencies, and marketing tools, including arbitrage teams, media platforms, telegram channels, advertising networks, influencer marketing, and AI-driven technologies. Tier 1 and Tier 2 are of interest.
iGaming Innovations — casino game studios and comprehensive iGaming solutions, particularly slots, instant games, and infrastructure solutions for online gaming operators.
Fintech Advancements — digital banking services, cryptocurrency projects, and innovative payment systems.
AI/ML Applications — advanced artificial intelligence technologies enhancing user engagement, retention, and innovative solutions across various domains.
Analytics Platforms — operational solutions optimising user acquisition, retention strategies, marketing performance, and overall business processes. Projects falling outside these strategic domains may not align with our current investment thesis regardless of their individual merit.

2. Product with Proven Market Demand

To secure investment, businesses, companies, technology projects, and teams must have more than just an idea; they need a real, market-validated product. Minimum requirements include:

MVP+ (Minimum Viable Product Plus) — a product with basic functionality and initial users.
Market demand validation — stable customer base growth, user behavior analytics, early sales, market research, alignment with the key market trends.
A clear business model — understanding how the initiative will generate revenue.

If the product has not yet demonstrated market demand, it is crucial to focus on testing hypotheses before seeking investment.

3. Innovative Features for Market Advantage

Product differentiation is a crucial element for market success. It is essential to have:

Unique solution to an existing problem that addresses the pain points in ways competitors don’t.
Clear superiority backed by data, user testing, experience.
Technologies that are hard to replicate—ideally patent-protected—can help maintain a competitive edge in the market. While not a strict requirement, having such innovations significantly strengthens a project’s investment appeal.

Products lacking distinctive features significantly reduce their chances of gaining market traction and investment.

4. A Strong Team with Industry Experience

The team is a critical factor in determining a project’s success. It is essential to have:

An experienced CEO and competent core team (devOps, marketers, technical specialists, financial experts) who understand their field.
Clearly defined roles and efficient internal processes.
Previous experience in launching or developing similar projects.

Teams lacking the necessary expertise significantly reduce their chances of securing investment.

5. Transparent Financial Model and Growth Forecast

It is essential that the potential investees have:

A well-structured financial model — revenue streams, cost structure, and expected profitability.
Key customer acquisition metrics (CAC, LTV, ROI) that demonstrate marketing strategy effectiveness would be considered as the plus.
A profitability forecast — outlining when and under what conditions the project will become self-sustaining.

Projects that cannot justify financial viability typically do not pass the selection process.

6. Readiness for Scaling

It is crucial to demonstrate:

Growth potential — the ability to expand into international markets or scale within the current niche.
Adaptable business model — ability to pivot or modify offerings based on changing market conditions and feedback.
A well-planned customer acquisition strategy — including performance marketing, SEO, and partnership programs.

Projects without a clear scaling strategy are not considered investment-attractive.

Conclusion

Meeting these criteria significantly increases the chances of securing investment. PIN-UP.INVESTMENTS considers only verified, promising projects that are ready for growth. When submitting an application, businesses must be prepared to demonstrate not just anticipated but also concrete results that confirm their sustainability and competitiveness.

The post Pre-Submission Check-Up: Is Your Project Ready for an Investment Fund? appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

Ladbrokes to sponsor 2025 Thirsk Hunt Cup

Published

3 hours ago

April 16, 2025

Niji Narayan

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

Thirsk Racecourse has announced that Ladbrokes will sponsor the 2025 Thirsk Hunt Cup.

First run in 1859, the £50,000 mile handicap is Thirsk’s most prestigious race and highlight of Thirsk Hunt Cup Day on Saturday, May 3.

Ladbrokes is the biggest and best-known betting brand in the UK with over 1500 betting shops, a digital betting business and a long-standing association with horse racing dating back many decades.

The company boasts a strong sponsorship portfolio in horse racing, including Kempton Park’s Ladbrokes Christmas Festival, the Ladbrokes Chester Cup and the Ladbrokes Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Ladbrokes also sponsors leading Jump trainer Dan Skelton, who writes a weekly blog as he bids to win the British Jump trainers’ championship for the first time.

Farhh is the most notable winner of the Thirsk Hunt Cup in recent years, taking the 2012 edition by six lengths before a memorable Group 1 double the following year in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and Ascot’s Champion Stakes.

Simon Clare, PR Director for Ladbrokes, said: “We are excited to sponsor such an iconic and prestigious race as the Thirsk Hunt Cup, and look forward to partnering with Thirsk Racecourse as we seek to strengthen our support and promotion of the sport.”

James Sanderson, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course, said: “We are delighted to have Ladbrokes sponsoring the Thirsk Hunt Cup and its supporting programme in 2025. The £50,000 Ladbrokes Thirsk Hunt Cup is an early Flat season highlight in the North and we are very grateful for Ladbrokes’ most valued support.

“Over the past 10 years, northern-based trainers have held a vice-like grip on the contest, with the notable exception of Mick Channon (and STORTING) in 2021. Thirsk always welcomes challengers from far and wide but taking the 2025 Ladbrokes Thirsk Hunt Cup down south will be no easy task.”

The post Ladbrokes to sponsor 2025 Thirsk Hunt Cup appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Arturs Korolkovs, Media 24: “Radical Transparency Is Our Strategy”

Published

4 hours ago

April 16, 2025

Alex Carter

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

We’ve recently sat down with Arturs Korolkovs, Head of Sales at affiliate marketing company Media 24, to talk about building long-term partnerships in iGaming, his approach to industry events, and key trends of the affiliate sector — from deal structures and listing fees to navigating increased competition.

When did you join Media 24 and how has your role evolved since then?

I joined the company in 2020, right in the middle of COVID. It was a time of big changes for a lot of people, both in work and in life. I was actually the company’s first employee, and together, we worked on launching our first website.

In the beginning, I had little formal experience in sales or partner management, so I was doing a bit of everything. Uploading content, editing videos, handling social media. But as the company grew, so did my role. Over time, I transitioned fully into partner management, starting as an account manager and working my way up to the Head of Sales.

You attend many conferences and industry events throughout the year. What are your main priorities and how do you measure success there?

In the early days, conferences were more like hunting. Pure acquisition mode, trying to get our name out there and sign initial deals. Now, it’s a far more strategic play. Maintaining relationships, gaining new insights, and staying ahead of industry trends. Conferences aren’t just about sales. It’s an opportunity to gather valuable information that helps both the company and my own professional growth.

How we measure success has shifted too. It’s not solely about the number of contracts signed right there and then, though we certainly track leads that convert into long-term partnerships. We evaluate success by asking: Did we meaningfully strengthen ties with our top-tier partners? Did we gain specific, actionable insights – perhaps about competitor moves or regulatory shifts that will impact our strategy? And did we initiate promising conversations that lay the groundwork for valuable, long-term collaborations? That deeper, strategic ROI is what defines a successful conference for us now.

What are the key factors you consider when deciding whether to start a partnership with a specific operator?

Beyond the obvious things like relevant GEOs and a strong product, the initial communication with the affiliate manager is a massive factor. Are they responsive? Do they communicate clearly? This is the person you’ll be working with long-term, so having a good connection is crucial.

And yes, reputation is critical. The industry is smaller than it looks. Over time, you build a network, and there’s always ways to ask around and get feedback about a brand.

What’s your approach to building long-term relationships with partners?

Radical transparency. We’re open about our traffic sources, our methods, and even potential challenges we foresee. And we expect the same from the operator. Hiding bad news does more harm than good in the long run.

Beyond that, it’s important to proactively add value. By sharing market insights, providing constructive feedback, and maintaining regular meaningful contact. It’s about creating a relationship where both sides feel invested in the other’s success. The more open and proactive the communication, the stronger the partnership.

A lot of affiliates are working with the CPA deals, others prefer Rev Share. What’s Media 24’s approach here and why?

Ideally, a hybrid model works best. But if I had to choose between CPA and Rev Share, I’d go with Rev Share. For SEO traffic, it’s the most effective and sustainable model in the long run. And it’s probably the fairest model for both sides of the deal.

CPA can be situationally useful. Maybe for testing a new, unproven GEO, or launching a new project. But if we’re talking about a long-term strategy and good traffic quality, Rev Share wins every time.

There’s a differing opinion about listing fees in the industry. What’s your take on this?

We see listing fees as a mechanism for building strong and sustainable partnerships. In most cases, especially with new partners, we prefer to work with listing fees. Look, when we onboard a new brand, we’re investing significant resources immediately. Creating content, SEO, traffic allocation — all that requires a budget. This happens before we see a single dollar in commission. And without any guarantees on performance, GEO stability, or long-term commitment from the operator.

At the same time, we always take a flexible approach. For trusted, long-term partners with a strong track record, we are open to alternative structures. It’s all about finding a setup that works for both sides and ensures mutual long-term growth.

How can affiliate marketing companies handle increased competition and what are the ways to stand out in the industry?

Quality over quantity. A lot of affiliates still focus on pumping out mass content, but that approach is becoming less effective. Today you seriously have to focus on product improvements and user experience. The best way to stand out is through strong branding, engaging content, and a clear value proposition.

Building long-term relationships with partners also plays a huge role. In a crowded market, reputation and the ability to collaborate strategically become powerful differentiators. At Media 24, we believe in growing together with our partners, and that long-term thinking continues to pay off.

The post Arturs Korolkovs, Media 24: “Radical Transparency Is Our Strategy” appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Liftoff’s Mobile AppDev Awards 2025 Finalists Announced

Published

18 hours ago

April 15, 2025

Peter Tolan

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Mobile AppDev Awards 2025 recognizes excellence in mobile games and apps

Liftoff, the leading provider of marketing, monetization, and creative solutions for the mobile industry, has announced the finalists for the 2025 Mobile AppDev Awards.

Now in its fourth year, the Mobile AppDev Awards mark the best collaborations, social events, and minigame events in midcore and casual gaming, as well as marking both notable newcomers and evolving game apps.

For the first time, the 2025 awards will celebrate non-gaming apps for their innovation and use of engagement, social, and AI-powered features, drawing upon the skills and expertise of the team behind AppRefinery, Liftoff’s new insights platform designed to revolutionize app development and growth.

A jury of expert game and app analysts selected finalists across five gaming categories, each split into midcore and casual, as well as for the first year, four non-gaming categories.

Gaming categories (both midcore and casual) are:

Best Collaboration Event
Best Social Event
Best Minigame
Best Newcomer
Biggest Evolver

New for 2025, the non-gaming app categories are:

Best Feature Innovation
Best Use of Engagement Features
Excellence in Social Features
Excellence in AI-Powered Features

The winners will be announced on May 13th, 2025.

The finalists for the 2025 Mobile AppDev Awards are:

Best Collaboration Event (Midcore):

Summoners War: Sky Arena x Jujutsu Kaisen by Com2uS
PUBG Mobile x Venom: The Last Dance by Tencent
Brawl Stars x Spongebob Squarepants by Supercell
Goddess of Victory: NIKKE x Dave the Diver: Aegis the Diver by Level Infinite
Diablo Immortal x World of Warcraft: Eternal War by Blizzard Entertainment

Best Collaboration Event (Casual):