InnoGames GmbH today announces the appointment of Sebastian Goldt as its new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Goldt is being promoted from his previous position as Director of Growth and succeeds Felix Janzen, who will be taking on a new challenge outside the games industry.

Goldt will take over responsibility for all marketing activities and ensure that the developer and publisher of hits such as “Tribal Wars” and “Forge of Empires” continues to expand its position among the leading German games companies. Goldt will report directly to CEO and co-founder Hendrik Klindworth.

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“Sebastian has been an important part of our team for over 12 years and has developed into a real pillar of our marketing department. His achievements in the development and introduction of future-proof tracking systems and his success in building effective teams in the areas of user acquisition and growth are particularly impressive. We are absolutely convinced that Sebastian is the perfect successor to Felix. We are very much looking forward to working with him to optimally market our 9 live games and the titles in our development pipeline,” commented CEO and co-founder Hendrik Klindworth on the personnel decision.

Goldt added: “Felix and I worked very closely together for a long time and achieved great results for InnoGames. I am therefore sad to see him go. At the same time, I am of course very pleased about my new challenge and the trust that has been placed in me. The internal conditions for my start in the new position could hardly be better: We have an incredibly dedicated and experienced marketing team, very successful games on the market and promising titles in the pipeline. However, these tremendous assets come up against an increasingly difficult marketing environment. The key to success will be to continue to align marketing in such a way that player acquisition is ensured – and at a reasonable cost. This will be my focus for the foreseeable future.”

Sebastian Goldt has been with InnoGames since 2012. After successfully completing a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering at the University of Applied Sciences Wedel, he initially took up a position as Project Manager Information Management at Hamburg-based RETC GmbH. Around two years later, he moved to InnoGames as Product Marketing Manager, where he gradually worked his way up to become Head of Performance Ad Networks, Marketing Director Business Development & Performance Channels and – finally – Director of Growth. After just under a year, he has now been promoted from this position to Chief Marketing Officer.

Incentive Games, leading B2B gamification provider, today announced that they are increasing their strategic investment in HotTakes, a North American Free-to-Play affiliate app.

HotTakes has taken Ontario by storm and is poised to revolutionise B2C customer acquisition with its innovative format. Players can win valuable prizes with no betting or deposits involved. Through gamification and simplification, HotTakes has built a ‘free trial’ environment where newcomers can experience the thrill of sports betting without the financial risk.

Since its inception in 2022, HotTakes has secured partnerships with some of the biggest operators in North America, including bet365, PointsBet, BetMGM and Caesars. Incentive Games recognises HotTakes as the future of B2C engagement, and the company is set to expand into the broader US market throughout 2024.

John Gordon, CEO of Incentive Games, has been a key advisor to the HotTakes team, providing valuable insights on product development and business direction.

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John said, “This is one of our most important strategic investments to date. I believe HotTakes has what it takes to crack the code on a longstanding problem in the US market: acquiring online betting customers at a cost that is lower than their customer lifetime value.” He continued, “When I first met the founders, some of them were still in university – as a Scot, I refuse to call it college – and they were already profitable. The team is full of bright young minds who are making waves in the industry. I see them as some of my many (acknowledged) children and supporting the company throughout their success is incredibly rewarding!”

Tyler Amirault, CEO of HotTakes, said, “The synergy between HotTakes and Incentive Games is truly exceptional. As we strive to become North America’s ultimate B2C free-to-play platform, partnering with the industry’s leading B2B provider is a game-changer. John and Incentive Games’ expertise in balancing engagement with simplicity and intuitiveness will be instrumental as we expand across the US market. Together, we’re transforming customer acquisition from an ad-heavy approach to an educational and rewarding journey for sports fans.”

Sponsorlytix™, an AI-powered big data sponsorship analytics and tracking platform, is set to revolutionize how organizations in the esports and gaming ecosystems measure sponsorships. We proudly announce the official launch of our closed beta on July 1, 2024.

At its core, Sponsorlytix harnesses the power of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and computer vision to provide unparalleled insights, enabling sports clubs, organizations, governing bodies, esports and brands to maximize their sponsorship investments and achieve unprecedented ROI.

Sponsorlytix is poised to disrupt the sponsorship landscape with its state-of-the-art analytics tools, specifically designed for the esports and gaming ecosystem. By leveraging advanced AI, ML, and computer vision technologies, Sponsorlytix helps brands accurately assess the impact of their sponsorships in real time, across various tangible and intangible assets.

Sponsorlytix Products

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Sponsorlytix offers two powerful products tailored to the esports and gaming industry:

1. Sponsorship Dashboard: This tool tracks, detects, and measures an esport or gaming organization’s sponsor’s brand value across 10 assets, including esports tournaments, leagues, streaming, social media, traditional news media, naming rights, and more.

2. Tracking Portal: This tool specifically tracks and detects brand logos, placements, and locations across various esports contexts and also tracks gaming analytics and data.

Product Features
Real-Time Data Tracking: Monitor sponsorship performance in real-time, enabling agile decision-making and strategic adjustments.
Esports Big Data: Leverage comprehensive sports tracking, scoring, and real-time data analysis.
Gaming & eSports: Track, detect, and measure performance in eSports tournaments and leagues.
Computer Vision & AI: Hundreds of models and data sources trained and deployed to enhance analytical capabilities..
“Sponsorlytix is poised to transform the way esports organizations from the amateur to professional level approach sports sponsorships,” said Omar Al Raisi, Founder & CEO of Sponsorlytix. “Our platforms, built on the foundations of AI, ML, and computer vision, provide the clarity and precision needed to navigate the complex world of sports sponsorship, empowering sports organizations and brands to make informed decisions and drive significant value from their investments.”

Behind The Scenes Success before Launch

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Sponsorlytix partnered with the Bol Open in Croatia and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) as a data partner, conducting significant behind-the-scenes work on internal testing of their systems. This collaboration showcased Sponsorlytix’s capabilities on a global stage, with visibility in over 100 countries through major broadcasters including beIN Sports, Eurosport, Azam Sports, HRT, TV Asahi, and more.

Additionally, Sponsorlytix has partnered with African Lyon Football Club in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to track and measure the impact of their sponsorships. African Lyon was provided with precise insights into their sponsorship performance, enhancing their ability to attract and retain sponsors.

Moreover, Sponsorlytix has worked with The Sports Journal on several investigative articles, serving as a data provider. This partnership showcased Sponsorlytix’s ability to deliver comprehensive and detailed data, supporting in-depth sports journalism. Collaborating with media publishers and broadcasters remains one of the top priorities for Sponsorlytix.

Funding and AI Model Developments

Sponsorlytix was built mostly by bootstrapping, with only a small pre-seed round funded by family and friends, with additional personal investment from founder Omar Al Raisi. These funds were instrumental in research and development, leading to the creation of proprietary models that set Sponsorlytix apart in the market.

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Sponsorlytix is now developing hundreds of new AI models and is in the R&D phase of a groundbreaking model that will revolutionize a particular sport. Details about this exciting development will be revealed soon. Additionally, Sponsorlytix is looking to raise its seed round to further enhance its platform and expand its market presence. This funding will support continued innovation and the scaling of operations to meet the growing demand for sophisticated sports sponsorship analytics.