Investor`s perspective: highlights from ICE Barcelona 2026

The Investments team at RedCore held dozens of meetings at ICE Barcelona with projects from MarTech/Traffic, iGaming, AI/ML, and RegTech. We share our observations on the direction of the market and changes in the approach of startups.

Technology is the main trend

The products at the conference focused on offering fundamentally new solutions rather than competing head-on. There were a huge number of game providers, but the ones that attracted attention were those betting on technological innovation.

“The trend is clear: products are trying to offer something completely new, rather than just competing in their niche,” notes Andrei Alexandrov, Investment Portfolio Manager at RedCore.

The influx of incoming applications confirmed this: even without a targeted search, most projects fell within the fund`s priority areas — MarTech/Traffic, iGaming solutions, AI/ML, and RegTech.

AI and data are changing the traffic game

At iGB Affiliate, which ran parallel to ICE, AI solutions for traffic were everywhere: trackers, predictive models, player behavior analysis panels. This reflects the maturity of the market — traffic optimization is no longer possible without ML/AI approaches.

The main competitive asset today is data and segmentation. Those who segment more deeply, personalize, and truly understand the behavior of their audience will win. Granular data, behavior by micro-segments, is no longer a “nice-to-have” but a necessity.

“Affiliates are increasingly acting not just as CPA traffic partners, but as full-fledged marketing experts who use data and content to improve engagement,” notes Iryna Yeromenko, Investment Portfolio Manager at RedCore.

Startups have become more mature

Just a few years ago, conferences were often attended by teams with raw ideas. Now the situation has changed: founders come with well-developed pitches, clear business models, and a clear understanding of the market.

“Startups are particularly impressive this year: everyone comes prepared and tries to present themselves in the best way. There was almost no one who came with just an idea,” says Andrei Alexandrov. “Some said that we are their priority fund. This level of trust confirms that we are moving in the right direction.”

Record dealflow, but quality is more important

The volume of incoming applications for ICE Barcelona exceeded the total for all other events last year. But a large flow also means risk: without clear selection criteria, it is easy to waste time on irrelevant projects.

“There are a lot of introductions, pitches, and “let`s talk”. At the same time, it is important to remember that quantity does not equal quality. ICE reinforces the need for strict investment filtering, as without clear criteria, it is easy to get lost in the noise,” explains Oleksandr Briukhovetskyi, Investment Portfolio Manager at RedCore.

This principle also works in traffic: the best affiliates focus on data strategies, mobile-first and video-first content, as well as player behavior patterns. Affiliates get access to more metrics, which lets them buy better traffic.

Long-term value instead of quick deals

ICE Barcelona isn`t about closing deals on the spot. The main value of the conference lies in the opportunity to create the foundation for partnerships for the next 6–12 months.

“Conferences bring strategic value. In terms of the density of quality contacts, long-term deals, and relevant contextual conversations, they are confidently ahead of most other channels,” — notes Oleksandr Briukhovetskyi.

Industry boundaries are blurring

ICE attracts a large number of cross-industry projects that are not formally related to iGaming but seek to integrate into this market. This creates new opportunities for investors who can see synergies between different verticals.

“ICE is a rare case where all elements of the iGaming chain are gathered in one space: operators, providers, payments, RegTech, AI, traffic, media buying, crypto, Web3. The boundaries of the industry are blurring right in front of our eyes,” Oleksandr sums up.

Where is the market headed

The market is moving towards consolidation. The trend towards aggregators and super apps is growing stronger, and now AI has joined the mix. The greatest potential lies in automated management systems, data aggregators, big data products, and predictive analytics.

In iGaming, there is growing demand for infrastructure solutions: tools for Retention, Customer Support, Antifraud, Responsible Gaming, and regulation. There is particular interest in products that allow operators to independently create loyalty systems, custom games, and analytics.

The focus of investors has shifted. Previously, they pursued ideas, but now expertise and team stability matter more. The number of startups has grown, as it is easier than ever to create an MVP in the AI era. Therefore, Due Diligence is critical: how well does the product solve a real market problem, and whether the team is ready to develop and monetize it.

Are you building a product in MarTech, iGaming, AI/ML, or RegTech? Tell the Investments team at RedCore about your project: https://redcore.group/lets-cooperate/