SiGMA Asia Pitch 2025: where startups take part in the iGaming future

Rami Gabriel
Written by Rami Gabriel

The SiGMA Asia summit returns to the Philippines in 2025 with a highly anticipated edition of SiGMA Asia Pitch taking place at SMX Convention Center, Manila, on June 3 at 15:15 on the SiGMA Stage, where the judges panel and six startup finalists have now been announced. The SiGMA Pitch serves as a vital platform for early-stage companies to secure exposure, attract investment, and build connections with key players across the global iGaming sector. Participating startups are offered direct introductions to investors, operators, and advisors, unlocking opportunities for capital, strategic partnerships, and business growth. In addition, founders receive mentorship and practical advice from accomplished industry leaders, helping them refine their business models and set a clear course for expansion. Trudy Kerr will serve as MC for this years Pitch, guiding the event as the next generation of iGaming innovators take centre stage.

Five industry expert judges

Carla Maree Vella, CEO, Neatplay
Carla leads the panel with 16 years of iGaming experience spanning B2B and B2C operations across 18 markets. Her entrepreneurial approach and expertise in emerging tech, user experience, and operational efficiency make her uniquely positioned to assess startup potential.

Oliver De Bono, CEO, Quantum Gaming
A 20-year veteran in tech and gaming, Oliver has scaled platforms, raised capital, and led development teams across continents. His passion for crypto and scalable tech defines his current work at Quantum Gaming.

Joe Pisano, Founder & CEO, Jade Entertainment Technology
A pioneer in the Philippine gaming sector, Joe founded Jade in 2009. His career spans leadership roles at Automatic Totalizators Ltd, IGT, and Entertainment Gaming Asia.

Eoin Kirwan, Founding Partner, Ionic Group
Eoin leads a venture studio specialising in fintech, gaming, and media. His strengths lie in product development, fundraising, and programmatic advertising, where he applies a holistic, solutions-driven approach.

Dan Ciobanu, CEO, Remote2All
Dan is an entrepreneur and investor with a record in remote gaming innovation. He has been instrumental in ventures such as UNIGENS and BUGSY WORLD SOCIETY, pushing the boundaries of digital engagement.

Max Tesla, CEO & CO-Founder at Blask celebrating his win with the judges at SiGMA Asia 2024

Guide to the six startups in the spotlight

OneZero (Company based in United States)
Founder & CEO: Igor Slezin
OneZero is an esports betting platform where players wager on their own in-game performance in real time, combining skill-based challenges with crash-style betting mechanics. The platform uses advanced AI for achievement verification, ensuring fairness and transparency, and offers both direct-to-consumer and B2B licensing. OneZero is actively pursuing licensure from major jurisdictions and seeking $1 million in investment to fuel its rollout, aiming to bridge gameplay and wagering for both casual gamers and seasoned esports competitors, with a dual monetisation model and a focus on personalised engagement and automated dispute resolution.

SavageTech GmbH (Company based in Germany)
Founder & CEO: Tom Lemke
SavageTech is a B2B SaaS provider delivering immersive gamification for sportsbooks and 바카라s by integrating avatar-driven adventures that activate as users generate turnover. Founded in Berlin by Tom Lemke, who also established major esports teams Mousesports and BiG, SavageTech leverages World of Warcraft-style engagement to help operators attract and retain Gen Y and Z customers, offering rapid customisation of virtual worlds and plug-and-play gamification modules that boost loyalty and conversion. The company operates on a flat monthly fee plus a share of gross gaming revenue, and is currently raising 100,000 to complete its seed round.

LIKED (Company based in Singapore/Philippines)
CTO: Ellard Capital
LIKED is an affiliate marketing platform built for the Philippine iGaming industry, connecting licensed operators with pre-vetted, local influencers through a plug-and-play system featuring real time conversion tracking and analytics. With a zero-upfront, performance-based pricing model, LIKED streamlines influencer marketing into a scalable, data-driven channel, enabling operators to acquire high-quality players efficiently and compliantly. The platform is social-first, designed for rapid deployment, and led by a founding team with deep experience in finance, digital marketing, and product development in Southeast Asia and Europe.

Deuce (Company based in United Kingdom)
CEO: Justin Jones
DeuceXR Casino is a B2B platform and affiliate startup offering an XR and VR 바카라 environment, Celestial Dragon Nexus, for operators looking to deliver immersive virtual gaming experiences. The company targets Asian markets with a mobile-first, crypto-enabled, and blockchain-transparent platform, and differentiates itself by combining licensing of its VR/XR solution with an affiliate program that drives high-conversion traffic. DeuceXRs business model includes monthly licensing fees and affiliate commissions, aiming to attract both operators and players seeking next-generation 바카라 experiences.

Fabulous Gaming (Company based in Anjouan, Union of Comoros)
Managing Director: Drew Lee
Fabulous Gaming is an iGaming platform provider and 바카라 game aggregator, offering online operators a wide range of games, banking solutions, licensing support, and website design. The companys flagship project, BetFi, is a crypto 바카라 that merges 바카라 games, sports betting, and blockchain-based gaming on a single platform, focusing on transparency, a strong rewards system, and profit-sharing for supporters. Fabulous Gaming holds an Anjouan B2B gaming licence, has secured $1 million in funding, and is seeking further investment to expand product development and market reach.

TECPINION (Company based in India)
Co-founder: Manoj Trivedi
Tecpinion is an iGaming software development studio delivering scalable, AI-powered platforms and player account management (PAM) solutions for B2C and B2B operators. Their platform features in-house AI for insights on customer value, trending games, fraud prevention, and detailed reporting, alongside tools for affiliate management, business intelligence, and responsible gambling. Tecpinion operates on a one-time development and setup fee model and is actively seeking its first round of funding to accelerate growth.

Comprehensive prizes for Pitch winner

SiGMA Pitch participants compete for substantial support packages designed to accelerate business growth and market entry:

Startup Marketing Package (21,300) features branded exhibition space, premium office workspace, comprehensive digital promotion services, and privileged networking opportunities across SiGMA conferences.

Industry Education Package (2,600) delivers selected training programmes from the iGaming Academy, ensuring teams maintain regulatory compliance and sector expertise.

Cloud Infrastructure Package (10,000) through AWS Activate encompasses technical guidance, system architecture consulting, and $10,000 AWS credits for confident business scaling.

Talent Acquisition Package (2,000 & reduced pricing) grants access to r77’s professional recruitment solutions, executive search services, compensation analysis, and leadership development initiatives.

Brand Development Package (7,000 & reduced pricing) from Chips includes strategic branding consultation, social platform enhancement, and comprehensive website evaluation services.

Blockchain Growth Package (100,000) via ZBX delivers complimentary platform listing, promotional campaigns, and specialised resources for blockchain venture acceleration.

Technology Foundation Package (Up to 400,000) encompasses cloud computing and SaaS credits from leading providers, including Nvidia, DigitalOcean, Notion, and DocSend, for advanced technological infrastructure.

The start-up Pitch showcases the entrepreneurial spirit driving innovation across Asia’s rapidly expanding gaming and technology sectors, highlighting diverse approaches to platform development, user engagement, and market expansion.

Follow SiGMA Asia 2025 in the Philippines for exclusive coverage, insights, and live updates on the startup pitches and hot topics during the conference.