SBC has announced the five start-ups selected to compete in the 2026 edition of First Pitch Americas, taking place during SBC Summit Americas in partnership with BettingStartups.
The competition will bring together some of the most promising emerging companies in the gaming and betting industry, with finalists pitching their products and solutions before a distinguished panel of judges and investors. The winning company will receive a prize package worth more than $100,000, aimed at accelerating its growth within the sector.
The final will take place on the Leaders Stage on Thursday, June 11, where each finalist will deliver a three-minute presentation followed by a live Q&A session with judges and attendees.
First Pitch 2026 Americas finalists
This year’s finalists are:
- Insight Play AI, Inc. — An AI-driven platform that deploys virtual customer support agents for operators via text and voice communication, already helping reactivate dormant players across Latin America.
- Odditt — A platform designed to help sportsbooks, prediction markets and fantasy sports operators offer ready-made parlays and betting combinations with simplified explanations behind each selection.
- OddsBlaze — A real-time sports betting data platform providing odds, market movements, arbitrage alerts and APIs for operators and trading teams.
- ParlayX — A prediction markets aggregator built to help betting syndicates compare opportunities and act on market insights more efficiently.
- The Sharps — A tournament-based platform combining bankroll management and the strategic structure of poker with traditional sports betting.
Industry-leading judging panel
To determine this year’s winner, SBC assembled a judging panel featuring experienced professionals from the online gaming, sports betting, venture capital and start-up sectors.
The judging panel includes Paris Smith, founder and CEO of DefytheOdds; Javier Altamirano from Sportradar; Evan Meyer; Scott Secord; and Meredith McPherson. Meanwhile, Jesse Learmonth will return as the event’s official host.
Paul Mills, Event Director at SBC, said:
“This year’s First Pitch reflects the depth of start-up talent emerging across the Americas, with finalists bringing forward innovative ideas in AI, prediction markets, fantasy sports, data and betting infrastructure.”
He added:
“SBC is proud to provide these companies with a platform to showcase their products, connect with investors and build the relationships needed to support their next stage of growth.”
A prize package built to support expansion
The winning start-up will receive a prize package worth more than $100,000, featuring promotional services, technical support, legal assistance and business development opportunities.
The package includes contributions from companies such as MetaBet, Amazon Web Services, GameOn, Vegas Kings and CertilQ, among others.
Attendees holding Conference Passes, Business Passes or VIP Passes will be able to watch the First Pitch final live on the Leaders Stage on Thursday, June 11 at 2:20 p.m.
