Co-producers WagerWire and BettingStartups.com are excited to announce the finalists across nine award categories. Winners will be revealed at the live event on March 12, 2025 in NYC, which will bring together startup founders, investors, and industry leaders for an unforgettable evening of celebration, networking, and recognition.

The Starties is a creation of WagerWire and Betting Startups and the companies have worked hand-in-hand to to program an awards event with the aim for it to become, as Geiger puts it, “the stuff of legend.” 

The Awards show will take place at INTER_ in the Meatpacking District, a short distance from the NEXT.io Summit: New York. The Starties strategically partnered with world iGaming community leader NEXT.io. and WagerWire Chief Experience Officer Travis Geiger has curated “The Startie Experience” to accompany the awards show in the form of a two-story interactive digital playground for the curious.

“We’ve circled the globe going to all types of conferences and awards events and I can confidently say, The Startie Awards will be a fresh and wholly original experience. Which is precisely the reason we’ve partnered with NEXT.io. Pierre, Anoosha, Stu, and Rory immediately saw our vision and said ‘let’s make this happen, and let’s do it in New York City’.” 

The experience has been curated from scratch to the finest detail – and on Wednesday night, when doors open at 7:30 – you will step through a portal into another reality.

After the Golden Ties are handed out to the winners at the ceremony by Olympic Gold Medalist LaShawn Merritt, everyone will have a chance after the awards to enjoy our open bar and immersive playground. Step into the Blackhole Simulator, explore our Bioluminant Jungle, or decompress in the Harmonic Chamber.

A limited number of General Admission tickets are now available to the public. The event will feature:

• • Cocktail hour & networking
• • Awards ceremony with a few fun surprises
• • Industry-first celebration of startup excellence
• • “How to Hack Your Mindset” with 2x Olympic Gold Medalist LaShawn Merritt

Limited Tickets Available

What:The Starties – Awards by startups, for startups.
When:March 12, 2025, 7:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Where:INTER_ NYC, 415 Broadway, New York

A limited number of tickets are available, reserve your spot: https://thestarties2025.eventbrite.com

Full list of finalists:https://www.thestarties.com/award-categories 

The 2025 Starties Finalists

Startup of the Year, presented by Eberg Capital

• • HotTakes
• • SPARKET
• • Wager Games

Best Tech, presented by Sportradar Futures Hub

• • Blask
• • PROMOFY
• • ShotQuality

Marketing Genius, presented by Optimove Ignite+

• • LiveDuel
• • PlayerProps.ai
• • Verse Fantasy

Defied The Odds, presented by Defy the Odds

• • EmpowerYourPlay
• • Five Star Fans (Techstars ‘24)
• • QueenBHive

Launch of the Year, presented by BettingStartups.com

• • HotTakes
• • PlayerProps.ai
• • PROMOFY

Best Collaboration, presented by WagerWire

• • Fiducia | AI
• • PlayerProps.ai
• • Plucky

Charity Act, presented by FoodFight

• • BettorEdge
• • EmpowerYourPlay

Coolest Cap Table, presented by GME Law

• • ALT Sports Data, Inc.
• • HotTakes
• • THNDR

 Best Bootstrapper, presented by XST Capital Group LLC

• • FantasySpin
• • Golden Whale
• • Linemate

Jesse Learmonth, co-founder of The Starties and BettingStartups.com, said: “The energy around The Starties has been incredible, and these finalists represent the very best of early-stage innovation in our space. Our goal from day one was to create an awards show that puts industry entrepreneurs front and center, and on March 12, we’re doing exactly that.”

Travis Geiger, co-founder of The Starties and WagerWire, added: “This event is more than just an awards show—it’s about building a community of builders, disruptors, and dreamers. The caliber of startups in this year’s finalist pool is off the charts, and we can’t wait to celebrate them properly in New York.”