SBC opens applications for First Pitch in Lisbon

• Applications for the 2026 edition of SBC First Pitch are now open, with 5 early-stage startups set to pitch live in Lisbon.
• The final takes place on Thursday, 1 October at SBC Summit, with a prize package worth more than €80,000.
• Applications close on Friday, 24 July 2026, ahead of finalist selection.

SBC has opened applications for the 2026 edition of SBC First Pitch, its annual startup pitching competition held at SBC Summit.

5 early-stage betting and gaming companies will be selected to present live in Lisbon for a prize package valued at more than €80,000.

The competition runs on the Product Innovation Showcase Stage at SBC Summit on Thursday, 1 October, starting at 15:00. Startups will pitch in front of investors, operators, media and senior industry decision-makers.

Format and judging

Each finalist gets three minutes to present their product and business plan, followed by three minutes of questions from a judging panel. Only 5 startups will be chosen to compete, from what is expected to be a wide applicant pool.

SBC First Pitch is run in partnership with Betting Startups, building on the collaboration first established at SBC Summit Americas earlier this year. The session will be hosted by Jesse Learmonth, founder of Betting Startups, who guides finalists through the live pitch and Q&A.

Confirmed judges include Rob Duboff, director at Velo Partners; Tom Waterhouse, founder, chief executive and investor at his namesake firm; and Paris Smith, founder and chief executive of Defy the Odds. All three bring backgrounds in venture investment and company building within gaming and adjacent sectors.

Prize package

This year’s prize package spans media, technology, compliance and event exposure. Contributors include Are You Watching This?! and MetaBet, offering a year of API access to sports and engagement data worth €42,000; CertiIQ™, providing 12 months of compliance and market intelligence platform access worth €7,400; and SBC Media, contributing six months of advertising and editorial promotion worth €11,000.

Additional prizes come from Vegas Kings, offering a brand or web design package worth $3,000, and Square in the Air, providing a video promo package, social media audit, competitor analysis and social strategy guide worth €5,000.

Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld LLC is contributing €4,000 in credit toward gaming-related legal services, while SBC Events is offering a 3x3m booth, turnkey standbuild and four complimentary tickets to SBC Summit 2027, worth €15,000.

Paul Mills, event director at SBC, said:

“SBC Summit’s First Pitch competition gives startups the opportunity to get their products in front of investors, operators, partners, and media who can make a meaningful difference to their next stage of growth.”

“For early-stage companies, having a strong product is only the beginning. First Pitch gives five selected startups a live platform to build visibility, open valuable conversations, and showcase their ideas at one of the industry’s biggest global gatherings.”

Last year’s competition was won by AIStats, an AI-powered sports statistics platform using computer vision and machine learning. Following its First Pitch win, the company went on to raise $1.1 million in pre-seed funding and attract more than 700,000 users worldwide.

Wider Startup Zone

The pitch competition sits alongside SBC Summit’s wider Startup Zone, where founders can demo products and meet investors and commercial partners directly, plus a dedicated networking lounge for early-stage conversations. On the same day, the Product Innovation Showcase Stage will run a full programme dedicated to startups, giving emerging companies further exposure to operators, affiliates and suppliers.

Applications for SBC First Pitch close on Friday, 24 July 2026, with five finalists confirmed ahead of the live final at SBC Summit in Lisbon.

For the wider event, SBC Summit’s regulation and Latin America tracks are also taking shape ahead of the October dates, alongside entertainment confirmations such as Tiësto’s headline set at the closing party.

For startups in the betting and gaming space, First Pitch has built a track record of translating stage time into tangible momentum. Last year’s winner used the platform to secure funding and grow its user base within months.