SiGMA Reveals Six Finalists And Seven Judges For World Startup Pitch 2026

SiGMA has confirmed the six finalists and seven judges for its World Startup Pitch 2026 competition, which will take place on 4 November at Fiera Roma in Italy.

The competition will bring together startups developing solutions across iGaming, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, influencer marketing and workforce management, offering participants an opportunity to present their businesses to investors and industry professionals.

Alerts.Bar, Casgamer, Lordus, Tugi Tark, Verifluence and Holi have been selected for the final, representing companies at different stages of development, from early-stage concepts preparing for commercial trials to established platforms already attracting customers.

Each finalist will have three minutes to present its business model, technology and growth plans, followed by five minutes of questions from a judging panel comprising specialists in venture capital, gaming operations, entrepreneurship and commercial development.

Six Startups Compete For SiGMA World Startup Pitch Title

The finalists represent a broad range of technology businesses, with several developing products specifically for the gambling industry.

US-based Alerts.Bar provides cybersecurity and threat intelligence software designed to identify compromised accounts, stolen credentials and emerging digital threats. The company has secured $100,000 in angel investment and is seeking $1.5 million in seed funding to support its expansion.

Casgamer, headquartered in Tbilisi, Georgia, has developed a shared tournament network connecting players across different online casino operators. Its white-label technology enables casinos to participate in multiplayer competitions while retaining their individual branding, customer accounts and payment systems. The company holds an Anjouan iGaming licence and plans to pursue external investment after reaching approximately 5,000 active players.

London-based Lordus is developing Lordus Arena, a platform combining multiplayer gaming, creator content and community features. Its proposed portfolio includes multiplayer slots, arcade games and Ludo Rich Monsters, with the company seeking €1 million in pre-seed investment in exchange for 10% equity. Lordus is preparing to apply for a Curaçao gaming licence before introducing real-money functionality.

Two finalists are based in Tallinn, Estonia. Tugi Tark develops AI-powered customer support agents for iGaming operators, with technology designed to handle enquiries involving deposits, withdrawals, identity verification and bonus conditions. The company claims its system has been trained on more than 10 million support interactions and can independently resolve over 80% of customer tickets across more than 249 languages.

Fellow Estonian startup Verifluence operates a marketplace connecting cryptocurrency casinos with verified content creators and streamers. Its platform combines identity checks, audience verification and smart-contract payment arrangements. According to the company, it attracted more than 400 registered streamers and approximately 15 active brands during its first month of operation.

Completing the lineup is Holi, a Malta-based startup developing workforce management software for hospitality businesses. Its Holi-HR platform is designed to support employee scheduling, attendance tracking, shift management and payroll preparation. The business remains in its pre-commercial stage and is preparing to test its technology through pilot projects.

Seven Industry Experts Confirmed As Judges

SiGMA has assembled a judging panel combining experience in gambling investment, technology, entrepreneurship and business development.

The seven confirmed judges are:

• Andrei Alexandrov, Head of Investments Operations at RedCore, brings more than nine years of experience across iGaming, technology, product development and commercial operations.

• Adam Rosenberg, Senior Advisor to Blackstone for gaming and leisure investments, previously held senior investment positions at Fortress Investment Group and Goldman Sachs.

• Meir Shachar, CEO of Runwai Growth Capital, specialises in business development and investment across iGaming, lotteries, sports betting, esports and digital entertainment.

• Noora Fagerström, a Finnish Member of Parliament since 2023, is also an entrepreneur and co-founder of the Jungle Juice Bar chain.

• Peter Heneghan, Principal at Bettor Capital, works with investment opportunities in the real-money gaming industry, having joined the venture capital firm in 2021.

• Robert Duboff, Director at Velo Partners, focuses on identifying investment opportunities and supporting portfolio companies across the gambling sector.

• Michele Franzese, Creative Director at SCAI Comunicazione and founder of Rome Future Week, brings more than 25 years of experience in communications, entrepreneurship and events.

The panel will assess the finalists following their presentations and question-and-answer sessions, drawing on their respective backgrounds in investment, commercial strategy and emerging technologies.

Final Takes Place At SiGMA Rome On 4 November

The World Startup Pitch final forms part of SiGMA's programme in Rome, providing emerging businesses with an opportunity to showcase their products to potential investors, commercial partners and established industry operators.

The diversity of this year's finalists reflects the range of technologies being developed around the gambling industry, from multiplayer casino products and AI customer support to cybersecurity and influencer marketing platforms.

While some competitors are already operating commercially, others are seeking their first major investment or preparing to launch regulated products, giving the judging panel businesses with different growth strategies and development requirements to consider.

The six finalists will present their projects at Fiera Roma on Wednesday 4 November, when the judges will select the winner of the 2026 SiGMA World Startup Pitch competition.