Latest News
Optimove Raises $75 Million to Help Operators Deliver AI-Mapped Player Journeys and Personalized CRM at Scale
Summit Partners’ investment will fuel Optimove’s M&A strategy, hiring and go-to-market of its SaaS application for customer-led growth and retention
Optimove, a leader in CRM marketing, today announced a $75 million investment led by global growth investor Summit Partners. The financing will support continued investment in strategic hiring and M&A, expansion of the company’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Marketing platform, and further acceleration of Optimove’s rapid growth. The company also announced the addition of Summit Partners’ Head of Europe, Han Sikkens, and Managing Director Steffan Peyer to its Board of Directors.
Optimove’s SaaS technology combines a Customer Data Platform (CDP) with a Multichannel Marketing Hub (MMH) designed to uniquely empower brands to deliver personalized marketing campaigns to connect and engage with existing customers. Unlike more traditional solutions that rely on common, rule-based orchestration, Optimove places customer data at its core, layering advanced AI-based campaign orchestration on top. This helps its users manage large-scale CRM marketing frameworks, personalizing thousands of campaigns to hundreds of segments and reaching each end player with the optimal message and promotion across email, mobile and other channels. The company’s solutions help operators achieve and attribute measurable improvement in key metrics such as churn, reactivation, conversion, and lifetime value per each player, campaign, set of campaigns, and across the entire customer base.
“In the last 18 months, digital consumption grew like never before. As a result, the cost of acquiring new customers has skyrocketed, while customer loyalty took a deep dive. Now, more than ever, brands understand the urgency to invest in existing customers to drive growth,” said Optimove Founder and CEO, Pini Yakuel. “We built Optimove to address the challenges operators face when attempting to deliver personalization at scale. Our solutions are designed to offer marketing teams direct access to their player data to build, test and optimize their CRM campaigns. Our AI engine helps ensure that every player receives the marketing treatment that increases their lifetime value, through the optimal channel, at any given time.”
According to data from Gartner’s Market Share Analysis: Customer Experience and Relationship Management Software Worldwide, the multichannel marketing market grew at a 3-year CAGR of 17% and is expected to reach $10B by end of 2021.
Headquartered in Tel Aviv and operating from offices in New York and London, Optimove was bootstrapped for its first five years and has scaled quickly, while maintaining healthy profit margins, since its founding in 2012. This new capital positions Optimove to further accelerate its growth and expand its global footprint. Today, the company’s CRM Marketing platform sends more than 23 billion optimized messages through email, mobile, ad platforms and other channels, to over 3 billion customers every year. Optimove serves more than 500 brands – including Entain, Gamesys, Kindred, Penn National, Sisal and others – and integrates with leading gaming platforms, such as Playtech, Pragmatic Solutions and SBTech, alongside leading execution channels, including Facebook, Google Ads, Dynamic Yield, and Attentive.
“The growth in e-commerce over the past decade has led to ever-increasing online competition, forcing brands to evolve their marketing strategies to deliver seamless, personalized omnichannel experiences that resonate and drive loyalty with consumers,” said Steffan Peyer, Managing Director at Summit Partners. “From its roots in Israel’s thriving and dynamic technology ecosystem, Optimove has grown into a truly global business, serving well-known brands across more than 40 countries. With strong technology, a strategic executive team, and the addition of growth capital, we believe Optimove is poised to build on its market leadership position.”
Over the last 12 months, Optimove generated revenue growth of more than 40% while continuing to maintain healthy profit margins. The company currently has 280 employees and plans to double its global headcount over the next 24 months, with hiring predominantly for its technology, customer, and commercial organizations.
Optimove is widely recognized as a category leader, with notable recognition as a Leader in “The Forrester Wave
21VIRAL
21VIRAL ADDS BITBLOX CRYPTO PREDICTION GAMES
21VIRAL has confirmed the integration of Bitblox’s unique crypto-price-based games into its platform. This distribution deal allows 21VIRAL access to popular games such as “3 in a Row,” “Up or Down?” and “Up or Down? Turbo.”
In these prediction games, players can guess whether the price of Bitcoin will rise or fall. The timing is particularly favourable, as the recent bull run in cryptocurrencies and heightened mainstream awareness following the US presidential election have contributed to their popularity.
Christoph Härtel, CEO of 21VIRAL, stated, “We are excited to onboard Bitblox Games to our GameConnector platform. These unique games, based on the crypto market, are highly entertaining and engaging, providing our operator partners with an innovative way to attract and retain players across Latin America.”
Brandt Page, CEO of Bitblox Games, added, “Working with the 21VIRAL team has been a pleasure, from our initial discussions to the contract exchange. The fast integration took less than four weeks, which is a significant advantage for any game studio like ours. Speed to market is crucial for optimal distribution of our crypto-prediction games.”
“The recent developments in the US have led to a surge in the crypto market, increasing the demand for our games within the iGaming ecosystem. As awareness of cryptocurrencies continues to grow in mainstream media, we look forward to collaborating with 21VIRAL and expanding our distribution in the Latin American market”.
Latest News
Betfred Officially Re-opens its Head Office in Warrington
Betfred, one of the UK’s leading bookmakers, has officially re-opened its Head Office in Warrington after a multimillion-pound investment, underscoring a new era of innovation, employee collaboration and commitment to the region.
The plaque was officially unveiled on Friday 22 November, by Betfred boss Fred Done, and the Speaker of the House of Commons the Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle. Sir Lindsay Hoyle is also the President of the Rugby Football League. Betfred is the sport’s biggest supporter and the headline sponsor of the Betfred Super League and the Challenge Cup for the men’s, women’s and wheelchair game.
Betfred first moved into the Spectrum arena from their Salford base in 2004 and decided to embark on this hugely ambitious refurbishment project in September 2021.
The revamped 50,000-square-foot Spectrum building now stands as a vibrant workspace for over 450 Betfred employees. This modern transformation marks a departure from its roots as a former arena that famously hosted concerts by the likes of Status Quo, New Order and Atomic Kitten, and also hosted major snooker tournaments.
Fred Done said: “Reopening our Spectrum HQ is a very proud moment for me and my family. We’ve come a long way since having one shop in Salford in 1967 and I’m delighted that because of our close association with Rugby League that Sir Lindsay Hoyle has kindly agreed to officially open the building.”
Betfred CEO Joanne Whitaker added: “The reopening of the Spectrum marks a fresh chapter for us. This redesign is more than just a new look—it’s about building an inspiring, collaborative environment that reflects our bold ambitions. We’ve created a dynamic space where ideas can flourish, and our teams can come together. We’re excited about the possibilities this new headquarters will open up and are looking forward to the journey ahead. Although we are an international company, it was very important to us we remained in the Northwest and close to our roots.”
A highlight of the newly revamped headquarters is the state-of-the-art “Nifty 50” studio, the new home of Betfred’s own numbers game offering a top prize of £5 million, hosted live by two brand new presenters.
Another standout feature of the refurbishment is the “Immersion Tunnel,” a stadium-inspired space that is bold, high-tech and designed to connect employees across the building. Spanning the tunnel is a striking, larger-than-life display showcasing Betfred’s sporting heritage and milestone moments. The tunnel delivers a powerful experience, bringing Betfred’s legacy very much to life.
This ambitious refurbishment was project managed internally by Betfred’s Head of Asset Management Peter Buckles and Betfred’s Senior Project Manager Helen Haworth.
Peter Buckles added: “The key to the project was understanding Betfred’s business requirements and that helped guide the delivery including elements which are unique to a betting business. With the support of the IT team, we also kept the data centre for over 1400 shops and our website still running during this major refurbishment. We are all very proud of what we have delivered for our colleagues.”
The construction side of the redevelopment was supported by Domis Construction and their Managing Director Kingsley Thornton said: “It was fantastic to work on such a unique project and completely modernise and redevelop the Spectrum Arena to make an exciting headquarters for Betfred.”
The interior design was completed by Jackson Downes, with their founder previously working with top brands such as JD Sports, Muse Developments and Accor Hotels.
Kate Jackson, founder and director of Jackson Downes, said: “Spectrum has always been a special building, so when tasked with redesigning this space for Betfred, we made it our mission to honour its rich history in the design. We’ve crafted a bespoke environment that not only meets Betfred’s unique needs but also motivates and supports the next generation of growth.”
The post Betfred Officially Re-opens its Head Office in Warrington appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
HIPTHER Academy Launches: Advancing Gaming & Tech with Premier Learning and Brand Values
HIPTHER proudly announces the launch of our Academy and official introduction of our brand community and guiding principles.
Going beyond a simple brand, HIPTHER is a forward-thinking movement, a community dedicated to the responsible evolution of technology, compliance, and innovation. It embodies a mindset that bridges tradition and the future, uniting people who are passionate about technology’s potential and committed to ethical and sustainable growth – the HIPTHERs! Through the #hipthers network, HIPTHER fosters a global community of innovators, industry leaders, and change-makers who don’t just look to the future – they’re shaping it.
Inspired by our guiding principles of fostering innovation, ethical growth, integrity, responsible ambition, diversity, respect and boldness, we are thrilled to introduce HIPTHER Academy, a structured learning platform embedded within our conferences, aimed at empowering professionals with in-demand skills and recognized certifications.
What is HIPTHER Academy?
HIPTHER Academy is a dynamic educational platform integrated into HIPTHER’s conferences, created to equip professionals with essential skills and valuable certifications in rapidly advancing fields. Through targeted, hands-on workshops led by industry experts, participants can deepen their expertise in key areas like iGaming, blockchain, AI, fintech, and cybersecurity. As an extension of HIPTHER’s commitment to growth and innovation, the Academy pushes the boundaries of professional development, offering attendees a deeper dive into the knowledge required to thrive in today’s evolving B2B landscape.
Key Features of HIPTHER Academy
- Expert-Led Workshops: Experienced professionals and thought leaders from various industries, ensure that participants get practical, up-to-date knowledge directly from those who shape the field.
- Certification Opportunities: Participants can earn certifications in different areas by completing designated workshops. These certifications are designed to be valuable credentials that demonstrate your expertise in key areas of B2B technology and beyond!
- Multi-Level Learning Paths & Advanced Certification: For those who want to go even deeper, some workshops will evolve into multi-level courses. After completing all three levels of a continued workshop series, participants receive advanced certification, indicating a thorough mastery of the subject.
Areas of study include:
- iGaming
- Blockchain
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Fintech, Cybersecurity
- Other Emerging Technologies: from Augmented Reality (AR) to the Internet of Things (IoT) and beyond.
Get More Information & View Upcoming Workshops
Why Choose HIPTHER Academy?
Expert Instructors: Learn from industry leaders with years of experience.
Exclusive Insights: Access insider knowledge and cutting-edge industry trends.
Networking Opportunities: Connect with other professionals in the field.
Recognized Certifications: Earn certifications that are valued across the industry.
“HIPTHER Academy represents the next step in our mission to empower professionals with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. By combining expert-led learning with our guiding principles of innovation, integrity, and responsible growth, we are creating a platform that not only builds expertise but also fosters a global community of ethical leaders shaping the future of gaming, tech, and beyond.”— Zoltan Tundik, Co-Founder and Head of Business at HIPTHER
With HIPTHER Academy, we’re not just building careers – we’re building a future where innovation and responsibility go hand in hand, empowering professionals to lead the way in shaping a better tomorrow. See you at the upcoming Workshops!
The post HIPTHER Academy Launches: Advancing Gaming & Tech with Premier Learning and Brand Values appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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