Hi Marina, thanks for joining us. How do you reflect on approaching eight years as Pin-up Global CEO?
In these eight years as CEO, I see how much we have accomplished. This is a period of ambitious goals and aggressive growth. We have become a strong player in the market and have been going step by step towards this, entering new markets, launching interesting projects and developing the team.
Of course, there were many challenges. But, each of them became a lesson and an opportunity for improvement. We have always strived to be flexible, implement new solutions and keep our focus on our clients. Now we continue to move forward, and I look forward to what lies ahead with confidence and interest.
At a panel earlier this year, former Sky Bet CEO Richard Flint was asked where the current investment opportunities are in gaming. He said it's tougher to make money in B2C markets today, but that there's plenty of potential in B2B. Does this sum up why Pin-up is transitioning to a B2B model?
We really see great prospects in B2B and, as you already know, we are actively moving in this direction. We are interested in working with businesses, and more importantly, we have unique solutions to offer. I think we can contribute to the industry with our cutting-edge technology and this is exactly the kind of challenge that we are comfortable with.
The future for B2B providers in gambling will still be promising, although the market is changing
Tell us more about this transition, what kind of plan you have and what timeframe we're looking at.
The new structure will ensure transparency of operations, allowing licensing of B2B direction and certification of own products. These changes are aimed at growing the business with a focus on technology, B2B solutions and innovation in product development for iGaming. The idea is to utilise our technology and expertise, such as technical solutions from the Pin-up.Tech team, and offer them as finished products and services to other companies on the market.
As for the timeframe – this is not a one-time shift but an ongoing process. But I can say that during the coming year we intend to expand our suite of products and services and attract even more partners around the world. This is a new and very interesting stage for our team and I believe that Pin-up will become a reliable B2B partner in the gaming industry.
Tell us about Pin-up.Investments. What exactly does it do and why is it different?
Pin-up.Investments invests in projects in gambling, traffic, software development, customer service, payment systems and AI-based products, as well as arbitrage teams and advertising platforms.
But, we don't just invest in a startup, we support it at every stage. We help with payment solutions, provide legal support, assist with taxation, accounting, strategic planning, business model testing and so on. With us, the project gets quick market entry and scaling. In some cases, Pin-up can become the first client of a startup, which in turn provides tremendous support for the product - the foundation for further market entry.
To date, we have received over 130 applications and we have several projects in the works. For example, we have invested $170k in a team that deals with advertising in TikTok. There is also, for example, a project that allows us to integrate advertising banners into gamers' streams in a real-time format. Today, Pin-up Global Holding is one of the market leaders. We realise how important it is to invest in promising ideas today, in order to remain a leader tomorrow as well.
During the coming year we intend to expand our suite of products and services and attract even more partners around the world
What areas of iGaming do you foresee as key growth opportunities that you’re looking to invest in?
As I said, Pin-up.Investments invests in projects in gambling, traffic, software development, customer service, payment systems and AI-based products, as well as arbitrage teams and advertising platforms. Any of the projects in these niches can “shoot up” and stimulate the development of the entire online entertainment sector. That is why we carefully consider each application and assess the potential of the future product.
Finally, looking at the market as a whole, do you continue to see a strong future for B2B providers? Or could we see more operators go in-house, or simply continue acquiring suppliers for their own tech in the coming years?
The future for B2B providers in gambling will still be promising, although the market is changing. Some operators may develop technology in-house or buy suppliers. But, this is resource-intensive and not suitable for everyone.
B2B companies such as Pin-up allow operators to use off-the-shelf solutions and focus on their core business without the need for large investments in technology. In an increasingly competitive and regulated environment, many companies are choosing trusted partners to adapt to new requirements. So even with consolidation in the market, B2B will remain important for those who want flexibility and innovation.
