iGB Live 2026: Official Launch of The Summit
The foremost and multi-track industry conference iGB LIVE 2026 is about to officially commence its corporate schedule in London. Positioned as a premier annual summit for international casino, sports betting, and affiliate sectors, the event will feature a highly comprehensive infrastructure that brings together sector executives, emerging entrepreneurs, and institutional investors. The broader conference layout for the 2026 sequence will encompass dedicated content tracks, including the iGB B2B Trends forum, iGB Affiliate Trends, the Gaming Africa Summit, an M&A Summit, and sessions focused entirely on Sustainable Gambling.
The initial phase of the event itinerary will kick off with a major focus on early-stage corporate enterprise and investment structures. This will materialize through the official launch of the iGB Startups Accelerator, a targeted development program engineered to link high-potential tech founders with major venture capital firms and strategic advisers across the global interactive gaming ecosystem.
The Complete Pre-Event Agenda
iGB Startup Accelerator
- Gallery Room 3
- Until 16:00
The iGB Startup Accelerator is a dedicated programme connecting promising gaming startup founders with investors, advisors, and industry leaders from across the iGaming ecosystem.
13:00 to 13:05
Welcome to the iGB Startup Accelerator
An introduction to the programme, including an overview of the day’s sessions and tips on how attendees can make the most of the event.
Speaker
- Kelly Kehn, Co-Founder, Defy the Odds
13:05 to 13:35
Founders Unfiltered: Inside the Startup Journey
Startup founders discuss the realities of building and scaling gaming businesses, sharing lessons on growth, partnerships, fundraising, and navigating regulation.
Speakers
- Carly Watson, Co-Founder, Aibly
- Jack Everitt, Co-Founder, THNDR
- Kelly Kehn, Co-Founder, Defy the Odds
- Kitty Miller, Founder, ScoreQueens
- Will Martin, Vant Network
13:35 to 13:55
An Investor Mindset: What Makes a Startup Investable
A fireside chat exploring how venture capital firms evaluate gaming startups, what investors look for, and the key metrics that attract funding.
Speakers
- Rob Duboff, Director, Velo Partners
- Robin Harrison-Millan, Global Content Director B2B, World Gaming
13:55 to 14:20
Networking Break
14:20 to 14:50
Following the Money: Investing in Gaming Innovation
Leading investors discuss where capital is flowing within gaming and betting, highlighting emerging technologies, market trends, and future investment opportunities.
Speakers
- Becky Liggero, Reporter, Producer & Host, CoinGeek
- Mark Blandford, Principal, Blandford Family Office
- Michael Caselli, Non-Executive Chairman, Clarion Events
- Oscar Silver, Investment Analyst, Waterhouse VC
14:50 to 15:20
Reverse Pitch
A unique session where investors explain what they are actively looking for, giving founders valuable insight into funding priorities and partnership opportunities.
Speakers
- Connor Williams, Partner, Offsuit
- Irakli Davarashvili, Founder & CEO, PROMOFY
- Manraj Sandhu, Founder & CEO, Rivals
- Olena Vodolazhko, CEO & Founder, Fair Gaming Space
- Travis Geiger, Co-Founder & Chief Experience Officer, WagerWire
15:20 to 16:00
Networking & Closing
Continue conversations with founders, investors, and industry professionals before the programme concludes.
16:00 to 22:00
Welcome Drinks
Big Easy Canary Wharf
Kick off iGB L!VE 2026 with an evening of networking in a relaxed setting. Connect with fellow attendees, strengthen existing relationships, and prepare for the days ahead.
Sponsored by WPN Affiliates
20:00 to 02:00
Fire & ICE
- The Box, Soho
One of iGaming’s premier networking events returns to London, bringing together industry executives, innovators, and decision makers for an exclusive evening at The Box. Guests will enjoy private access to the venue’s renowned performances while celebrating milestone birthdays for Jodie and Camilla, both born in the Year of the Fire Dragon (1976).
Exclusive Networking Ecosystems and Nightlife Integrations
Following the conclusion of the content-driven startup program, the event will transition to its signature face-to-face networking tracks. The official Welcome Drinks reception will kick off at 20:00 at the Big Easy Bar in Canary Wharf. Sponsored by WPN Affiliates, the evening gathering will provide delegates an open environment to connect, discuss incoming digital traffic models, and forge corporate partnerships.
Simultaneously, the industry’s premium social gathering, Fire & ICE, will take place at the iconic Soho venue, The Box. Bringing together legacy industry leaders and enterprise owners, the private event will feature specialized stage shows and an exclusive celebration marking milestone birthdays for notable figures Jodie and Camilla, born in the 1976 Fire Dragon year. These coordinated receptions will allow global stakeholders to build critical corporate connections ahead of the main exhibition floor opening.
Macro Compliance Assessment: Cultivating Tech Ecosystems Against Licensing Hurdles
From a strict international gaming law and enterprise compliance standpoint, the deliberate inclusion of an isolated startup incubator inside a mature trade show like iGB LIVE highlights a major structural transition in the digital entertainment space. Historically, the online casino and sports betting industries were characterized by massive capital barriers to entry, primarily driven by the extreme costs of processing software certifications and obtaining localized operating licenses across highly fragmented geographic landscapes.
For a modern technology provider trying to debut an innovative product, whether it involves algorithmic sports trading, decentralized payment rails, or customized consumer affinity systems, navigating this compliance wall can be incredibly difficult without institutional backing.
By bringing together family offices, specialized gambling venture firms, and regulatory specialists inside an active accelerator framework, the B2B sector establishes a path for fast-tracking technical innovation. Venture funds will help absorb early compliance costs, allowing specialized developer squads to test their products within secure regulatory sandboxes. This setup will ensure that new software is engineered from day one to satisfy strict data-protection mandates, international anti-money laundering (AML) laws, and game-integrity standards, protecting early equity and ensuring a smooth integration path into the core platform engines of tier-one global gambling operators.
