iGB@ICE Startup Pulse: Paris Smith on what drives a successful startup

Paris Smith is a well-known figure in the gambling sector, having served 14 years as the CEO of Pinnacle and formerly the COO of Betcorp. Smith stepped down from the top position at Pinnacle in 2023, remaining in an advisory role for the group.

And now she’s taking on the startups in the Reverse Pitch, powered by iGB and WagerWire. This unique format takes aim at the tried and tired pitch competition by putting the power in the hands of the disruptors.

In Paris Smith, the panel of SavageTech CEO Tom Lemke, MFC Game CEO Michael Lee and WagerWire CXO Travis Geiger have a formidable industry icon to interrogate.

Since leaving Pinnacle Smith now serves as an angel investor, as well as a co-founder of startup launchpad Defy the Odds. In December 2024 Smith even became a backer of WagerWire in its latest funding round.

But from her vantage point, what does she think of the gambling startup space?

For Smith, humility, hunger, smarts and passion are critical qualities in successful founders. She advocates for realistic expectations and collaboration among startups. Prominent challenges, she says, are determining a startup’s valuation and securing funding at a pre-seed stage.

Speaking on the ethics of the gambling sector, Smith notes: “I’ve always been able to go to bed knowing that I’ve done what I believe is right and I think that that’s kind of the balance. But gaming is an industry, it’s a business.

“You know, we’re not running to people’s houses and putting a gun to their head and telling them they have to gamble. It’s an entertainment industry.”

Original Article