Investing in MonkeyTilt
January 13, 2024 | Ryan Barney, Jonathan Gieg
NEW VISION FOR ONLINE GAMING
We believe the online gaming world is overdue for a change. Traditional platforms have long dominated the space, but they often fall short of meeting the needs of modern players. With the rise of blockchain technology and digital payments, the landscape is evolving, offering opportunities to create more engaging, secure, and compliant gaming experiences. Stake, one of the first global casinos to popularize accepting cryptocurrency as a form of payment, has grown from 0 to over $2.6b a year in annual revenue in 5 years. Stake is now the main partner of the Everton Soccer Club and a title partner to the Saub Formula 1 team. A few operators have tried to mimic the Stake playbook and have grown to 9-figure annual revenues in the process. However, we found that many of these players have either plateaued or outright stumbled due to lax regulatory approaches, poor product differentiation and a lack of trust from users. As this $103 billion market continues to grow, the demand for innovative platforms that balance compliance, user engagement, and scalability has never been greater.
WHY WE INVESTED IN MONKEY TILT
We were drawn to Monkey Tilt for three core reasons: market opportunity, product differentiation, and exceptional leadership. The online gaming market represents one of the largest and fastest-growing opportunities in crypto today. Monkey Tilt’s platform is not only built for scale but also tailored to the needs of a new generation of gamers who prioritize seamless integration of social experiences and crypto payments infrastructure.
Now when it comes to online gaming, a major issue that arises is compliance and security. Unlike competitors who have been notorious for operating in black markets or not KYC’ing their customers, Monkey Tilt has invested heavily in robust KYC/AML frameworks and jurisdictional gaming opinions from day one. This foundation positions the company for long-term success, whether through public listing, acquisition, or the eventual pursuit of gaming licenses in key markets like Nevada.
Lastly, we were very impressed with the caliber of Monkey Tilt’s leadership team. CEO Sam Kiki’s extensive experience at gaming giants like Caesars and MGM brings unparalleled industry knowledge and credibility. His vision is supported by a talented team and a growing roster of strategic partnerships with influencers and brands that enhance Monkey Tilt’s reach and appeal. He’s attracted top-tier institutional investors and advisors, including the founder of the largest publicly listed gaming company in the world, and senior executives from Silver Lake and MGM Resorts, as well as repeat backers from his previous ventures.
The rest of the Monkey Tilt team boasts 81 talented individuals with expertise spanning gaming, crypto, and compliance. This multidisciplinary approach ensures the company can navigate the complexities of online gaming while continuously innovating within crypto to stay ahead of the curve.
We’re excited to lead Monkey Tilt’s $30 million Series A round as they continue to set new standards for the online gaming industry. If you’d like to learn more or explore open roles, visit https://www.monkeytilt.com.