The iGaming Leader Podcast

Max Meltzer: What it really takes to make it as a founder

Leo sits down with Max Meltzer, founder, CEO and investor, to unpack the real mindset and habits behind building in our industry. Max charts his path from early entrepreneurship to founding Strive Gaming, sharing why founders must have the guts to fail and how prioritising health and family sharpens

Max Meltzer

Founder & CEO, Strive Gaming

Watch the episode Apply to the Mastermind 08 Oct 2025 · Sponsored by Sumsub

01 · Watch the episode

The full conversation

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02 · The guest

Max Meltzer

Founder & CEO, Strive Gaming

Max Meltzer is a entrepreneur and investor. He is the founder and CEO of Strive Gaming, a B2B Player Account Management business that serves North America. Customers include PointsBet, Golden Nugget (DraftKings), Four Winds Casino, Genting and beyond. Shareholders include Betsson, OpenBet, Knutsson and more. He is also a Venture Partner of Astralis Capital who count PrizePicks among others in their portfolio. Max's previous roles include as CCO at Kambi and having founded other businesses such as Simply Sport Management, a sports management agency back in 2012, a company that still operates today.

Follow Max on LinkedIn →

03 · Inside this episode

Moments worth queuing up

00:00 Welcoming our guest.

05:00 Early entrepreneurship.

08:00 Stigma vs strategy: going back to employment.

11:00 Health over financial milestones.

16:00 Making balance stick.

20:00 Empathy, criticism and building thicker skin.

22:30 Coaching and journalling letters to his daughter.

31:00 Leaving Kambi and founding Strive.

44:00 Fundraising cycles, boards, and aligning investor expectations.

53:00 Only do the jobs only you can do.

In his own words

01 / 04

“To be a success as a founder, you have to have the guts to fail.”

02 / 04

“No one actually cares enough about you personally. Only you care about you to that extent.”

03 / 04

“Don't prioritise financial milestones ahead of everything else.”

04 / 04

“Whatever happens, prioritise family.”

This episode is sponsored by

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Important links

Visit egr.global→ Follow Max Meltzer on LinkedIn→ Follow Leo Judkins on LinkedIn→ Subscribe to the iGaming Leader newsletter→ Join the iGaming Leader Mastermind→

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