$50,000 for an idea: how a Ukrainian startup can become a star of the NEXT Summit in Malta

Xanada Pitch Contest 2025 is not just another startup competition, but a real chance for Ukrainian projects to break into the global iGaming market.

The main winner will receive $50,000 and additional valuable bonuses from partners, including business support, mentoring, and scaling opportunities. The second finalist will be determined by online voting and will win a business and media package of prizes from the contest partners – NEXT, AffPapa and Lilith PR Agency.

How to participate?

From February 10 to April 1, 2025, startups can apply online athere. In the application, you should describe your project in detail, upload a mandatory pitch deck, and add any additional materials that will strengthen your position in front of the judges: business plan, financial indicators, case studies, and testimonials.

What should a pitch deck look like to win?

The pitch deck is your main tool for convincing the judges. It is your way to “sell” yourself and your project in a presentation format. It should contain:

• A detailed description of your product and business.
• Business model and unique offer.
• Clear analysis of the market and competitors.
• Real financial indicators and a sound monetization strategy.
• Information about your team and its expertise.
• Specific plans for development and scaling.
• The plan for the use of investment funds.

What do the finalists get besides money?

The winners will receive much more than just prize money:

• Presentation at the NEXT Summit in front of your potential international investors, clients, and media
• Business feedback from industry experts who will help you see the strengths and weaknesses of your project.
• PR and media support: interviews, publications, podcasts.
• AWS loans for $10,000 to build your startup’s technological infrastructure.
• Opportunity for additional funding and networking with leading market players.

Additional bonuses from Xanada Investments

Finalists will also receive a unique opportunity:

• Mentorship from Xanada Investments and CEO Vladimir Malakchi.
• Access to Xanada’s powerful ecosystem of resources, partners and strategic support.
• Extensive networking opportunities in the iGaming market.

If you don’t win, is there a chance for cooperation?

Absolutely yes! Xanadu Investments supports not only the winners but also promising projects for further investment. Even if you don’t make it to the final, but demonstrate strong potential, the fund can offer a strategic partnership and an investment of up to $2 million with full business support. It all depends on you, your pitch, persuasiveness and charisma!

Jury panel

Projects will be evaluated by leading market experts:

• Vladimir Malakchi is an experienced investor and entrepreneur in the iGaming industry. He holds the position of CEO and Managing Partner at Xanada Investments, where he specializes in startups and gaming companies.
• Pierre Lindh is the co-founder and Managing Director of Lindh, NEXT.io – The World’s iGaming Community.io
• Dmytro Belianin – CEO and founder of Belianin, co-founder and managing partner of Blask
• Two additional investors to be announced next week

The judges will select the TOP 5 best startups among all the applications that will go to the final round in Malta.

Successful case study: how did FTDx use their chance?

Last year’s winner of the competition, FTDx, was able to demonstrate the best preparation and prospects of its idea, and as a result, won an investment of $2 million and full strategic support from the Xanada Investments team.

FTDx specializes in monetizing unused traffic in the iGaming industry. Their path to success can be seen in this video:

How to make judges interested?

The competition is open to any gambling startup at the Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A stages. The main thing is to show a deep understanding of the market, a clear scaling strategy, and a convincing pitch. And even if you do not have a large team, it is not an obstacle. The main thing is your knowledge, preparedness, and ability to respond quickly to expert advice. 

Xanada Pitch Contest 2025 is your chance not only to express yourself, but also to get real resources for rapid development and success in the international arena.