Founders to Fortune 500: Ron Segev on Smarter Capital, AI Shifts, and Building for the Long Game

In gaming, innovation moves faster than regulation. That tension is where Segev LLP has built its edge.

Founded a decade ago as a full-service business law firm purpose-built for gaming and betting, Segev LLP has grown from startup roots into a 50-person team advising companies from ideation all the way to public markets.

Ron Segev has seen the full arc from early MVPs to Series rounds to IPOs and right now, he believes founders are operating in a fundamentally different environment than even a year ago.

The AI Reset for Early-Stage Founders

Ron didn’t hesitate to call it one of the biggest drivers reshaping early-stage fundraising.

“A year ago,” he explained, “founders had to raise money to hire developers and build product before they could even test product-market fit.”

With cheaper coding tools, AI-assisted development, and “vibe coding,” founders can now build, launch, and validate MVPs with significantly less capital.

Instead of raising early and diluting heavily just to get to market, founders can de-risk their idea first then negotiate from a stronger position.

The New Sweepstakes and the Long-Term Question

Ron is also watching the “race for the next sweepstakes” dynamic play out across the ecosystem. When regulatory landscapes shift - and they always do - what's the deep blue sky? Where does the company go next?

Three Pieces of Advice Every Founder Should Hear

Ron distilled years of advisory experience into a few recurring themes:

1. Don’t over-dilute early.Just because someone offers money doesn’t mean you should take it. The more you de-risk before raising, the better your terms.

2. Be careful who’s on your cap table.Gaming is regulated. Your investors must pass scrutiny. Financing documents need to reflect that reality, not generic templates pulled from the internet.

3. Think long-term.If you want institutional capital, you need more than a two-year narrative. You need a roadmap that survives regulatory shifts and market cycles.

And finally: be investable. Organized data rooms. Clean documents. Clear strategy. Investors don’t just fund upside, they evaluate risk.

Why Segev LLP Backs The Starties

Segev LLP has supported founders across the lifecycle from first check to public markets. Backing The Starties is about being in the room where early relationships form. High-energy founder rooms. Investors who understand the space. Operators exploring new mechanics. Because in gaming, the right introductions can shape the next decade.

The Starties Spotlight Series

Explore the full spotlight series:

• TxODDS: Building Blockchain-Powered Pricing Infrastructure for the 2026 World Cup → (link to Article)
• Sparket: From Startup of the Year to Expanding the Betting Stack → (link to Article)
• Sportradar Futures Hub: Solving the Distribution Gap for Gaming Startups → (link to Article)
• XST Capital Group: Inside the Deal Flow Driving Prediction Markets and Betting Tools → (link to Article)

Each conversation offers a different lens on where gaming, betting, and iGaming innovation are headed and the people helping move it forward.

⭐Join Us at The Starties Networking Party | March 9 | NYC ⭐

Kick off the NEXT.io confrence with founders, investors, operators, and startup supporters from across the iGaming ecosystem.

🗓 Monday, March 9🕗 8:00pm – 11:00pm📍 SHIFT Midtown – 330 W 38th St, New York

Presented by TxODDSCo-hosted by BettingStartups.com x WagerWire.com In partnership with NEXT.io and FoodFight

Capacity is limited 🎫 Get tickets at: TheStarties.com