FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2021
Contact: Michael Fiez
(608) 310-7547 – media@thefsga.org
FSGA Recognizes Impactful Industry Figures and Companies
DALLAS-FRISCO, Texas – The Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association (FSGA) was thrilled to announce several award winners at its annual summer conference June 7-8 — the industry’s first in-person conference since the start of the pandemic.
The awards recognized emerging industry figures and companies, as well as a lifetime of achievement for the latest inductee into the Fantasy Sports Hall of Fame.
Scott Fish, founder of the Scott Fish Bowl, was this year’s recipient of the Matthew Berry Game Changer Award. The award, given out by the ESPN Sr. Fantasy Analyst and Fantasy Sports Hall of Famer, pays tribute to individuals and companies that evolve the fantasy sports industry.
The Scott Fish Bowl brings together thousands of fantasy players to raise money for worthy causes. Over the past 11 years, it has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity.
“I am honored to be recognized by Matthew Berry and the FSGA,” Fish said. “It is amazing the way this industry supports and recognizes charitable efforts. I love that adding purpose to the games we love and play has become increasingly integrated into the industry. It helps both grow and connect our community.”
TrophySmack won the Funded Pitch Competition. The event was a chance for mature companies that have already secured funding to pitch their product before a panel of judges from venture capital firms.
TrophySmack, which recently secured a deal with Mark Cuban on Shark Tank, competed against See a Star Labs and nVenue for prize money put up by competition sponsor Vela Wood. They previously won the Quick Pitch competition for young companies in 2018.
Judges for the Funded Pitch Competition were Randy Chappel of Hersh Interactive Group, Stacie Stern of FanDuel, and Wayne Kimmel of SeventySix Capital.
“To be on stage and win the FSGA Elevator pitch when we launched TrophySmack, and now three years later come out of Shark Tank and win the FSGA Investor Pitch Competition, has been an incredible experience,” said Matt Walsh, founder of TrophySmack. “The FSGA has been a big part of our growth and success from day one.”
Conference attendees voted Boxxle Sports as the winner of the Quick Pitch, an elevator-style competition designed to give younger-stage companies a chance to practice their pitch for colleagues and potential future investors.
“Thank you to the FSGA for giving us the opportunity to be a part of the 2021 summer conference,” said Joe Maranino, CEO and co-founder of Boxxle Sports. “Winning the Quick Pitch Competition and to forever be a part of the FSGA tradition is a tremendous honor. We look forward to what the future holds for both the FSGA and Boxxle Sports.”
In addition to Boxxle Sports, five other companies competed in the Quick Pitch: Fantasy Football Expo, DraftWhisperer, Perpetual Play Fantasy Sports, Sports Gambling Podcast Network, and The Sports Caddy.
As previously announced, Emil Kadlec was inducted into the Fantasy Sports Hall of Fame.
Kadlec has been a significant fixture in the industry since 1990. He has multiple award-winning print titles and was at the forefront of the emerging digital marketplace.
Kadlec is a former Matthew Berry Game Changer Award winner for co-founding the World Championship of Fantasy Football.
The next FSGA conference is in Las Vegas from Feb. 15-16, 2022. The conference will feature an even more extensive series of awards for companies excelling in the fantasy sports and legalized sports betting industries.
About FSGA
The Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association is the only national organization representing the interests of fantasy sports and gaming companies. We are the voice for more than nearly 60 million fantasy sports players in the United States and Canada, and for the companies that provide services, news, information and competition to support these growing industries. Our members are sports and gaming enthusiasts, ranging from small startups to large media corporations. Our mission is to provide our members with essential research and data, networking opportunities and collective action to help them reach their potential. For more information, visit https://thefsga.org/.