# What it really takes to make it as a founder

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-igaming-leader-7100266/what-it-really-takes-to-make-it-as-a-founder
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-igaming-leader-7100266/what-it-really-takes-to-make-it-as-a-founder.md
Podcast: [The iGaming Leader](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-igaming-leader-7100266)
Published: 2025-10-08T03:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/121ea9f1
Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/121ea9f1/3e836149.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-igaming-leader-7100266/episodes/what-it-really-takes-to-make-it-as-a-founder
Duration seconds: 3351

## Resource

In this episode of iGaming Leader, 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 a strategic “reset” back into employment, then leaving a top commercial role to found Strive Gaming. He shares why founders must have the guts to fail , how prioritising health and family sharpens decisions, and what it looks like to evolve from operator to strategist as the company scales. The conversation gets practical on fundraising, boards, hiring, and handling criticism without losing empathy, plus a powerful journalling practice that keeps him grounded as a leader and dad. Guest Bio Max Meltzer is an 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 CCO at Kambi and founding other businesses such as Simply Sport Management , a sports management agency launched in 2012 that still operates today. Key Topics Discussed 00:00 – Welcoming our guest 05:00 – Early entrepreneurship 08:00 – Stigma vs strategy: going back to employement 11:00 – Health over financial milestones 16:00 – Making balance stick 17:30 – Community, sport, and boundaries 20:00 – Empathy, criticism and building thicker skin 22:30 – Coaching and journalling letters to his daughter 31:00 – Leaving Kambi and founding Strive 36:00 – Seed strategies 44:00 – Fundraising cycles, boards, and aligning investor expectati…

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## Transcript

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