The Eastern European Gaming Summit (EEGS) hosted a compelling webinar featuring Eugene Ravdin, a leading expert in content creation and digital brand marketing. With extensive experience in content for platforms like UEFA.com and his current role at MightyTips, Ravdin shared valuable strategies for building digital brand authority, especially in light of recent changes to Google’s algorithms.

Ravdin emphasized the growing importance of creating meaningful content that aligns with a brand’s identity and values. “Your brand should be connected with your audience,” he stressed. He highlighted how his approach at UEFA focused on consistently delivering unique and relevant content without over-reliance on technical SEO, demonstrating the value of high-quality material in building audience engagement. By sharing examples from his work at MightyTips, he illustrated how content strategies can enhance brand presence and credibility, even without keyword-heavy approaches.

A key focus of the webinar was on the necessity of adapting content to different platforms and audiences. “Adapt your content for your customers, otherwise they will not feel like you belong to them,” Ravdin advised. He underscored the importance of tailoring content formats and styles based on the demographics and expectations of users on various platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, podcasts, and blogs. He also discussed localization challenges, stressing the need for precise language adaptation and the use of trusted native content creators: “If you think about localization—have a trusted native editor,” Ravdin recommended, emphasizing accuracy and consistency across markets.

Ravdin also touched on the increasing popularity of podcasts, offering practical advice on how to effectively plan and execute this format to engage audiences while maintaining consistency and content quality. “After you create trust and loyalty, you create engagement,” he added. His expertise provided attendees with actionable insights into leveraging content to strengthen digital brand authority, drive engagement, and adapt to the ever-changing digital landscape.

All attendees of the EEGS Webinar received a Certificate of Masterclass Completion, recognizing their commitment to advancing knowledge in the gaming industry.

You can watch the entire webinar here: https://youtube.com/eegamingsummit

A new fully EveryMatrix-funded project aimed at helping veterans of the war in Ukraine transition to develop new careers in technology has launched in Lviv.

The NGO, entitled ‘Academy for Heroes’, is spearheaded by EveryMatrix and was inspired by its 300+ employees, based in Lviv in Ukraine, some of whom are fighting in the war.

There are hundreds of thousands of combatants in Ukraine, a number that is rising every day. Following their return from war, sometimes with serious injuries, many need social adaptation and work that can provide a more certain future.

The Academy will organise courses designed by leading experts in the IT industry, enabling former military personnel to gain the knowledge and skills needed for successful IT careers.

Beyond its primary goal of equipping veterans with IT skills, it also aims to help them successfully integrate into today’s labour market. EveryMatrix and several other local IT companies will be involved in the employment of veterans after they have completed courses.

Ebbe Groes, Group CEO and Co-Founder, EveryMatrix, said: “Our Lviv office is central to our continued success and growth. Ever since the country has experienced conflict we have supported our friends and colleagues, as well as charities, with much needed funds committing more than €2 million to date, and we will continue to help them.

“Now, we’re taking that one step further by setting up our second company NGO to ensure veterans receive the training and skills they need to return to work and develop successful careers in technology.

“The IT industry is one of the strongest parts of the Ukrainian economy, renowned worldwide for technical skills. I hope many will either join us or go on to join other IT companies, giving them hope and a more certain future for themselves and their families.”

Professor Oleksiy Druhov, CEO, Academy for Heroes, said: “This is the only continuously operating project of its kind in Ukraine for military veterans. Our goal is to teach four groups of veterans every year.

“Each group will have its own specialisation such as Project Management, Quality Assurance and Full stack to name just a few areas. We carefully monitor the Ukrainian IT market and only train the specialisms required.

“All participants will undergo internships at EveryMatrix and other leading Ukrainian IT companies during their studies and they will have the best teachers from the IT Industry. We are also planning to open a specialised, inclusive-friendly training centre at the end of 2024.”

This is the second fully funded NGO that EveryMatrix has initiated. In 2015 the iGaming technology provider established TeachStream supplying much needed funds and resources to disadvantaged children in Romania who might otherwise never have the opportunity to develop IT, computer science, mathematics and English skills.

Soft2Bet is delighted to announce that its Soft2Bet Invest venture has won the Outstanding Contribution to Gaming 2024 award at this year’s SiGMA East Europe taking place this week in Budapest, Hungary.

The award celebrates executives and organisations that make significant impacts on the industry through technical innovation, advocacy or mentoring and investments. Winning the “Outstanding Contribution to Gaming 2024” award for this category is therefore fantastic recognition of Sof2Bet’s work and efforts in the field.

Soft2Bet Invest launched a €50m iGaming Innovation Fund to support innovative iGaming and casual gaming companies and provide financial and business support to entrepreneurs. It reaches across the corporate spectrum and is open to growth-stage and/or mature companies that are harnessing pioneering technologies in casual gaming, AI, traffic differentiators or behavioural-UX analytics.

Launched in 2024, Soft2Bet Invest has already attracted major interest from iGaming startups and visionaries wanting to innovate and revolutionise the sector. Its investment bracket ranges from €500K to €1m per individual project, with the investment strategy to be discussed on a case-by-case basis.

Martin Collins, Chief Business Development Officer at Soft2Bet, commented: “Winning this award is highly rewarding since we launched Soft2Bet Invest just this year. It shows the hunger there is among our industry peers for a specialist investment fund that can harness the energy within iGaming and turn entrepreneurial dreams into realities. Soft2Bet’s focus has always been innovation, of spirit, business and technology, and this award recognises those qualities. We’re truly delighted to have won it!”