Paris Smith, a prominent figure in the gambling industry, led Pinnacle as CEO for 14 years and previously held the role of COO at Betcorp. In 2023, she stepped down from her leadership position at Pinnacle but continues to serve in an advisory capacity.
Smith is now involved with startups through the Reverse Pitch event, which is powered by iGB and WagerWire. This innovative format challenges traditional pitch competitions by empowering disruptors in the gambling space.
The panel includes SavageTech CEO Tom Lemke, MFC Game CEO Michael Lee, and WagerWire CXO Travis Geiger, who will engage with Smith, an industry icon.
Following her tenure at Pinnacle, Smith became an angel investor and co-founded the startup launchpad Defy the Odds. She participated as a backer in WagerWire's recent funding round in December 2024.
From her perspective, Smith highlights the importance of humility, hunger, intelligence, and passion in successful founders. She emphasizes the need for realistic expectations and collaboration among startups, while also noting the challenges of determining valuations and securing funding at the pre-seed stage.
Discussing the ethics of the gambling sector, Smith stated, “I’ve always been able to go to bed knowing that I’ve done what I believe is right and I think that that’s kind of the balance. But gaming is an industry, it’s a business. You know, we’re not running to people’s houses and putting a gun to their head and telling them they have to gamble. It’s an entertainment industry.”
