In a recent conversation, Ivan Montik, the founder of SOFTSWISS, discussed the company's significant evolution since its inception, the importance of maintaining flexibility, and the strategies necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing industry.
SOFTSWISS has transformed from a startup into a substantial global player. Montik emphasizes that the business is now a well-established ecosystem filled with various products and strong leadership teams. "Today, SOFTSWISS is a large-scale global business that stands firmly on its own feet," he stated. "It’s obviously no longer a startup."
When launching SOFTSWISS, Montik faced uncertainties inherent in any new venture. He had a clear vision, but the path forward was unpredictable. Now, he notes, SOFTSWISS has transitioned into a dependable B2B company with a solid foundation and a wealth of experience accrued from years of strategic growth.
Proudly, Montik points out that the company's flexibility, which was essential in its formative years, continues to be a hallmark of its identity today. “We haven’t lost the flexibility that helped us grow in the first place. We continue to look for new management approaches, rethink the way we operate and adapt to changes in the market,” he explained. This adaptability is what differentiates SOFTSWISS from other larger firms that struggle to remain agile as they expand.
Montik also discussed the shifting perception of the online gaming industry. For years, it was considered a niche area primarily appealing to younger audiences and smaller than traditional gambling. Today, however, he notes that iGaming has matured into a significant part of the global economy, governed by established regulations and showing consistent growth.
"We’re no longer talking about a challenger to offline gaming. We’re talking about a mature global industry that, in many cases, already rivals or surpasses traditional gambling in both scale and growth," Montik stated. He noted the emergence of new market categories and models, such as prediction markets, which were not part of the mainstream conversation just a few years ago but are now generating fresh interest and opportunities in iGaming.
Montik predicts that the most successful iGaming companies in the next five years will share a common trait: flexibility. He cautions that large companies often face the challenge of becoming slow and unable to respond quickly to market changes, as seen in other industries. “The companies that manage to combine scale with speed will be the companies leading this industry in five years,” he said.
However, he added that reliability will also be critical. As regulations become more intricate, it will be vital for companies to strike a balance between agility and compliance. Montik believes success hinges on the ability to maintain both aspects.
Discussing SOFTSWISS’s growth strategy, Montik emphasized the importance of aligning business results with innovative offerings. He sees growth as being driven not just by market expansion but by the ability to introduce new products and explore new geographies. While he acknowledges that the iGaming market is expanding at approximately 10% annually, he sets higher growth targets for SOFTSWISS itself, aiming for 20-30% annual profit growth to truly shape the market, rather than merely participating in it.
Finally, Montik expressed his aspiration for SOFTSWISS to be recognized as a strong technology provider in the iGaming space, stressing the importance of the people behind the technology. "If someone takes a closer look at SOFTSWISS today, I hope that’s what they’ll see – a company full of professionals who genuinely care about what they build and take pride in doing it well," he concluded.
