US sports betting exchange start-up Novig has been backed by Y Combinator, marking a significant milestone in the company’s bold ambitions to disrupt the US sports betting industry.

Y Combinator is the most renowned startup accelerator in the world and has backed globally recognized companies such as Airbnb, Stripe, Dropbox, Coinbase, and Reddit.

Novig is a commission-free sports betting exchange that guarantees bettors the best lines and eliminates the need for traditional sportsbooks. It does this by enabling users to bet directly against friends or the market, rather than against the house, making the betting experience more efficient, fair, and, most importantly, profitable. As the United States regulatory landscape evolves, Novig is positioned to become a leading innovator in sports betting with its unique focus on quantitative research and high-frequency trading.

The company was co-founded by Jacob Fortinsky and Kelechi Ukah, recent Harvard University graduates who are highly experienced in quantitative trading, financial technology, and sports betting markets.

Commenting on the Y Combinator investment, Novig CEO Jacob Fortinsky said: “We’re thrilled to be joining this incredible community of founders, and we’d particularly like to thank our group partners Dalton Caldwell, Diana Hu, Nicolas Dessaigne, and Richard Aberman. Our platform will revolutionize the sports betting industry and experience as we know it, and it’s great to have YC’s support in realizing that vision.”

Featured Image:

Novig co-founders Kelechi Ukah and Jacob Fortinksy





Continue Reading

Banijay Group completes acquisition of Tipico Group

24 April 2026
by iGamingCapital.mt

The group is now positioned as the fourth largest European sports betting and gaming operator in revenue


Etienne Azzopardi announced as permanent Managing Director of Swintt 

14 April 2026
by Tim Diacono

Etienne Azzopardi is new Swintt MD after a successful interim period.

Prediction markets fit within MGA rules – but changes possible 

14 April 2026
by Tim Diacono

MGA confirms current framework is technology-neutral and therefore sufficiently flexible

Betsson reports dip in Q1 revenue and EBIT amid shift to regulated markets

13 April 2026
by Sam Vassallo

Operator points to tax pressures and B2B decline, while underlying B2C performance remains stable

SOFTSWISS becomes first Maltese company to launch prediction market iGaming software 

10 April 2026
by Tim Diacono

SOFTSWISS’ solution is built on a fixed-odds framework, giving operators greater control over pricing and margins

See more