Hidden Billion-Dollar Companies
Share
Shaan Puri discusses discovering Stake.com, a crypto gambling company that operates largely under the radar while generating massive revenue. The company, founded by young entrepreneurs in their mid-20s, demonstrates how successful businesses can operate quietly while achieving significant financial success.
Key Points:
-
Company Background:
- Founded by two entrepreneurs in their mid-20s
- Based in Australia under the name "EZ Go Gaming"
- Operates Stake.com, the world's largest cryptocurrency-based online gambling site
- Previously founded PrimeDice.com in 2013
-
Financial Scale:
- Estimated to be clearing $1 billion in revenue
- Founders likely self-made billionaires, possibly worth $10+ billion
- One founder purchased a $38.5 million mansion in Australia
- Company sponsors UFC and Watford (English soccer team)
-
Business Model:
- Operates through Curacao gaming license
- Uses cryptocurrency for transactions
- Partners with celebrities like Drake for promotion
- Provides house money to promoters (estimated $20M/month to Drake)
- Pays streamers like Aidan Ross ~$2M/month for promotion
-
Operational Structure:
- Main company based in Curacao
- Development team in Australia under EZ Go Gaming
- Uses cryptocurrency to facilitate gambling
- Maintains relative anonymity despite scale
-
Notable Aspects:
- Operates largely under the radar
- Founders maintain low public profiles
- Very little public information available
- Demonstrates how massive businesses can operate quietly
- Shows potential for young entrepreneurs to build significant wealth quickly
Sam Parr
Host of MFM and fitness influencer
Sam Parr is a serial entrepreneur and business media pioneer.
In 2016, he founded The Hustle, a business news media company that started in his kitchen with just $12 and grew to eight figures in revenue.
Sam led the charge in making newsletters popular when few believed in their potential.
After four successful years, he sold The Hustle to HubSpot, a publicly traded company. Now operating as HubSpot Media, The Hustle reaches 3 million readers daily, employs a team of nearly 100, and has been the launchpad for dozens of its staff to found their own media companies and newsletters.
Sam remains the host of the popular business podcast, My First Million, and continues to start and sell companies. He also co-founded Hampton, a highly vetted community for entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs, and teaches people to write better through his platform, Copy That.