Understanding the Real money gaming ecosystem | Puneet Dua – Cofounder, Sportsbaazi

The guest of the podcast is Puneet Dua, the co-founder and CMO of Sportsbaazi, a leading fantasy sports platform in India. He has a background in fashion and previously worked at Arvind Internet Limited, where he was involved in launching their e-commerce business. He met the founders of PokerBaazi while working at Arvind and was drawn to the idea of launching a sports-centric platform in the real-money gaming (RMG) space.

1. Introduction to Sportsbaazi:

• Speaker: The host introduces Puneet Dua, co-founder and CMO of Sportsbaazi, a leading fantasy sports platform in India.
• Guest: Puneet briefly explains that Sportsbaazi started as a fantasy sports platform but has evolved into a full-fledged platform offering prediction games and the ability to create custom leagues.

2. Puneet Dua’s Background:

• Guest: Puneet shares his background in fashion, having specialized in marketing and worked at Arvind Internet Limited. He was involved in launching their e-commerce business and managing their online supply chain.
• Guest: He met the founders of PokerBaazi while working at Arvind and was drawn to the idea of launching a sports-centric platform in the real-money gaming (RMG) space.

3. Founding of Sportsbaazi:

• Guest: Puneet and his co-founders, Saurav and Nivesh, founded Sportsbaazi in 2017.
• Guest: They leveraged the growing popularity of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the overall expansion of cricket to fuel their platform’s growth.

4. Challenges and Opportunities in the Fantasy Sports Industry:

• Guest: Puneet emphasizes the importance of consistent innovation in the fantasy sports industry to stay ahead of the competition.
• Guest: He highlights the crucial role of user retention and the need to provide a valuable and engaging experience to keep players coming back.
• Guest: He discusses the impact of the 28% GST on the industry and how Sportsbaazi adapted to remain profitable within six months.

5. The Role of Influencers in the Fantasy Sports Industry:

• Guest: Puneet acknowledges the growing influence of sports personalities and experts in the fantasy sports space.
• Guest: He mentions the trend of former cricketers becoming active fantasy players and influencers, citing examples from international markets.

6. Puneet Dua’s Daily Routine and Productivity Tips:

• Guest: Puneet describes his typical workday, emphasizing the importance of regular check-ins with his team and daily performance reviews.
• Guest: He shares his preference for using simple tools like Excel for tracking progress and maintaining a flexible schedule.
• Guest: He highlights the importance of a healthy work-life balance and incorporating activities like yoga into his routine.

7. Future of Sportsbaazi:

• Guest: Puneet outlines Sportsbaazi’s vision to become a leading player in sports trading and prediction leagues.
• Guest: He emphasizes the importance of building a strong community around the platform through engaging content and interactive experiences.