Vladimir Malakchi: “We strive to discover potential where others may not”

An innovation-driven sector, the gambling industry never relents from its determination to push boundaries and introduce new solutions. Today, we catch up with Vladimir Malakchi, a former Evoplay executive, a hardened industry veteran, and the CEO and Managing Partner at Xanada Investments, his latest project designed to help promising startups who share a people-driven approach succeed.

Xanada Investments is about building a network where each member supports the others, exchanging know-how, helping foster mutual growth, and more. Although there are challenges, Malakchi is confident that they can be addressed as the issues arise. Xanada Investments wants to focus on promising startup initiatives and judge them on their potential, motivation, and the experience of the people behind them, identifying potential and talent where others may have missed it.

Q: Vladimir, this must be a very exciting time for you – what was the trigger behind your decision to finally launch Xanada Investments?

Absolutely. After years of building and scaling businesses, both within iGaming and outside of the industry, I can state my core mission is to help people and their businesses reach their peak potential. This extends to nurturing teams, building personal relationships, and fostering business growth.

And seeing a gap in the market for an investment approach, we decided to create something really different - not just an investment fund, full of resources, but the entire ecosystem of businesses.

Xanada Investments is the realization of that vision and an ideal platform to facilitate this growth on a broader scale. We’re not just investing money; we’re building a community of innovation and supporting people in their ambitions and motivations. The fund is about harnessing the collective power of pioneering companies and guiding them to greater success. Our approach is focused on creating a network where each member supports the others, sharing insights and resources to foster mutual growth.

This drive to help others succeed is what truly motivates me every day as a founder.

Q: What are your immediate plans for the investment fund, and do you already have some potential investment targets lined up?

Even though we’ve only just announced Xanada Investments publicly, we are already full speed ahead with five projects that were launched in tandem with the fund's preparation, and I’m very inspired to see the pace we’re keeping. Over the past few months, we've received around 80 applications from various projects across different countries and niches within the iGaming industry.

We are currently conducting a thorough review of all these projects, meticulously selecting those that align with our strategic goals. Our priority number one is to finalize all internal establishment processes and form the core team, experts from the industry and beyond, that will drive the change and expand our reach. We're also actively preparing for the iGB Live conference in Amsterdam, where we will introduce a new investment project.

Additionally, as the number of applications and potential collaborations continues to grow, we are scaling up our efforts to study and develop these projects. We're connecting with investment projects both through media partnerships and independently to ensure we capitalize on this momentum. This is a dynamic period for us as we navigate through this influx of interest and work on scaling the initial five projects that have already shown great promise.

Q: Do you believe Xanada Investments could give a chance to companies that have been hitherto overlooked by other investment vessels?

Sure. At Xanada Investments, our focus is more on the startup, potential of the project, the experience of the team leaders, and their readiness to jump into the market, rather than their past interactions with other investors. There can be numerous reasons why a previous investment did not materialize—reasons that often do not reflect the startup's potential or alignment with our strategy. We assess the current situation and entrepreneurial experience, providing feedback on how well the project aligns with our investment philosophy and business approach.

We review each project from start to finish, engaging in thorough discussions and studying each case in detail. Sometimes, a project aims to secure multiple investments to scale its business, adding another layer of complexity to our evaluation so we also consider its collaborations with other investors and the terms of such partnerships. This is why every case is unique and requires a tailored approach, which is precisely what we provide at Xanada Investments. We strive to discover potential where others might not, giving overlooked companies the chance they deserve to prove their value.

Q: What do you hope to achieve within the first year of the fund’s launch?

In this first year, our mission at Xanada Investments is to firmly establish our foundational processes and begin effectively scaling the businesses within our portfolio. The enthusiasm and high interest we've seen from startups, other investment funds, and the media since our launch are driving our ambitious plans. We are committed to fully setting up our organizational structure and actively working with the projects we already have.

Our immediate plan includes investing in approximately 10-15 diverse projects. We aim to build a portfolio that not only reflects our values of innovation and collaboration but also demonstrates our commitment to fostering long-term relationships.

The high interest we've received motivates us to carefully review all applications, focusing more on quality rather than quantity. This approach aligns with our slogan "Together Towards Excellence," which captures our mission to not just grow but excel in what we do.

Q: Do you believe that Xanada Investments’ ethos will fit with the rest of the industry as you strive to create an ecosystem based on ideological pursuit? What would this ideology be if you had to define it briefly?

Definitely. At Xanada Investments, we’re all about unity and collaboration. Our whole strategy is built on helping businesses work together to grow stronger. We support our projects by offering expert advice, help with operations, and connections to our worldwide network. This kind of collaboration means every company in our ecosystem can face challenges better, grow faster, and reach further.

Our ideology is about moving forward together. In our ecosystem, businesses find all the resources and expert help they need right with us, so they don’t have to look elsewhere. This unity helps every member thrive, creating a community where everyone contributes and benefits.

For instance, many of our partners aim to launch new casinos. With our solid experience and well-tested platform, we understand exactly what a successful online casino requires—from overcoming common industry challenges to optimizing marketing funnels. Our startups don't have to waste months and funds on testing; instead, they can leverage our ready-made solutions and expert guidance, significantly accelerating their time to market and making them grow and prosper within our ecosystem.

This is the power of unity and being a part of Xanada ecosystem.

Q: On a slightly more pragmatic note, what are the challenges you envisage for Xanada Investments in the road to come?

One of the big challenges we face is navigating all the documentation and legal stuff across different jurisdictions. Every startup operates under its own set of rules, which can make things tricky. We have a solid legal team that’s well-versed in international law. They make sure our investments comply with local regulations and help startups get their legal ducks in a row.

Another challenge is the varying levels of preparedness among startups. Some have great ideas but lack proper documentation or market strategies. We help by providing comprehensive support, ensuring they have thorough documentation and solid business plans tailored to their markets.

Since we invest globally, we often deal with startups in different regions, each with its own market dynamics and regulations. We use our extensive network and local expertise to give startups the insights and connections they need to thrive in their specific markets.

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