Lucra Sports founder and CEO Dylan Robbins seized the opportunity at a dart bar and raised $20 million by landing ARK Invest to fund his company.
Lucra Sports is a software and technology company that builds features for everyday businesses. It is a platform that provides technology that other businesses can buy and build friendly, real-money competitions, digital tournaments, or streak rewards directly into their own customer apps to build brand loyalty.
Despite not being a pure AI platform, in a time where VCs only prefer to invest in AI firms, Robbins pitched the idea in a very unusual way instead of sending formal emails or using any other traditional approaches, that eventually landed him public investor Cathie Wood who is known as one of the big fishes of the investment industry.
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In the result of being in the right place at the right time, Robbins met a guy who worked in ARK at a darts bar in New York and happened to enjoy a few games together.
“Six months later, we ran into each other at the bar again. The same darts bar. It’s like, ‘Good to see you. How’s it going?’ And we got to talking and I asked him what he did for work. And he told me he worked at ARK,” he recalled.
Casual conversation led to business talk and the contact introduced him to the investment team at ARK, which ended with them writing a small check for his Series A round.
Robbins credits this win to his knack of being able to build relationships easily everywhere with everyone.
“My first piece of advice on all of this is you never know who you’re talking to. Just go around, be nice, meet people, have fun,” he says. “Let that lead to good conversations, which will lead to introductions” he explained.
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The investment eventually became part of a larger $20 million Series B funding round led by ARK Invests venture fund, according to TechCrunch. Robbins told the publication that Lucra adjusted its pitch strategy considering many venture capital firms were prioritizing artificial intelligence companies.
Rather than presenting Lucra solely as an esports or gaming company, Robbins positioned the business as a platform focused on customer engagement and loyalty. He used a clever tactic and decentred AI and pivoted the idea towards AI ultimately creating more free time for consumers, increasing demand for entertainment and interactive experiences. “It was a small cohort of people that would really take it seriously,” he said.
Lucra’s clients include Dave & Buster’s, Five Iron Golf and Chess Kings.
The funding round comes at a time when investors continue pouring money into artificial intelligence ventures, leaving many non-AI startups struggling to attract attention. Lucra’s success highlighted how companies outside the AI sector are still finding ways to secure major backing by focusing on niche markets, customer engagement and strategic positioning.