Are You A Watcher Or A Player?

OUR STORY

Disruption Now For A Sustainable Future

Founded in 2023 by David Smith while at Amazon Web Services, BETdat! emerged from the growing potential of blockchain and Generative AI in the gaming industry. Smith identified a need for personalized player engagement through AI when collaborating with a regional casino operator.

Recognizing the demand for transparency in wagering, co-founder Dameon Russell and Smith decided to integrate blockchain technology into their vision for BETdat!. By creating a peer-to-peer platform, they introduced social gaming elements that enhance player engagement.

To strengthen their team, BETdat! brought on industry experts Rick Yergler as our Chief Advisor and CEO Donnie Royal. Today, we focus on understanding the diverse demographics and cultural nuances within gaming, evident in our partnerships with celebrities, innovative app features, and engaging marketing strategies. Our name, "BETdat!", captures the community spirit and invites excitement—join us as we elevate the gaming experience!

Operational Excellence

As a global company, the BETdat! leadership team utilizes a strategic approach to Operational excellence focused on consistently and reliably executing business operations at the highest level of efficiency and effectiveness.

Collectively, embodying over 100 years of leadership experience, the team is innovative in creating and optimizing processes, empowering employees, and leveraging technology to deliver superior value to customers while minimizing waste and maximizing productivity.

At its core, our approach to operational excellence is not just about process improvement—it's about building a culture of continuous improvement and accountability throughout the organization. We embrace this mindset and are better equipped to adapt to change, drive innovation, and maintain a competitive edge in this dynamic and competitive industry.

WHO WE ARE

Meet the Founders

BETdat!, LLC is led by a distinguished team of senior executives with decades of experience across strategic leadership, technology, product innovation, and brand development. This leadership group brings not only deep industry knowledge but also a proven track record of building and scaling successful ventures.

Our co-founders and executive management team combine over a century of collective business experience with strong technical fluency—enabling BETdat! to seamlessly integrate data science, emerging technologies, and real-time analytics into every aspect of the business. This unique synergy drives the evolution of our platform, informing everything from product personalization and customer engagement to marketing strategy and supply chain innovation.

BETdat! is more than a platform—it’s a cultural movement. By placing data and analytics at the core of our ecosystem, we are redefining how gaming, wagering, and sports engagement are experienced. Our vision is global: to transform the culture around sports, elevate fan interaction, and set a new standard for intelligent, immersive digital entertainment.

DONNIE ROYAL

CEO

Donnie is a visionary executive and Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of BETdat!, LLC, bringing over 28 years of cross-industry leadership in business transformation, operational excellence, and scalable growth strategy. With a career defined by innovation and impact, Donnie has consistently built high-performing teams, driven digital transformation, and delivered enterprise solutions that create long-term value.

His professional journey includes executive leadership and managing roles at globally recognized companies such as Revance Therapeutics, Lyell Immunopharma, AbbVie, Pac Bell Wireless, Nextel, and Sprint. Across these organizations, Donnie has led mission-critical initiatives including global infrastructure deployments, multi-million-dollar commercial builds, and full-scale system integrations—all with a relentless focus on efficiency, execution, and customer-centric innovation. He is an entrepreneur and owner of several businesses spanning elite entertainment, commercial services, and business management consulting.

Donnie applies his extensive background to build and scale a next-generation platform that fuses predictive analytics, sports culture, and intelligent gaming into one dynamic ecosystem. His deep operational insight and strategic foresight continue to shape BETdat!’s growth trajectory as a category-defining brand in the sports and gaming tech space.

Driven by purpose and powered by data, Donnie’s leadership is rooted in a belief that bold ideas, when executed with precision, can change industries

DAVID SMITH

CFO

David is a Co-Founder of BETdat! and dynamic business development and finance executive with over 25 years of experience accelerating growth across frontier technologies—including IoT, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, machine learning, and blockchain.

As the Chief Financial Officer at BETdat!, David leads strategic initiatives that drive revenue, expand global market presence, and forge high-impact partnerships that position the company at the forefront of innovation in the sports data and gaming ecosystem.

Throughout his career, David has delivered measurable results through a combination of sales leadership, operational excellence, and deal execution. His portfolio includes securing a $52 million data center contract, leading cloud security modernization projects for the California State University system, and negotiating Power Purchase Agreements across the U.S. and Africa. His strength lies in building sustainable revenue pipelines while aligning complex technology solutions with emerging market demand.

David holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, pursued advanced executive studies at UC Berkeley, and is certified in both AWS and Microsoft Azure platforms—bridging deep technical fluency with strategic business development.

David plays a central role in shaping our go-to-market strategy, expanding our global footprint, and cultivating the strategic relationships that will define the future of predictive sports intelligence and interactive gaming. His leadership reflects a bold, data-driven mindset and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

DAMEON RUSSELL

COO

Dameon is a Co-Founder of BETdat! and a distinguished entrepreneur, investor, and advisor with over 33 years of experience across real estate, finance, and business development. As a trusted voice in capital strategy and commercial market expansion, he brings a wealth of insight and executive leadership to BETdat!’s strategic advisory team, helping drive sustainable growth and broaden access to new financial ecosystems.

A serial entrepreneur, Dameon is the Co-Founder of The Russell Group, Russell Funds, and Russell Realty Solutions, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Under his leadership, these firms have grown into industry-leading platforms comprising a team of over 60 licensed real estate and mortgage professionals, specializing in commercial acquisitions, structured finance, and high-impact property development.

Beyond his business ventures, Dameon is a passionate advocate for financial literacy, Black-owned enterprise, and inclusive economic development. He is a two-time published author, a nationally recognized sales trainer, and a dedicated mentor to emerging entrepreneurs—empowering others to navigate and thrive within complex capital markets.

Educated at Eaglebrook School and The Loomis Chaffee School, Dameon developed a rigorous academic foundation that shaped his lifelong pursuit of excellence in business and leadership. Known for his strengths in branding, marketing strategy, and scalable systems design, he plays a critical role at BETdat! in shaping investor strategy, unlocking commercial partnerships, and supporting long-term capital formation.

With a deep understanding of market dynamics and a commitment to generational wealth creation, Dameon helps position BETdat! as a platform where innovation, access, and equity converge.

RICK YERGLER

Rick is a Co-Founder of BETdat! and a veteran construction executive and accomplished entrepreneur with more than 40 years of experience leading commercial development and operational delivery across the western United States.

As the Founder and former President of Yergler Construction Company, Inc. (YCC), Rick built one of the region’s most respected commercial construction firms, specializing in high-volume restaurant development across California, Nevada, and Utah.

From 1987 to 2023, Rick oversaw YCC’s growth into a trusted industry leader, averaging $15–$20 million in annual revenue, with an exceptional track record—95% of contracts negotiated directly, reflecting both his credibility and long-standing client relationships. His operational oversight spanned multi-state construction zones, leading a team of 12 superintendents and maintaining continuous financial alignment through a single accounting partner for over three decades—a rare consistency in the industry.

In 2005, Rick brought his son into the business to oversee office operations, while he continued to lead field execution—demonstrating his commitment to mentorship, family legacy, and hands-on leadership across a complex project landscape.

At BETdat!, Rick serves as a strategic advisor focused on field operations, infrastructure readiness, and scalable systems support. His proven ability to manage growth, streamline logistics, and maintain quality across large operational footprints makes him an invaluable asset as BETdat! expands into new territories and prepares for large-scale deployment.

A pillar of operational integrity and performance-driven leadership, Rick helps ensure BETdat! is not only visionary in concept—but built to last.

PRESS

BETdat! in the News

Welcome to the BETdat! Press Room

At BETdat!, we’re reshaping the future of sports, gaming, and predictive data. As a dynamic and forward-thinking tech company, BETdat! blends deep data intelligence with engaging user experiences to empower fans and investors alike to make smarter, real-time decisions in the world of sports and entertainment.

Founded with a bold vision to disrupt outdated betting and sports analytics models, BETdat! is creating a transparent, data-driven platform that levels the playing field. Our proprietary technology uses advanced predictive algorithms, machine learning, and social engagement tools to bring communities together around smarter picks, deeper insights, and a new way to play.

We’re not just building a platform — we’re building a movement.

Milestones & Momentum

Successful Global Beta Testing Underway
BETdat! launched closed beta testing across iOS and Android in June 2025. With early adopters from North America, Europe, and Asia, feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and key usage and retention metrics have exceeded expectations.
Strategic Growth & Talent Acquisition
Our team includes seasoned technologists, data scientists, entertainment insiders, and elite athletes. With this powerhouse collective, we’re driving product innovation, expanding market reach, and preparing for a full-scale launch.
Partnerships & Brand Alignment
BETdat! has secured key partnerships and endorsement opportunities with influential figures in sports and music culture — a nod to our ethos of authenticity, accessibility, and community.

What’s Next

As we move toward our official launch, BETdat! is preparing for its first public funding round and a series of media activations designed to showcase the product, platform, and people behind it. Whether you’re a journalist, partner, investor, or fan, we invite you to follow along and be part of the journey.

Media Inquiries

For press releases, interviews, or access to our media kit, please contact:
📧 info@betdatapp.com