PADDY Power Betfair’s approach for FanDuel could not have come at a better time for its five founders, all of whom have started new businesses since leaving the firm they launched into the lucrative US market less than a decade ago.
Former chief executive Nigel Eccles has teamed up with former design head Rob Jones to launch eSports business Flick; former marketing director Lesley Eccles is testing the technology for her imminent business launch; former chief product officer Tom Griffiths has set up San Francisco-based online training firm Hone; and former technology head Chris Stafford has established an IT consultancy called Amber 80.
Read more: Bookmaker Paddy Power Betfair eyes takeover of FanDuel
The terms of the Paddy Power Betfair deal have not yet been revealed, but with the US Supreme Court’s sports betting ruling not only vindicating FanDuel’s business model but clearing the way for it to explore other avenues too, it is fair to say the price it will pay for the fantasy sports firm will be significant.
That is good news for Mr Eccles et al because it means their new ventures will be able to benefit from the kind of seed investment FanDuel could only have dreamed about.
Better still, it will give them all the opportunity to become angel investors for the latest crop of Scottish technology start-ups.
Read more: FanDuel founders to become business angels when firm sells
It is no exaggeration to say that the success of firms like FanDuel and Skyscanner has inspired a generation of wannabe tech entrepreneurs.
But being able to inject cash into them will see FanDuel’s founders move away from being simply inspirational into the realms of the truly transformational.
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