Lucra, an emerging market leader in social gamification technology, announced it has raised $10 million from 7GC, SeventySix Capital, Steve Kuhn (Founder of Major League Pickleball), alongside NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ark Invest, Simplex Equity, and a who’s who of professional team owners and athletes. And additional investors and advisors in the company include professional team owners Arthur Blank (Atlanta Falcons, AMBSE Ventures), Dennis Wong (LA Clippers), former WNBA president Donna Orender, tennis champions John Isner and James Blake, NFL players Zach Ertz and Emmanuel Sanders, and more.
Lucra was created to track friendly side bets of everyday competitions—from playing golf, darts, or video games to watching basketball, football, etc. with friends. Launched by Stanford Graduate School of Business classmates, the platform reimagines how casual sports fans and friends engage by adding a social, gamified experience to a brand’s existing platform. Since its launch in 2022, Lucra has grown into a customizable B2B solution, helping clients to retain customers, track funds, and enhance their loyalty programs by adding Lucra’s white-label and social gaming features.
Lucra’s technology today creates gamified experiences for the world’s largest hospitality and entertainment brands, such as companies like Dave & Buster’s, Five Iron Golf, TouchTunes, and Hollywood.com. By bridging the gap between traditional loyalty programs and friendly wagering, Lucra enables brands to keep the funds within their ecosystems. Plus, its tools for tracking customer behavior, rewarding engagement, and integrating gaming features have proven impactful: 94% of money wagered stays within client ecosystems, driving significant engagement and revenue growth for its partners.
Lucra plans on using the funding to accelerate product development, including the launch of a free-to-play game tailored for sports bar chains and professional teams, and new features that include social tournaments and alternative currencies. And as the global demand for gamified loyalty solutions rapidly grows, the funding will also fuel Lucra’s international market expansion.
KEY QUOTES:
“Since evolving from a direct-to-consumer model to a B2B offering, Lucra has signed nearly 20 partnerships this year alone, and earned the trust of major hospitality and entertainment brands. Our plug-and-play gaming technology is reshaping how brands interact with their customers—driving revenue through boosted engagement and repeat visitation—while creating new ways for customers to connect and compete. The success of our ‘sportainment’ partnerships validates our model, and this funding will enable us to accelerate growth and reach more markets worldwide.”
– Dylan Robbins, CEO of Lucra
“Growing up, I always strived to compete in everything. Since stepping into the NBA, I’ve realized just how integral technology has become in enhancing the experience of watching live sports and enjoying casual games. My investment in Lucra reflects my belief in its potential to shape the future of fandom—leveraging technology to bring fans and friends closer together. Every team, entertainment entity, and hospitality brand can truly benefit from Lucra’s innovative approach to enhancing engagement and adding excitement to their platforms.”
– NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo
