Oleksandr Feshchenko, CEO of GR8 Tech: "Long-term success is not luck, but preparation and discipline"
In an exclusive interview with SiGMA News, Oleksandr Feshchenko, CEO of GR8 Tech, discusses the winning mindset, lessons from sport for the iGaming industry, and why the partnership with José Mourinho is more than just a marketing move. Feshchenko, twice named Best CEO in the technology sector by European CEO, shares his vision for the future of the B2B segment and explains what qualities distinguish market leaders from those who lag behind.
What Mourinho can teach the iGaming industry
SiGMA News: This year, GR8 Tech brought in José Mourinho for the Champions Club project. Mourinho has built his career on tactics, discipline, and preparation. In your opinion, how does his experience in building championship teams relate to the challenges faced by leaders in the iGaming industry? What principles from soccer apply to building a successful B2B business in a highly competitive environment?
Oleksandr Feshchenko, CEO of GR8 Tech: José Mourinho’s career shows that winning over time is never random. He’s succeeded in very different environments, with different teams, expectations, and pressures. That only happens when there’s a clear methodology behind it all. You need discipline, preparation, a clear plan, and the ability to adjust without losing sight of your standards. That is just as true in iGaming as it is in football.
The reality is that leaders in iGaming operate in a very demanding environment where you cannot rely on timing or hope things will simply fall into place. You need to understand the market, make smart decisions early, and build a business that performs consistently when it matters most. That is why Mourinho is such a strong fit for our Champions Club project. The mindset behind his success is very close to the mindset we believe in at GR8 Tech.
Several lessons from football apply directly to building a strong B2B business. The first is that much of the victory is decided before the game even begins. The second is that structure matters. Even the best talent will underperform without the right system around it. And the third is adaptability. The strongest leaders know how to adapt to different conditions and markets without compromising what makes them successful.
Preparation over luck
SiGMA News: Long-term success in sports and iGaming is built on preparation, not luck, and this is the central idea behind your partnership with Mourinho. What key lessons from your 10 years of expertise in iGaming support this philosophy?
Feshchenko: My experience has taught me that preparation shows itself in practical ways. This involves understanding the market dynamics before entering, developing technology capable of handling large-scale demand, and maintaining close contact with operators to address issues promptly. In addition, it is important to be able to say “no” to activities that do not add value. There is always a temptation to confuse activity with progress, or short-term spikes with strategy.
A good example is platform migration. One of the hardest decisions for any operator is moving away from legacy technology. It is complex, time-consuming, and always comes with risk, which is why so many businesses delay it for years. But our experience has shown that standing still is often the bigger risk. We have seen firsthand that successful upgrades and migrations require the same qualities that drive long-term success in sport: commitment, focus, and the discipline to follow through on difficult decisions. You cannot build for the future while staying tied to systems that slow innovation, limit flexibility and make growth harder.
SiGMA News: For the second year in a row, European CEO has named you the best CEO in Technology. The judges highlighted your ability to translate technology strategy into measurable commercial results. How does this reflect broader trends in the iGaming industry? You have warned about the danger of complacency after success, so how can iGaming leaders avoid this trap?
Feshchenko: I think that recognition reflects an important trend in the iGaming industry. For a long time, companies could talk about innovation in broad terms. Today, that is no longer enough. Operators want to see exactly how technology improves speed to market, player engagement, operational efficiency, and profitability. In other words, technology is only valuable if it produces a commercial outcome.
That is how we think at GR8 Tech. We do not build for the sake of novelty. We focus on technology that helps operators launch faster, perform better, personalise more effectively, and grow in a controlled way. That kind of focus leaves little room for complacency. Once a milestone is reached, the question becomes: what does this now require from us? As a company, it means keeping ambitious targets, staying disciplined in execution, and protecting the culture that made success possible in the first place.
The values of the partnership with Usyk
SiGMA News: The collaboration with boxer Oleksandr Usyk under the slogan “Undisputedly GR8” emphasises the values of commitment and excellence. Now a partnership with Mourinho. What unites these two athletes in the context of the message for the iGaming industry? What unique challenges in the Balkan and European markets do you see as key challenges requiring deep industry expertise?
Feshchenko: What unites Usyk and Mourinho for us is that they represent two sides of the same winning mindset. Usyk represents resilience, commitment, and excellence under pressure. Mourinho represents preparation, tactical discipline, and the ability to build winning systems. Different personalities, different sports, but the same message for iGaming: long-term success is not luck. That is exactly why the Usyk partnership evolved naturally into the Champions Club story with Mourinho.
As for the Balkans and Europe, the biggest undisputed challenge is complexity. This is a growing region, but it is highly fragmented, with different regulatory, compliance, and commercial realities across countries. In the Balkans, especially, operators also have to deal with rapidly changing rules and intense competition. So success there is never about broad market entry, but about deep local expertise, strong compliance, smart localisation, and operational performance.
Where the iGaming industry is headed
SiGMA News: Since 2015, the iGaming sector has evolved from simple platforms to complex ecosystems featuring sportsbooks, casinos, affiliate marketing and now media buying. How has the role of B2B providers evolved in response to these trends? Which skills and competencies are now essential for teams involved in product development for operators?
Feshchenko: Providers have transitioned from being simple platform providers to becoming partners in growth and innovation. Historically, the primary requirement for operators has been stable backend technology. However, the contemporary landscape demands flexible, extensible platforms that can accommodate evolving user needs and rapid market changes. The most critical skills today are modular product design, data and AI expertise, regulatory agility, and strong integration capabilities. Just as important is a consultative mindset: the best teams work closely with operators to tailor products to their markets, audiences, and strategies.
SiGMA News: Judging by revenue figures, the industry is poised for even greater acceleration. Based on your experience, which regions and verticals will show the most growth? What expertise do operators need to lead in these markets, and how is the role of the technology partner evolving in their success?
Feshchenko: I see the strongest growth coming from geographies where demand is rising fast, but competition is still evolving, especially LATAM and parts of Asia. Quick localisation, understanding of player behaviour, and adaptation of the product to regional preferences can provide a fast and tangible advantage in these markets.
That is why the role of the technology partner is evolving so significantly. Today, a tech partner must enable strategic growth. That means offering scalable, flexible solutions while also delivering strong backend performance, personalisation capabilities, data-driven tools, and operational reliability. The operators that win will be those that combine market expertise with the right technology partner, one that helps them localise faster and differentiate more effectively.
SiGMA News: The industry is facing regulatory changes, the growth of the illegal segment, and technological shifts. What are the main challenges the industry will need to address in the next 2-3 years? Will diversification help overcome them, or does the key to sustainability lie elsewhere?
Feshchenko: The industry’s biggest challenge will be staying competitive as it becomes more regulated and operationally complex. Regulation is tightening across virtually every major market, and the direction is consistent: licensing requirements are becoming stricter, player protection mandates are being strengthened, and greater financial transparency is being demanded. This increases compliance costs and requires operators to embed KYC, payments, safer gambling, and data capabilities into their products.
Diversification can be beneficial, but it must be intentional. Adding verticals without improving unit economics can actually weaken the business. The most important key to sustainability is operational discipline: better compliance and margin management, stronger retention, localised product and payments, and a reliable platform.
In conclusion
In this exclusive SiGMA News interview, Oleksandr Feshchenko consistently reinforces the idea that in iGaming, as in elite sport, there is no room for chance. The partnerships with Usyk and Mourinho are not merely image collaborations, but a manifesto of GR8 Tech’s philosophy: those who prepare better than others win. In an environment of rising regulatory pressure and intensifying competition, success will not belong to those who rely on luck, but to those who build systems, invest in preparation, and maintain discipline even after victories. According to Feshchenko, this approach will define the industry leaders for the next decade.
This article was first published in Russian on 20 April 2026.
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