Callum Hamilton is a highly experienced gambler and poker player with over 15 years of experience in journalism, covering everything from sports to casinos and video games.
Read Full BioDaily fantasy sports platform Underdog Fantasy was named the #3 startup in the US by LinkedIn in its annual “Top Startups 2025” list, which highlights high-growth private companies attracting top talent.
The platform previously ranked at #24 on the list but has experienced significant growth over the past year. It achieved unicorn status after a $70 million funding round in March 2025, which valued the company at over $1.2 billion.
According to LinkedIn, Underdog trailed only OpenAI and Stripe on the 2025 list. That underscores its rise as one of the fastest-scaling gaming startups in North America.
The app is available in 40 US states, Washington, D.C., and Canada. It is now the #1 free sports app on Apple’s App Store. The company also expects to earn more than $500 million in revenue by the end of the calendar year.
Underdog Exploring Prediction Markets
Speaking on the ranking, founder and CEO Jeremy Levine said in a press release, “We got here through a relentless, simple focus: people and product. Our belief is if we have the best people and build the best products, we can build the biggest company in the space – and we are on our way.”
“This year, with all the incredible disruption the industry has faced, has been more proof of concept, as we have the ability to create innovative offerings with speed and scale to take advantage of opportunity. We’ll hit nearly $500 million in revenue in 2025, our fifth full year.”
At the beginning of September, Underdog also entered the prediction market field, thanks to a partnership with Crypto.com. The partnership made Underdog the first sports gaming operator in the US to enter the sector.
Through the Crypto.com deal, Underdog established a foothold in the rapidly evolving prediction market space, competing with industry giants such as FanDuel and DraftKings. Both are also exploring entrance, with FanDuel already announcing plans to launch prediction markets, but not on sports.
Underdog’s core business still lies in daily fantasy sports (DFS), akin to the early days of DraftKings and FanDuel. The two gaming giants have since moved into sports betting and online casinos.
Underdog offers several types of DFS. The standard peer-to-peer model is provided throughout all territories in which Underdog operates. Meanwhile, the controversial Pick ‘Em model, which is similar to prop bets, is available in 15 states.
Underdog also has a sports betting license in North Carolina. It also plans to launch in Missouri in December, pending regulatory approval.
Underdog Expands Partnerships
Along with the rapid growth of the platform, Underdog has also struck several key partnerships in recent months. In September, Underdog partnered with the Kansas City Royals for its Missouri sports betting license. It then inked another partnership with the St. Louis Blues.
Beyond commercial deals, Underdog has also focused on compliance by partnering with Sportradar on responsible gambling initiatives. They include player protection and self-restriction tools.
VP of Responsible Gaming at Underdog, Adam Warrington, hailed the move as “another step in Underdog’s proactive approach to enhanced player protection across all entry types.”
With the combination of partnerships, market entries, and expansion into prediction markets, Underdog is poised to follow a trajectory similar to FanDuel and DraftKings – scaling from DFS to a multi-vertical gaming platform.
