Virtual Live Racing
The Background
VLR is an Isle of Man based company, which aims to revolutionise the racing industry with virtual horse racing and greyhound racing products. Designed to give people the same experience as live racing, VLR uses pioneering software to digitalise races, allowing users to make tote wagers on a catalogue of new virtual races, offering almost 3 times more races than the live racing sector per year.
Taking inspiration from real-life races and racing tracks such as Ascot and Saratoga, VLR allows users to benefit from a realistic racing experience from the comfort of their own homes.
Why I Invested in VLR
I invested in VLR in March 2018 after I was introduced to the company by a mutual friend and shareholder. The technology required to digitise racing is really quite sensational and I’m excited to see where VLR goes in the next few years. The digital nature of the VLR product allows for global application, with the potential to not only capture the UK market but also North America. The catalogue of races also means VLR can meet consumer demands 24/7/365.
The fact that it’s happening on my home turf on the Isle of Man makes this venture especially exciting, and means I’m also investing in the potential of the island at the same time.
How I Could Help VLR
While the technology had massive potential, the team at VLR were looking for early investors to help make this amazing software into a thriving business. Investors like myself are very much part of the VLR success story, providing the necessary funds to develop and grow this technology and business model, expanding their racing products to include new locations and racing catalogues, as well as supporting a deployment strategy.
In addition to a financial investment, I was also able to offer business support to help them overcome any teething challenges they encountered during the earlier stages of development.
The Result
I’m pleased to say that my investment helped VLR to improve their products and move towards the final stages of their strategy, providing financial assistance as they finalised contracts and continued developing Virtual Live Racing products for a number of world-class racetracks (including Ascot).
My investment also helped fund the distribution of VLR racing products to gaming operators in the USA and around the world, helping expand their consumer base beyond the UK and tapping into new markets.
