Meet The Team: Q&A Session with Huddle’s Trading Manager, Josip Zivic

In this exclusive Q&A, we sit down with Huddle’s newly promoted Trading Manager, Josip Zivic, to explore his journey within the company, the evolving landscape of sports betting, and how Huddle is leading the charge with cutting-edge trading strategies. From embracing the rise of player props to gearing up for the NBA playoffs with fresh market offerings, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to stay ahead in a fast-moving industry.

Congratulations on your promotion to Trading Manager! Can you tell us about your journey at Huddle and how you got to this role?

First of all, thank you, and a major thank you to Huddle and Tom Daniel, our SVP of Trading for recognizing my contribution to the company so far! I started my journey at Huddle as a Sports Automation Controller (commonly referred to as a trader in the betting industry). With over six years of experience in the iGaming industry, I’ve had the opportunity to work across a wide range of sports, covering major leagues as well as smaller ones, including eSports. My experience has given me the unique ability to quickly adapt to market dynamics and identify emerging trends. I’ve worked with various teams and technologies throughout my career, and at Huddle, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with passionate professionals who share the same vision for innovation.

This promotion to Trading Manager aligns with my career trajectory, and I’m happy to leverage my experience in this leadership role and look forward to driving growth, enhancing our trading strategies, and refining our approach to meet the ever-evolving needs of our clients.

What does a typical day look like for you as a Trading Manager?

My day starts with helping our trading team with getting the prices up for various sports and leagues that we offer. From pricing core markets to pricing player props for our prematch offer. Once that's done, I focus on helping other teams in our company, like developers, quantitative analysts and product owners with feedback on the trading model that Huddle uses. There is always space for improvement and we are constantly working on getting our model where it needs to be in terms of efficiency, accuracy and speed.

Client communication is a key part of my job, there are scheduled meetings with our clients where I, alongside our SVP of Trading and other team leads, discuss the performance of our offer and possible improvements with it. We also discuss future offerings of markets and leagues that we do not provide for them at that moment.

Our clients’ needs always come first, and it’s a privilege to be able to work directly with them, ensuring that their expectations are met with top-quality solutions. We also host internal company meetings where we brainstorm about the future of our trading model and tackle any challenges that may arise. These are very important, both for me and the company itself, as we share knowledge and tips with our colleagues from the trading team in Henderson, NV, whose job and feedback are extremely essential as they are more focused on live trading.

It’s a dynamic role that requires a balance between operational tasks and strategic discussions to drive continuous improvement.

You have been a sports trader for a few years now before joining Huddle. What trends are you seeing in the sports betting industry, and how does Huddle position itself to stay ahead?

The sports betting industry is seeing a significant surge in demand for player prop markets, particularly for high-profile sports like American football, basketball, and soccer. Fans and bettors are increasingly seeking personalized, detailed experiences, and player prop markets provide just that. Huddle has been quick to embrace this trend, expanding our offering to include more leagues and additional player prop markets. Beyond this, we're also utilizing cutting-edge technologies to support our automated pricing model, which significantly reduces manual management of odds while delivering more consistent, reliable content.

Our proprietary algorithms are constantly refined, improving margins and accommodating a wide range of business profiles. This enables us to offer a superior product, backed by data-driven insights that enhance customer segmentation and retention. I’m particularly excited about the direction we’re heading in terms of technology and innovation. With continuous improvements to our trading model, deep dives into machine learning for better predictions, and an ever-expanding sports and league offering, the future of Huddle looks incredibly promising.

We’re not just following trends but actively shaping the future of sports betting by innovating our product to stay one step ahead.

With the NBA season in a full swing, and playoffs slowly approaching, can you share how Huddle’s product has evolved for the playoffs? Specifically, are there any updates to our market offerings compared to last year, unique features, or standout benefits that set us apart this season?

We take great pride in offering a fully customizable product tailored to the needs of each client. As the NBA playoffs approach, we’ve enhanced our player prop markets to offer even more variety. In addition to traditional stats like points, rebounds, assists, and threes, we’ve added exciting new options such as Blocks, Steals, and market-specific options like Top Scorer, Top Assister, Top Rebounder and Top 3-Point Scorer.

We’ve also introduced combi markets, giving users the ability to place more complex bets involving multiple player stats. Another significant improvement is our use of projected player minutes, which is expected to become even more precise with the introduction of quarter-by-quarter minute projections. This will lead to more accurate odds and faster suspension times, which are critical during high-stakes playoff games. These improvements allow us to offer a more comprehensive and dynamic product, ensuring that both our clients and end users have access to the best possible experience.

What qualities do you believe are essential for building a successful trading team, and how does Huddle foster these qualities within its trading operations in your opinion?

Building a successful trading team requires a combination of technical expertise, adaptability, and collaboration. Traders need to have a deep understanding of the markets and the ability to make quick decisions based on changing circumstances. They also need to work well with others, as trading is not a solo activity; it’s about aligning with developers, analysts, and product teams to refine the overall strategy.

At Huddle, we encourage a culture of continuous learning, where everyone is empowered to challenge the status quo and bring forward new ideas. We also emphasize the importance of communication and teamwork, ensuring that all departments are aligned and that knowledge is shared across teams. Huddle’s leadership fosters an environment where innovation and flexibility are prioritized, ensuring that the team is always evolving with
the market and pushing boundaries to deliver top-tier solutions to our clients.

As you step into your new role, what are you most excited about for the future at Huddle?

As a Trading Manager at Huddle, I’m constantly inspired by the collective drive and expertise of our team. What excites me the most about my role is the ability to work alongside such talented individuals, each of whom brings a unique perspective and valuable skill set. The sports betting industry is evolving rapidly, and here at Huddle, we’re not just adapting to change, we’re anticipating it and positioning ourselves as leaders in this space. The work we do is highly collaborative, and I’m proud to be part of a company that values innovation, flexibility, and continuous improvement.

Looking ahead, I'm eager to keep pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve with our trading model, product offerings, and client relationships. We’re at an exciting crossroads in the industry, and I believe Huddle’s commitment to quality, technology, and client satisfaction will continue to drive our success.

I look forward to the challenges and opportunities that come with this new chapter at   Huddle, and I am excited to contribute to both the company’s and our clients' continued growth and success.

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