# Jacob Fortinsky

> Jacob Fortinsky is the New York-based co-founder and CEO of Novig. A Harvard Social Studies graduate with experience in investment banking and legislative research, he started the company in 2021 after frustrations with conventional sportsbooks. With co-founder Kelechi Ukah, he has taken Novig through a Colorado sportsbook launch, a sweepstakes exchange and a federally regulated sports prediction-market offering.

- **Role:** Co-Founder & CEO at Novig
- **Organizations:** Novig, Ludlow Exchange, LLC
- **Education:** Social Studies; studies in philosophy, political science and economics, Harvard University
- **Known for:** Co-founded Novig and led it through multiple changes in operating framework., Participated in Y Combinator Summer 2022., Led Novig through its $75 million Series B in February 2026, at a reported $500 million post-money valuation.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2021** — Gained experience in investment banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and in legislative research.
- **2021** — Founded Novig in March while attending Harvard; Kelechi Ukah joined that autumn.
- **2022** — Novig participated in Y Combinator Summer 2022.
- **2023** — Novig announced a $6.4 million seed round in August.
- **2024** — Launched in Colorado at the start of the year, then changed course and launched a sweepstakes product in September.
- **2025** — Novig raised an $18 million Series A led by Forerunner in August.
- **2026** — Raised a $75 million Series B in February; Ludlow Exchange received CFTC designation in June; launched the sports prediction-market offering August 4.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Novig and led it through multiple changes in operating framework.
- Participated in Y Combinator Summer 2022.
- Led Novig through its $75 million Series B in February 2026, at a reported $500 million post-money valuation.
- Novig launched its federally regulated prediction-market offering in August 2026 and reported over $125 million in first-week notional trading volume.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — Fortinsky shared company-reported growth around the September Sydney Sweeney campaign: nearly 94% higher trading volume in the before-and-after comparison, which also overlapped with the start of the NFL season.
- **2026-09** — New financing was reported at a potential $2 billion valuation; public accounts differed over whether the round had closed or remained in progress.
- **2026-09** — Novig announced Sydney Sweeney as strategic partner and equity holder for its first national brand campaign.
- **2026-08** — Novig launched its federally regulated sports prediction-market offering August 4 and adopted responsible trading standards in its rulebook.

## Links

- Website: https://novig.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jfortinsky
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/j__fort

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/jacob-fortinsky
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-11