Why online betting works well

In college, Nev built a scrappy website selling his roommates’ baseball picks. No investors, no fancy funnel… just an idea, a simple site, and a way to take payments. It made money on day one.

Why it worked

• He sold what people already wanted: winning sports picks
• The offer was easy to understand — no explaining needed
• He validated immediately with real paying customers
• It leveraged social proof — “my roommate’s the expert” felt real

Real-life proof

• Gumroad founders sold digital products within hours of launch
• Airbnb’s first listings? Their own apartment, to test demand
• Dollar Shave Club validated with a simple viral video before scaling

Simple offer + fast validation = instant momentum.