Smart Investment Opportunities in the Future of Gaming

The convergence of artificial intelligence, robotics and gaming is creating extraordinary investment opportunities for those with the vision to recognise them early. At William Buck, the Corporate Finance team has built a reputation for identifying and supporting innovative ventures that sit at the intersection of technology and consumer trends. Our work with ORBT, a groundbreaking Melbourne-based startup developing AI-powered gaming bots, exemplifies our commitment to connecting sophisticated investors with genuinely transformative opportunities.

As the founder and director of Bill Lang International Pty Ltd, I've spent over 35 years working with businesses across multiple industries and countries, from my early days at KPMG, McKinsey & Company and Macquarie Bank to co-founding internet ventures in Australia and Silicon Valley that culminated in a $120 million global alliance with AT&T and British Telecom. This extensive background in strategy, entrepreneurship and capital raising enables me to recognise investment opportunities that combine genuine innovation with commercial viability—exactly what ORBT represents.

ORBT represents something entirely new in the gaming and toy sectors Prototype demonstration. Founded by experienced tech entrepreneurs Josh Swinnerton and Daniel Dobrogorsky, the company has developed the world's first controllable, electronic spinning top robot—a patent-pending platform that brings video game characters to life in physical form. Think of it as the next generation of popular products like BeyBlade, but with skillful, progressive battle and race capabilities controlled through precision electronics - www.orbtspin.com/orbt-william-buck.

After three years of intensive research and development, ORBT has created a unique category that bridges the gap between video games and physical play. These AI-powered bots can be driven precisely around smooth surfaces, allowing users to battle, race and compete as their favourite characters. It's a concept that resonates with the massive gaming audiences on platforms like Minecraft, Roblox and Fortnite, whilst also appealing to collectors and enthusiasts across multiple age groups.

The company is targeting a Kickstarter launch and full production by mid-2026, with prototype testing scheduled for early next year. This timeline positions ORBT perfectly within the broader trend towards AI-powered and interactive toys, which are projected to account for approximately 75 percent of the toy market by 2025, up from just five percent in 2000.

Through my work with Small Business Australia, where I've served as Executive Director since 2006, I've had the privilege of advocating for better outcomes for Australia's five million small business workers and advising governments at all levels. This experience, combined with my Harvard MBA (where I graduated as a Baker Scholar) and 20 years specialising in helping businesses engage with international markets—particularly China—has given me a comprehensive understanding of what distinguishes genuinely promising ventures from mere concepts.

My entrepreneurial journey began at Melbourne University with 'Dr Dog', a fast-growing hotdog startup, and continued through founding Freeonline in Australia and Sharinga Networks Inc. in San Francisco. These experiences taught me that successful startups require not just innovative products, but also experienced founders, strategic capital partners and advisors who understand both the opportunities and risks inherent in building new categories.

When evaluating opportunities like ORBT, I draw on this extensive background to assess whether the venture has the fundamental ingredients for success: genuine innovation protected by intellectual property, founders with proven track records, strategic early investors who add value beyond capital, and a clear pathway from prototype to commercialisation.

William Buck, have spent over 130 years building expertise in identifying businesses with genuine growth potential. The Corporate Finance division has managed over two billion dollars in transactions across Australia over the past five years, with a particular focus on technology, manufacturing and consumer goods sectors.

The involvement with ORBT demonstrates William Buck’s systematic approach to evaluating investment opportunities. They don't simply look at current revenues or established market positions. Instead, they assess the fundamental innovation, the quality of the founding team, the addressable market size and the potential for category creation. ORBT ticks all these boxes convincingly.

Tony Hood, Partner in Corporate Finance at William Buck, has been instrumental in coordinating ORBT's fundraising efforts. With decades of experience in valuations, business realisations, due diligence on acquisitions and board advisory work, Tony brings a comprehensive understanding of what makes a startup investment attractive to sophisticated investors. His work has helped ORBT secure early commitments from prominent family offices, including Gandel Invest, which led the seed round with a strategic interest in the company.

The timing for ORBT couldn't be more opportune. The global toy industry is valued at over 120 billion US dollars in 2025, with several converging trends creating tailwinds for innovative products. Educational and STEM toys are experiencing remarkable growth, with the market projected to expand from 61.7 billion US dollars in 2025 to 152.8 billion dollars by 2035, representing a compound annual growth rate of 9.44 percent.

Licensed toys tied to popular franchises continue to dominate, accounting for 34 percent of the global market, whilst AI-powered interactive toys represent the fastest-growing segment. ORBT sits perfectly at this intersection—it's a platform that can incorporate licensed characters whilst delivering the AI-driven interactivity that modern consumers expect.

Moreover, the venture capital landscape for gaming and robotics startups has matured considerably. Australian VC groups are increasingly focused on later-stage investments with proven prototypes and clear paths to commercialisation. ORBT's three years of R&D, working prototypes and strategic early investors position it favourably for additional capital raises as it scales towards commercial launch.

Investment advisory requires more than just financial acumen—it demands deep industry knowledge, extensive networks and the ability to perform rigorous due diligence. Assistant Manager Tim Young, CFA, brings exactly these credentials to his role in William Buck's Corporate Finance team. His chartered financial analyst qualification demonstrates his commitment to the highest standards of investment analysis, whilst his experience working alongside partners like Tony Hood has given him exposure to transactions across multiple sectors.

The William Buck Corporate Finance team comprises over 40 specialists across Australia who provide targeted, localised advice with a one-to-one engagement model. This structure ensures that every client receives customised, responsive and practical guidance tailored to their specific investment objectives and risk tolerance.

The team's expertise extends across the entire transaction lifecycle. For growth-stage companies like ORBT, they provide services including financial modelling, funding strategy development, investor identification and introduction, structuring advice and ongoing board advisory support. For investors, they conduct comprehensive due diligence, develop risk mitigation strategies and provide independent valuations that comply with professional standards.

Through Bill Lang International, which I founded in 2004, we've helped businesses raise over $130 million in startup capital from venture funds, and several clients have achieved market capitalisation growth exceeding $1 billion. This track record reflects our systematic approach to identifying high-potential ventures and connecting them with appropriate capital partners.

My work spans multiple ventures that complement the investment advisory ecosystem. As Chairman of PlayLunch Games, an education technology company leveraging AI to build children's knowledge and skills in maths and financial literacy, I've gained direct experience with the convergence of gaming, education and artificial intelligence—precisely the trends that make ORBT compelling. Through G'day Friends, which helps Australian businesses attract and engage international visitors from China and the global Chinese diaspora, I've developed deep expertise in cross-border commerce and consumer engagement strategies that inform investment assessments.

My role as Chairman of the International Rehabilitation Institute, which provides world-class education and clinical solutions to universities, hospitals and medical professionals in China, has given me extensive experience in scaling Australian innovation into international markets—a potential pathway for successful ventures like ORBT.

Several factors make ORBT a compelling investment opportunity for sophisticated investors with appropriate risk appetites:

ORBT isn't entering an existing category—it's creating an entirely new one. The combination of controllable spinning top mechanics, AI integration and character licensing represents genuine innovation with significant barriers to entry through its US patent-pending technology.

Josh Swinnerton previously founded ASX-listed MedAdvisor Solutions, demonstrating his ability to build and scale technology businesses to public market standards. This track record provides confidence in execution capability—something I learned firsthand through my own journey from startup founder to successful exits.

The involvement of Gandel Invest, a prominent Melbourne family office with extensive experience in technology and gaming investments, provides validation and strategic support beyond just capital. Family offices typically conduct extensive due diligence before committing, and their presence signals confidence in ORBT's potential. Having raised significant capital myself and advised governments and corporations globally, I recognise the importance of strategic investors who bring networks and expertise alongside funding.

The global gaming market, combined with the smart toy segment, represents a multi-billion-dollar opportunity. ORBT's platform approach means the company isn't dependent on a single product—it can expand into multiple formats, licensing deals and audience segments over time.

With prototypes advancing through iterations (currently on MkIII with MkIV in development) and a defined timeline to Kickstarter and full production, ORBT has moved beyond pure concept stage. This reduces technology risk whilst still offering early-stage return potential.

Our approach to investment advisory centres on providing complete transparency and comprehensive analysis. For opportunities like ORBT, we work closely with both the company and potential investors to facilitate informed decision-making.

William Buck has created a dedicated landing page www.orbtspin.com/orbt-william-buck where accredited investors can access detailed information about the ORBT opportunity, understand the investment structure and connect directly with our Corporate Finance team for personalised discussions. This streamlined approach ensures that interested parties can move efficiently from initial interest to detailed evaluation.

Our due diligence process examines multiple dimensions of any investment opportunity. We analyse the technology and intellectual property position, assess market sizing and competitive dynamics, evaluate management team capabilities and track records, review financial projections and underlying assumptions, examine governance structures and investor protections, and consider exit pathways and timeframes.

For ORBT specifically, our team has spent considerable time understanding the manufacturing processes, cost structures, go-to-market strategies and partnership opportunities with licensors and distributors. This depth of analysis enables us to provide investors with insights that go well beyond what's available in standard pitch materials.

My extensive work facilitating Australia-China business relationships over the past 20 years provides unique perspective on ORBT's potential. China represents the world's largest gaming and toy market, and products that combine physical play with digital engagement have proven particularly successful with Chinese consumers. Through my work with G'day Friends and decades of helping Western businesses develop strategies to engage with Chinese consumers and business partners, I understand the pathways for Australian innovations to access these massive markets.

This international perspective, gained through working with businesses operating in over 50 countries, enables us to evaluate not just domestic market potential but also the global scalability of ventures like ORBT. Having co-founded internet businesses that achieved global alliances with telecommunications giants AT&T and British Telecom, I understand what it takes to scale Australian innovation internationally.

ORBT's development reflects Australia's growing strength in deep-tech innovation, particularly in areas combining hardware, software and AI. My experience working with technology startups across robotics, manufacturing and consumer products—dating back to my time at McKinsey & Company and continuing through my advisory work with government ministerial councils—has shown me that Australian entrepreneurs can compete globally when they focus on genuine innovation and rigorous execution.

William Buck has been particularly active in supporting the technology and advanced manufacturing sectors, recognising their importance to Australia's economic future. Their integrated service offering means they can support companies from formation through to exit, providing accounting, tax, audit, corporate advisory and wealth management services all under one roof.

This holistic capability is especially valuable for growth-stage companies navigating complex capital raises. They can structure investments to optimise tax outcomes for both companies and investors, ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, provide financial reporting that meets investor expectations and support strategic planning that maximises value creation.

For early-stage opportunities like ORBT, investment structures typically include convertible notes, SAFE (Simple Agreements for Future Equity) notes or direct equity participation. Each approach has distinct characteristics in terms of valuation requirements, investor protections and timing of share issuance.

SAFE notes have become increasingly common in Australian startup funding rounds because they defer valuation discussions until a future equity round whilst still providing investors with conversion rights at a discount to later-stage pricing. This approach can benefit both companies, by avoiding premature valuation constraints, and investors, by providing upside participation without immediate dilution concerns.

For sophisticated investors evaluating opportunities like ORBT, key considerations include the valuation and implied multiples relative to comparable companies, the amount being raised and planned use of proceeds, the ownership percentage and position in the capital structure, governance rights and information access, alignment of interests between founders and investors, and the projected timeline and pathway to liquidity.

The Corporate Finance team at William Buck can provide detailed guidance on each of these elements, helping investors structure their participation to align with their broader portfolio objectives and risk management frameworks.

No investment opportunity, regardless of how compelling, is without risks. William Buck takes responsibility as advisors very seriously and includes clearly articulating potential challenges alongside the upside case.

For ORBT and similar opportunities in the gaming and robotics space, investors should carefully consider several risk factors.

Technology and execution risks include whether the company can successfully transition from prototypes to mass production whilst maintaining quality and cost targets. Manufacturing consumer electronics involves complex supply chain management, quality control and regulatory compliance considerations that can challenge even experienced teams.

Market adoption risks relate to whether consumers will embrace this new category at sufficient scale to support the business model. Whilst the market trends appear favourable, predicting consumer behaviour for genuinely novel products always involves uncertainty. Competition from established toy companies and other startups could intensify as the category gains visibility.

Financial risks encompass the capital requirements to reach profitability and the company's ability to access additional funding if needed. Many hardware startups underestimate the capital intensity of scaling manufacturing and distribution. Investors should consider whether they're prepared to participate in follow-on rounds if required.

Licensing and intellectual property risks involve the company's ability to secure attractive character licenses on commercially viable terms, defend its patents against potential infringement and avoid infringing others' intellectual property rights.

The William Buck due diligence process examines each of these risk areas systematically, providing investors with a balanced assessment that enables informed decision-making. They also work with companies to develop risk mitigation strategies that can reduce exposure over time.

One of ORBT's strengths lies in its ability to attract not just capital but also strategic support from its investor base. Gandel Invest's participation brings more than funding—it provides access to networks in gaming, sports technology and consumer products, strategic guidance from experienced investors and credibility that can facilitate future partnerships and funding rounds.

William Buck's own network across the Australian business community, developed over more than 130 years of operation, provides additional value to companies they support. Their relationships with private equity groups, family offices, institutional investors and strategic corporates can facilitate introductions that might otherwise take years to develop.

ORBT represents a broader trend that's reshaping entertainment and play. The concept of "phygital" experiences—seamlessly blending physical and digital elements—is gaining traction across multiple industries, from retail to education to entertainment. Consumers, particularly younger demographics, increasingly expect technology to enhance physical experiences rather than replace them.

The gaming industry has recognised this shift, with major publishers exploring how to bring digital franchises into physical form whilst maintaining the interactivity and progression systems that make games engaging. ORBT's platform approach positions it to capitalise on this trend, potentially partnering with game publishers, entertainment franchises and toy companies to create licensed versions of their intellectual property.

The potential market extends well beyond children's toys. The "kidult" market—adults who purchase toys for themselves—has been growing rapidly and now represents a significant portion of toy industry revenue. Competitive gaming and esports continue to expand, creating audiences who might embrace physical competitions using ORBT bots as an offline complement to digital play.

William Buck has created a streamlined pathway for accredited investors interested in learning more about ORBT and evaluating whether it aligns with their investment objectives. The have a dedicated landing page at www.orbtspin.com/orbt-william-buck which provides comprehensive information about the company, the investment terms and the process for participating.

Interested investors can access detailed materials including company presentations, financial projections, technical documentation on the ORBT platform, information about the founding team and advisors, details on existing investors and their strategic value, and explanations of the investment structure and terms.

The Corporate Finance team, led by partners like Tony Hood and supported by analysts like Tim Young, is available for personalised discussions about the opportunity. They encourage potential investors to schedule consultations where they can address specific questions, discuss how ORBT fits within a broader portfolio strategy and facilitate direct conversations with the company's management team.

The investment process typically involves an initial consultation to understand investor objectives and constraints, provision of detailed due diligence materials and data room access, opportunities for direct engagement with ORBT's founders and technical team, review of investment documentation with their guidance on key terms, and completion of subscription documents and capital transfer.

Throughout this process, their team serves as a trusted intermediary, ensuring that both investors and the company have the information and support needed to reach mutually beneficial arrangements.

What distinguishes William Buck's approach to investment advisory is their integration of deep technical expertise with a relationship-driven service model. They are not transactional introducers who simply connect parties and step away. Instead, they invest time in understanding both the opportunities they support and the investors they serve, ensuring alignment of interests and expectations.

The Corporate Finance team works closely with colleagues across the Wealth Advisory, Tax and Business Advisory divisions to provide comprehensive support. This means they can help investors structure their participation tax-efficiently, integrate new investments into broader wealth management strategies and access follow-on services as their relationship with portfolio companies evolves.

They also maintain ongoing relationships with the companies they support, often taking board positions or providing ongoing advisory services. This continued involvement gives William Buck visibility into performance, challenges and opportunities that enables them to keep investors informed and connected.

For high-net-worth individuals and family offices, this integrated approach provides valuable simplification. Rather than managing relationships with separate advisors for deal flow, tax planning, financial reporting and wealth management, clients can access all these capabilities through William Buck's coordinated team.

The ORBT opportunity represents exactly the type of innovative, well-structured investment that William Buck specialises in identifying and supporting. With a genuinely novel technology platform, an experienced founding team, strategic early backers and a clear pathway to commercialisation, ORBT offers sophisticated investors the potential for significant returns whilst participating in the creation of an entirely new category in gaming and robotics.

For accredited investors interested in exploring the ORBT opportunity, I encourage you to visit their dedicated landing page at www.orbtspin.com/orbt-william-buck or contact the Corporate Finance team directly. Whether you're a family office seeking exposure to gaming and robotics, an individual investor building a portfolio of Australian innovation or a strategic player in related industries exploring partnership opportunities, they are there to facilitate informed decision-making and successful outcomes.

The future of gaming is evolving rapidly, blending digital experiences with physical interaction in ways that create entirely new markets. With the right guidance and the right opportunities, investors can participate in this transformation whilst supporting the growth of genuinely innovative Australian companies.