Draftea

History and Founding

Draftea was founded in 2021 by Alán Jaime Misrahi, a former professional footballer who played in Mexico’s third division before earning an MBA at Stanford. He assembled a core team including Alejandra Lascurain (former product head at Mexico’s largest neobank), Miguel Gutiérrez-Barquín (former growth leader at Rappi), Joe Cohen (former head of engineering at Vercel), and Andreas Assad (former EA Sports employee). The company launched its app in private beta in early 2022 and officially went live later that year, timing its growth push for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Business Model

Draftea operates a hybrid model of daily fantasy sports and sports betting. Users pay entry fees to enter DFS contests where they draft lineups of real athletes and win cash prizes based on statistical performance. The platform also offers live sports betting with real-time odds and early cash-out options. Revenue is generated from entry fees and a rake on betting activity. The company differentiates itself from traditional season-long fantasy platforms by offering daily contests and real-time social interactions, creating a more engaging experience.

Products and Platforms

The primary product is the Draftea mobile app, available on iOS and Android, which integrates DFS contests and live betting. The platform supports football (soccer), NFL, NBA, MLB, and Formula 1, with plans to add more sports. A web platform mirrors the app experience. Notable features include early cash-out for NFL games when a team builds a 17-point lead and dynamic odds updated minute-by-minute.

Market Position and Competition

Draftea targets the Spanish-speaking Latin American market, which has a massive sports culture but was underserved by localized daily fantasy and betting platforms. The company competes with traditional sportsbooks and season-long fantasy operators, leveraging a modern UX and social features. Its focus on Mexico and Latin America gives it a niche advantage against global players like FanDuel and DraftKings, which primarily serve English-speaking markets.

Funding and Investors

Draftea raised $13.2 million in seed funding in January 2022 led by Kaszek, with participation from Sequoia Capital, Bullpen Capital, and Nigel Eccles. In August 2022, it closed a $20 million Series A from FJ Labs, Arrive Opportunities Management, and Courtside Ventures, among others. Total disclosed funding is approximately $41 million. Notable investors include NBA legend Kevin Durant via Thirty Five Ventures and Mexican footballer Hirving “Chucky” Lozano.

Regulatory and Licensing

Draftea operates under Mexican gaming laws, though specific licensing details are not publicly disclosed. The company’s technology stack is built for scalability, and its mobile app has received strong user ratings for ease of use, fast withdrawals, and responsive customer support.

Leadership and Team

The founding team remains central, with Alán Jaime Misrahi as CEO, Joe Cohen as CTO, and Miguel Gutiérrez-Barquín as COO. Alejandra Lascurain serves in a product leadership role, and Nigel Eccles chairs the board. The company has scaled from 34 employees in early 2022 to an estimated 51–200 employees as of 2024–2025. As of 2025, Draftea is privately held and has not announced a follow-on funding round beyond the 2022 Series A, but its investor base and market position suggest it is well-capitalized for continued growth.