David Natroshvili founded Spribe in 2018 and turned Aviator into one of the most-played crash games in online casinos. He built the company from a small team in Tbilisi, Georgia, into a global operation with offices in five countries. Here’s how he did it, and where he wants to take Spribe next.
Who Is David Natroshvili?
David Natroshvili is the founder and Spribe CEO, an iGaming software developer best known for Aviator. He holds an MBA from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and spent more than 25 years in entrepreneurship before he entered iGaming.
Before Spribe, he worked in the Georgian government and later took a role at a Fortune 500 company in the United States. That mix of public and private sector experience shaped how he reads markets and spots gaps competitors miss.
In 2018, he pulled together a handful of developers in Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital, to build something different from standard slot and table games. That team created Aviator, which launched in 2019 and became Spribe’s breakout product.
| Year | Milestone |
| 2018 | Founds Spribe with a handful of developers in Tbilisi, Georgia |
| 2019 | Launches Aviator, Spribe’s flagship crash game |
| Dec 2020 | Secures a UK Gambling Commission licence for Aviator |
| Dec 2024 | Aviator players wager more than $14 billion worldwide in a single month |
| Jan 2025 | Spribe signs multi-year sponsorship deals with UFC and WWE |
| Aug 2025 | Sets a goal of 100 million active players within three years; wins a UK High Court injunction against rival Aviator LLC |
How Aviator Became Spribe’s Breakout Game
Aviator asks players to watch a plane climb while a multiplier rises with it. Cash out before the plane flies off, and you keep your winnings. Wait too long, and the stake is gone.
Natroshvili didn’t invent the crash game genre, and he says so himself. Spribe’s real contribution was making crash games social. Aviator added live chat, visible bets from other players, and a shared sense of competition that most casino games lack.
Early on, operators pushed back. The format looked too different from standard slots, and many partners hesitated to add it to their lobbies. Natroshvili gave operators data and trial runs instead of pitches, and once players started playing, the results spoke for themselves.
David Natroshvili’s Approach to Leadership
Natroshvili describes his leadership approach in three parts: pushing new ideas fast, staying flexible as the market shifts, and following through with disciplined execution. He pushes his team to take calculated risks, paired with a clear roadmap for product, compliance, and marketing.
He also runs Spribe on a player-first philosophy. Operators matter, he says, but a game only creates value for them once players genuinely enjoy it. That belief shapes every new release, from core mechanics to mobile-first interfaces.
Spribe’s Growth Under David Natroshvili
Spribe runs offices in Kyiv, Tallinn, Warsaw, Tbilisi, and the Isle of Man, confirmed by the company’s own LinkedIn page, which also lists Warsaw as headquarters. Headcount has grown fast: from roughly 270 employees in 2025 to more than 420 by mid-2026.
Growth has been sharpest outside the US and Europe. Asia-Pacific active users grew more than 600% year over year in 2024, with India leading the way, and Africa supplied close to a fifth of all new players. As of mid-2026, Aviator’s monthly player base has grown to more than 77 million, up from roughly 40 million a year earlier, running through more than 5,000 operators worldwide.
The Aviator Copycat Dispute
Spribe has spent years fighting Aviator LLC, a Georgian company run by businessman Temur Ugulava that claims it owns the Aviator name and concept. Aviator LLC won a narrow case against Spribe in Georgia in 2023, limited to logo use inside the country.
Spribe has fared better elsewhere. The UK High Court granted an interim injunction against Aviator LLC in August 2025, and a UK judge ruled again in Spribe’s favor on a procedural question in May 2026. A full trial is still ahead, expected in late 2026 or early 2027. Natroshvili maintains Spribe created Aviator in 2018 and remains its sole global owner.
| Feature | Aviator (Spribe) | Generic Crash Clone |
| Live multiplayer chat | Yes | Rare |
| Visible player bets | Yes | Rare |
| Regulated operator network | Broad, 5,000+ operators | Limited |
| Original IP status | Contested by a rival; Spribe holds a UK injunction pending trial | Often disputed |
Natroshvili’s Goal: 100 Million Players
At iGB London in August 2025, Natroshvili said he expects Spribe to reach 100 million players within three years. With the count already past 77 million a year later, that goal looks within reach ahead of schedule, helped by continued growth in Asia-Pacific and Africa plus new titles beyond Aviator, like Trader.
The Bottom Line
Natroshvili turned a small Tbilisi startup into a global iGaming brand by betting on a game format most operators doubted at first. In 2026, iGaming Express named him the most influential person in the industry. His next challenge is defending Aviator’s ownership in court while scaling toward 100 million players.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is David Natroshvili?
David Natroshvili is the founder and CEO of Spribe, the iGaming company behind Aviator. He founded the company in 2018 in Tbilisi, Georgia, after spending more than two decades in entrepreneurship, government, and corporate roles.
What is Aviator?
Aviator is a multiplayer crash game where players cash out before a rising multiplier crashes. Spribe launched it in 2019, and it has grown into one of the most-played casino games worldwide, with live chat and visible player activity built into the format.
How many players does Aviator have?
Spribe reported more than 77 million monthly active players as of mid-2026, up from roughly 40 million a year earlier. Natroshvili has set a public goal of reaching 100 million active players within three years of August 2025.
Is Spribe involved in any lawsuits?
Yes. Spribe has been in a multi-country dispute with Aviator LLC, a Georgian company that claims rights to the Aviator name. Aviator LLC won a narrow case in Georgia in 2023, but Spribe won a UK High Court injunction in August 2025 blocking Aviator LLC from launching a copycat game there. A full trial is still ahead.
What other partnerships has Spribe signed?
Spribe has signed multi-year sponsorship deals with UFC and WWE, placing the Aviator brand at global sports and entertainment events as part of its expansion strategy.