Oleksandr Kulyk: “One of our main priorities for 2026 is developing our influence division into a stand-alone business unit”

Makeberry VP of Affiliates, BizDev & SEO, Oleksandr Kulyk, discusses the company’s rapid growth, expanding partnerships, and its plans for 2026 in an exclusive interview with Focus Gaming News.

Exclusive interview.- In a year defined by expansion and strategic evolution, Makeberry Affiliates has solidified its position as one of the industry’s most dynamic and forward-thinking players. From becoming a direct advertiser for leading casino brands to unveiling its in-house analytical platform, the company has taken ambitious steps to reshape how affiliates and product owners collaborate.

To delve deeper into these developments and explore what lies ahead for 2026, Focus Gaming News spoke with Oleksandr Kulyk, Makeberry’s VP of Affiliates, BizDev & SEO, who shared insights into the company’s achievements, new directions and long-term vision.

2025 has been a remarkable year for Makeberry Affiliates. How would you describe the company’s journey and main achievements over the past months?

It’s been an exciting and transformative year for us. Early in 2025, we took a major step forward by becoming a direct advertiser for 2 casino brands – WinSpirit and RocketPlay. By the end of the year, we added LuckyHills to our portfolio, and we’re already working on expanding that list even further.

On the affiliate network side, we launched Makeberry Hub – our in-house analytical platform that connects trusted affiliates and product owners. It allows us to offer exclusive terms, deeper insights and a level of transparency that traditional CPA networks simply can’t match.

We’re proud of the progress we’ve made, yet even more excited about what’s to come.

“We’re proud of the progress we’ve made, yet even more excited about what’s to come.”

Oleksandr Kulyk – Makeberry VP of Affiliates, BizDev & SEO.

SiGMA Central Europe brought together many key players from the affiliate space. How was your experience at the event, and what were the main highlights for the Makeberry team?

It was a special experience for us, as it was our first time exhibiting with our own booth. The preparation took a lot of time and effort – from design and logistics to ensuring every detail reflected who we are as a brand. But once you’re on the floor, meeting people face to face, you realise it’s all worth it.

The event gave us the opportunity to connect with a large number of new partners and industry professionals. We held many productive meetings and established promising collaborations that we’re confident will grow into long-term partnerships.

The SiGMA team were also incredibly supportive throughout, from setup to closing, which made the whole experience smooth and enjoyable. For any affiliate team considering it, I’d say having a stand at SiGMA is an investment that truly pays off. It strengthens relationships, builds trust and positions your brand among the key players in the industry.

Makeberry is a direct advertiser for Rocketplay and Winspirit Casinos – could you tell us more about these partnerships and what makes them stand out for affiliates?

Before becoming a direct advertiser for RocketPlay and WinSpirit, we had already worked closely with both brands. We knew their affiliate programmes inside out – what worked well and where the challenges lay, from complex processes and communication gaps to delays in payments.

When we recognised those gaps, we offered to take full responsibility for the affiliate operations. Our team knew exactly how to address the issues because this is what we at Makeberry Affiliates do best. We rebuilt the systems from the ground up, focusing on clarity, speed and trust.

For affiliates, this means clear and open communication, timely payments and a transparent approach to cooperation – they always understand what’s happening and why. For the brands, it builds stronger partner trust, improves retention and supports steady, sustainable growth.

Looking ahead to 2026, what are the main goals and growth directions for Makeberry Affiliates? Are there any new projects or markets you’re especially focused on?

One of our main priorities for 2026 is developing our Influence division into a stand-alone business unit. It currently operates within Makeberry Affiliates, but we see strong potential to grow it into a dedicated B2B direction with its own partnerships and strategy.

We’re also set to expand Makeberry Hub, which has so far been available to a limited group of trusted affiliates while we tested and refined the platform. The next stage is to scale it, introducing advanced analytical tools and opening access to a wider network of partners. 

On the direct advertiser side, our goal is to add several new products to our portfolio, building on the success we’ve achieved with our existing brands.

In terms of markets, we’re already performing strongly across Tier 1 regions, and our next step is to strengthen our presence in Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets, where we see significant potential and growing demand.

Our focus remains the same – to build systems that work seamlessly, partnerships that last and results that speak for themselves.

“One of our main priorities for 2026 is developing our Influence division into a stand-alone business unit.”

Oleksandr Kulyk – Makeberry VP of Affiliates, BizDev & SEO.

Finally, you often say there are “Berry good” opportunities for your partners – what can affiliates expect when joining your programme, and how do you help them maximise their results?

At Makeberry Affiliates, we go far beyond a standard CPA network with an offer wall. We’re building an analytical ecosystem that helps both affiliates and product owners truly understand the value of their traffic.

For affiliates, this means full visibility of their performance – understanding what their traffic is worth, which brands it fits best and where it delivers the strongest returns. For product owners, our system provides a clear view of which traffic types, funnels and clusters bring the strongest results. This allows them to optimise spend, eliminate inefficiencies and scale what truly works.

That’s what makes working with Makeberry Affiliates different – transparency, intelligent analytics and growth built on a deep understanding of data and products.