By Michael Sani, Play Verto CEO / MAA Advisor Intelligence Lead
Market Intelligence / Industry Pulse
Dozens of industries, including the wealth management sector, can benefit from timely, detailed survey information. However, surveys are often poorly written and delivered to consumers in an unprofessional manner. Telling someone that “you’re three surveys from your next Amazon gift card” may not be sufficient motivation to take a survey.
In most cases, consumers don’t understand why the data is needed and don’t get information on survey results.
Michael Sani, CEO of Play Verto, is using technology to improve the process for consumers and entities that need the data.
Early Success
Michael had early success with Bite The Ballot (BTB), an international social enterprise that specialized in civic and community engagement. The charity grew from an idea in a classroom to coordinating world-record-breaking campaigns, changing laws and rebranding politics among young and socially excluded communities.
Michael explained that youth engagement in gamified voter advice was powerful, and that BTB registered 1.8 million voters in one week. The initiative offered a “town hall culture” that was missing from traditional polling and research companies.
After the success of BTB, Michael realized that a gamified research and measurement tool could be applied to any topic or theme. This is why Play Verto was launched.
How Play Verto Is Different
Once Play Verto is implemented, the software is always on and listening. For example, a marketing society of 4,000 C-Suite executives used Play Verto during a conference keynote speech. The software scraped survey “pulses” from attendees and provided post-event feedback and measurement to the conference organizers.
Play Verto engages panels with lived experiences, something that traditional panels and polling firms are not able to provide. The playful and interactive platform keeps people engaged, leading to more time on screen.
The software has an 80% completion rate for surveys because users understand the “why” of the data collection. Play Verto demonstrates how the data is used, and users see anonymous survey results.
As Michael explains:
“Users know something has happened with the data, and that makes it worth engaging with a survey.”
UN Youth Office’s “One World, One Game, One Goal” Initiative
On July 17th, 2026, the UN Youth Office hosted One World, One Game, One Goal: Football for Youth Mental Health and Well-Being at UN Headquarters in New York, just ahead of the FIFA World Cup Final. The flagship afternoon session took place in the General Assembly Hall of the UN.
Play Verto brings a new way of listening by reaching young people who don’t traditionally engage and rarely get a seat at a table. Through a short, gamified mobile experience, young people everywhere shared their realities on how sport, physical activity and play shape how they feel, where they belong and how hopeful they are about the future. Football and the World Cup are the hook, but the conversation spans sport far more widely.
The collective insight informed the speakers and panels, and Play Verto presented the results directly to the room via infographics. This reflected young people’s realities back to the leaders, athletes and advocates gathered in New York, and to the global audience watching online.
The UN event illustrates how effectively Play Verto can collect information and communicate the results to different stakeholders. The platform harnesses the power of play for smarter decisions and greater impact.
Continue Reading
Explore Issue 3: The New Money Game
Discover more perspectives, ideas and conversations shaping the future of financial advice in the latest issue of Modern American Advisor, featuring insights on market intelligence, technology, advisor growth and the changing wealth management landscape.
