eSports
Competitive gaming platform nicecactus.gg closes EUR 5 million Series A round and launches a grassroots esports sponsorship fund
First-of-its-kind grassroots esports sponsorship fund will allocate EUR 1 million (USD 1.1 million) to amateur and semi-professional esports athletes to support their professional development
Today, nicecactus.gg (previously Esport-Management.com), a competitive gaming platform dedicated to finding and raising the next generation of esports athletes, announced the closing of its EUR 5 million (USD 5.5 million) Series A round and the launch of a new product, the Nicecactus Grassroots Esports Fund, to pursue its next chapter of growth. The round was raised by a group of private investors and will be put towards building and refining the nicecactus.gg product offering, attracting top talent and scaling the business.
The EUR 1 million (USD 1.1 million) Nicecactus Grassroots Esports Fund (āthe Fundā) will help amateur and semi-pro players and teams take the next step into professional gaming. Following a period of training on the nicecactus.gg platform, the Fund will accept applications from esports athletes for grants, which may be put towards activities like travel to and accommodation at tournaments theyāve qualified for, or to book bootcamps at professional training locations. Following a review of each application, grants will be awarded to those who have shown promise and consistency in tournaments and on nicecactus.ggās soon-to-be-launched training game programs.
The key program dates are:
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October 22, 2019 – registrations for the Nicecactus Grassroots Esports Fund start at nicecactus.gg/en/fund
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December 20, 2019 – Road to Sponsorship opens for registered participants
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January 27, 2020 – Fund application process opens for eligible athletes
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February 27, 2020 – first grants are issued
Ā
āWe deeply believe that if esports wants to enter the next stage of growth, it must be catered to and fostered at the grassroots level. By starting the Nicecactus Grassroots Esports Fund and raising additional capital to help unleash the full potential of every esports athlete, we further solidify our commitment to finding and raising the next generation of esports athletes,ā said Alexandre Amoukteh, Co-Founder of nicecactus.gg. āOur new name, nicecactus, reflects our love for Nice, France — the bright, beautiful and sharp birthplace of our company. We want to create a place where everyone can forge their own path to pro by improving their skills and connecting amateur players with the pro world. Armed with our new name, funding and a new product, weāre one step closer to achieving that dream.ā
āOur promise to the grassroots community is that nicecactus.gg helps players realize their true potential within competitive gaming. We do this by offering regular cash prize tournaments, providing access to pro esports guides and – in the near future – offering unique training games for our players to train and assess their progress,ā said Nic van āt Schip, Marketing Director at nicecactus.gg. āWe are proud to provide a platform for everyone to level up their game. And now, with our Nicecactus Grassroots Esports Fund, weāre excited to provide a new service to help the best-of-the-best reach the next rank in their esports careers.ā
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For more information please visit https://nicecactus.gg
Asia
Esports media platform TalkEsport raises $1 million in pre-series A funding round
TalkEsport, Indiaās leading esports media platform, announced today the successful closure of its pre-series A funding round, securing a significant investment of $1 million from Saswat Ventures. The substantial investment underscores TalkEsportās robust growth trajectory and reaffirms its position as a pioneering force in the esports industry.
Founded in 2011, TalkEsport was set up with a vision to bring timely news and updates to gaming communities worldwide. As Indiaās oldest esports media platform, the company now caters to millions of gamers worldwide through its website and social media channels. TalkEsport plans to utilize the investment to scale up its core website while launching a highly interactive application for its audience and setting up a state-of-the-art production studio in Mumbai. Through it, the company will be launching exclusive content IPs focused on gaming and esports.
“We are delighted to welcome Saswat Ventures as our strategic partner,” exclaimed Deepak Ojha, Founder and CEO of TalkEsport. “Their belief in our vision and commitment to the esports ecosystem align seamlessly with our mission to redefine gaming experiences globally. With this investment, we will be scaling up our newsroom to cater to gaming communities worldwide while launching new content IPs targeted towards Indian and international audiences.”
Saswat Ventures, a family fund set up by Mr. BL Sharma, Principal, shares a vision of catapulting TalkEsport into a global phenomenon. Mr. Sharma has businesses across the country and expressed his confidence in TalkEsport’s potential to revolutionize esports media and connect with a vast audience of passionate gamers worldwide, “We believe in TalkEsport’s potential to become a global platform for esports enthusiasts worldwide.”
Trilochan Sharma, a seasoned expert in compliance matters, joins TalkEsport’s board as the Director of Compliance. His wealth of experience will ensure adherence to regulatory standards and bolster the company’s governance framework.
In addition to this pivotal investment, TalkEsport is proud to announce key developments that highlight its commitment to innovation and growth:
Production Studio in Mumbai
TalkEsport is excited to unveil its state-of-the-art production studio in Mumbai. This cutting-edge facility will serve as the epicenter for creating high-quality esports content, launching content IPs, live broadcasts, interviews, and immersive gaming experiences.
Pranav Nalawade, the Editor-in-chief of TalkEsport, said, āOur new era of esports coverage will begin not only with TalkEsportās revolutionary approach in publishing news and covering esports events but also high-quality esports content courtesy of our new production studio. As one of the oldest esports media platforms, we have built an audience that relies on us for our history of trustworthy and reliable news. Now, we want to double up on this audience, reforming the way content around esports is consumed in India and abroad through podcasts, media, short-form content, and analytical stories ā both in the form of video and text.ā
Upcoming Mobile App Launch
Furthermore, TalkEsport is gearing up for the launch of its mobile application soon. This innovative app promises to redefine how gamers access news, engage with esports communities, and participate in live tournaments, all from the convenience of their mobile devices.
“Proceeds of the $1 million will be utilized in creating a robust team of gaming enthusiasts and expanding our global reach,” added Deepak. “This investment not only propels TalkEsport’s growth initiatives but also fuels our mission to provide unparalleled experiences for esports enthusiasts worldwide.”
Through its application, esports viewers will be able to get live coverage of esports tournaments, scores, and interviews. Additionally, they will be able to participate in community tournaments, thus providing an end-to-end immersive experience from the convenience of their mobile devices.
The media company continues to lead the charge in transforming the esports landscape, fostering community engagement, and pushing the boundaries of gaming innovation. The company’s dedication to excellence, coupled with strategic partnerships and visionary leadership, sets the stage for an exciting chapter in esports media.
eSports
ESIC Announces Establishment of Global Esports Industry Advisory Board
The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) is pleased to announce the establishment of its Global Esports Industry Advisory Board, designed to enhance integrity and ethical practices across the esports landscape. The Advisory Board will serve a pivotal role by providing expert advice to ESICās Chief Executive Officer on a range of critical industry issues.Ā
The primary function of the Advisory Board is to create a robust framework for integrity and fairness, setting a global benchmark for ethical conduct and fair competition in esports. The board will offer strategic insights, help shape policies governing fair play, liaise with key industry stakeholders, and act as ambassadors advocating for ethical practices.Ā
ESIC has appointed two highly esteemed members to inaugurate this board:Ā
- David Neichel, Senior Vice President of Public & International Affairs at ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), joins the Advisory Board with over fifteen years of experience in the video games industry, including significant roles at Activision-Blizzard and Electronic Arts. Davidās profound impact on international and public affairs initiatives makes him an invaluable addition to the board.Ā
- Robbie Douek, CEO of BLAST,Ā also joins the Advisory Board, bringing a wealth of experience from his roles at Google and Disney, along with his leadership through major acquisitions. Robbie is celebrated for his strategic leadership and his instrumental role in elevating esports to a significant global entertainment platform.Ā
The formation of the Advisory Board is an engagement that underscores the commitment of its members to upholding and promoting the highest standards of integrity within the esports industry. The board will meet as required to address strategic challenges and ensure that ESICās initiatives effectively meet current and future industry needs.Ā
āBoth David and Robbie bring a remarkable depth of knowledge and a passion for advancing the integrity of esports,ā said Stephen Hanna, CEO of ESIC. āTheir expertise will be crucial as we navigate the evolving landscape of esports and strive to maintain the integrity that our community expects and deserves.āĀ
Robbie Douek, CEO at BLAST, said: āIām honoured to be given the opportunity to support the Global Esports Industry Advisory Board and ESIC in their ambition to create the best and fairest environment possible for players, teams and fans.āĀ
David Neichel, Senior Vice President of Public & International Affairs at ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) also commented: āIt is a true honour to join the Global Esports Industry Advisory Board and support ESICās successful journey. Fairplay and integrity are at the core of esports. We owe it to the players and to the fans and for a better endemic industry governanceāĀ
eSports
How Team Vitality Utilises Abios Data to Create a Better Fan Experience
Abios has partnered with leading eSports club Team Vitality to help fuel its fan engagement application V.Hive with eSports data. With access to coverage on more than five of the largest eSports titles from Abios, Team Vitality can ensure that fans can stay engaged and updated with results, schedules and statistics from its latest matches.
Abios, an enterprise eSports data and technology provider, has agreed toĀ a long-term deal to supply its eSports data to Paris-based eSports organisation Team Vitality.
The major-winning eSports team will deploy Abiosā dataĀ to fuel its prediction tool, which allows fans to score points by successfully predicting how Team Vitality will perform in upcoming matches. The scores will be posted to a leaderboard where the best contenders can win prizes including merchandise and money-canāt-buy experiences with professional players.
Driven by Abiosā rich performance and scheduling data, the prediction tool is part of a wider effort by Team Vitality to create an immersive fan experience, following V.Hive app launch in November of 2022 jammed with features geared to building a digital community around the team with news, mini-games and custom avatars.
With rosters in several eSports titles, Team Vitality will use Abiosā extensive coverage to include data for matchups in the most popular eSports titles including League of Legends, Starcraft ll, Counter-Strike, Rocket League, EA Sports FC and Valorant.
The founder and Chief Executive Officer for Abios, Oskar Bonnevier Froberg, commented on the partnership: āTeam Vitality is one of the oldest and most prestigious eSports teams in Europe and weāre proud to be able to supply it with top-tier eSports data.
āWith high-performing rosters across many eSports disciplines, Team Vitality has millions of fans all over the world. It is fantastic to see its dedication to its fans and how it brings added value to its followers and we are excited to power Team Vitality with our extensive data and help it to deliver the next generation of eSports fan experiences.ā
āThrough Abiosā interfaces, we are able to provide our fans an immersive experience that goes beyond just watching matches,ā the Brand and Revenue Diversification Director for Team Vitality, Amelie Canet, said. āTogether, weāre creating an environment where fans can interact, predict outcomes and feel even closer to the eSports action. Its tech overlay allows us to engage our fans and offer them a more entertaining experience.ā
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