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Zengaming raises $2.8M to bring esports pro gamers together
This month Israeli esports startup Zengaming, Inc. announced a funding round that raised $2.8 million for the esports social network. The platform provides a place for gamers looking to make a professional name for themselves in the esports circuits as well as reach out to fans and potential sponsors.
The funding round was led by Crown Resorts Limited, an Australian casino and entertainment company. Also joining in this round was 500Startups, iAngels, Foundation Capital, and NFX Guild.
The esports venue has continued to expand over the years with a predicted $463 million expected for 2016 (as reported by Newzoo BV). Earlier this year Activision Blizzard, Inc., publisher of World of Warcraft and esports favorite StarCraft, acquired the esports network Major League Gaming, Inc. (MLG) for $46 million.
“We are extremely excited about this financing round,” Zengaming chief executive Jimi Gecelter said. “When we started zengaming, we knew that we were answering a real need within the esports community: a professional network to find and interact with other players.”
Zengaming’s vision is to become the LinkedIn of pro gamers, providing them a stage to build a resume of work, display a gaming portfolio and potentially attract the attention of leagues and sponsors. Much like traditional sports, esports players become celebrities based on their personal style and triumphs.
The company claims to have over 3 million players registered. On the website visitors can look up players from a number of different esports venue games such as DOTA 2, League of Legends, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, SMITE, Heroes of the Storm, Rocket Leauge, World of Tanks and StarCraft 2.
Currently, most esports pro players seek attention by joining leagues or forming guilds with an agenda to present a professional face. Organizations such as Team Liquid Gaming and OpTic Gaming remain the template that gamers use to get recognition by competing in events hosted by the likes of MLG (noted above).
Featured image credit: 20151003_Radek-Vebr_EURTB2015_PRG_0256 via photopin (license)
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