eFuse, a social media venture for esports, has managed to raise $6 million in a funding round led by the Ohio Innovation Fund. Moreover, the platform secured investment from NFL and NBA stars such as Ezekiel Elliott from Dallas Cowboys, Chase Winovich from New England Patriots, Odell Beckham Jr. and Denzel Ward from Cleveland Browns, and Seth Curry from Philadelphia 76ers.
Positioned as a ‘LinkedIn for gamers’, this Ohio-based company connects esports players with recruiters and companies with job openings through a simple process. Here, the users can create a profile, share their abilities, and broadcast their highlight reel. Following this, they can apply for the available scholarships, internships, and job postings in areas such as playing, design, game development, business, and marketing.
This new funding continues the success of the platform, which garnered more than 500,000 new users in the past year. eFuse will now use this newly acquired capital to launch platform enhancements for user acquisition and enable industry diversity, expand its ‘eRena’ competitive events, make key hires, and secure profitability.
Addressing this latest funding, Matthew Benson, the CEO of eFuse, said, “Our collective of athlete investors aren’t just sports stars, they’re savvy business executives. eFuse has bold ambitions to change the way gamers meet, compete, and are discovered. I’m committed to ensuring the platform lives up to that potential, honoring the trust these investors have placed in us.”
This investment from NBA and NFL stars is not the first of its kind. Over the years, many celebrated sports personalities have recognized the gaming industry and have heavily invested in eSports ventures. Michael Jordan has invested in aXiomatic, the parent company of popular esports club Team Liquid. In 2016, Shaquille O’Neal invested in NRG Esports.
Kevin Durant has invested in Vision Esports, L.P., an esports-only investment fund started by NBA legend Rick Fox. And the list goes on. Even entertainment celebrities have shown interest in this rising industry. For instance, actor Will Smith has funded Gen G, a parent company that owns several different esports teams, including Seoul Dynasty. With the increasing interest among the general public and heavy investments from sports and entertainment stars, the eSports industry is bound to grow even more.