20 esports investors backing gaming teams and platforms in 2025

Esports fundraising is weird. Most VCs don't understand why tournament software needs $5M or how team organizations make money beyond sponsorships.

You'll pitch 50 investors and 47 will say they "love gaming" but pass because they don't get the unit economics. The ones who do get it have backed multiple gaming companies and understand that player acquisition costs drop after your first major tournament win.

Quick list

Finding the right backer

Most gaming investors don't understand esports. They'll love your DAU numbers but panic when you explain team roster costs. Find funds that've backed tournament platforms or team organizations before. Ask their portfolio companies how they reacted when viewership was strong but merchandise revenue lagged. That'll tell you if they get the business model.

Past deals: Check if they've funded companies that survived past their first major roster change. Team organizations blow up all the time and smart investors know this.

Connections: See if they can intro you to league organizers or streaming platforms. Those partnerships matter more than generic "we know everyone in gaming" claims.

Stage match: Seed investors won't understand why your Series A needs $15M for player contracts. Late-stage funds don't get why early tournament software burns $200K monthly.

Portfolio health: Look at whether their esports investments raised follow on rounds. Dead team organizations are everywhere and that's a bad sign.

How they track deals: Use Ellty to share your deck with trackable links. You'll see who actually opens your tournament economics versus just skimming the team roster slides.

Real help: Ask what they did when portfolio companies lost their star player. Generic answers about "strategic support" mean nothing.

How to reach them

Research which funds led rounds for companies similar to yours on Crunchbase. A fund that backed mobile game publishers probably won't lead your PC esports platform round no matter how good your metrics are.

Research active funds: Check Pitchbook for 2024-2025 esports deals. Most gaming-focused VCs are in SF, LA, or Seoul.

Make your pitch clear: Show tournament viewership, sponsor revenue, and merchandise sales separately. Investors get confused when you blend these numbers.

Track everything: Upload to Ellty and send trackable links. Monitor which pages investors spend time on. If they skip your player acquisition slides, that tells you something.

Get warm intros: Message portfolio founders on LinkedIn and ask about response times. Most will tell you if their VC actually helped during roster changes.

Go to gaming events: GDC, Gamescom, and DreamHack are where deals happen. Skip the small local tournaments.

Use LinkedIn properly: Connect with partners after someone introduces you. Cold messages rarely work.

Prep your data room: Set up an Ellty data room with your player contracts, sponsor agreements, and tournament calendar before they ask. It makes diligence faster.

Lead with your edge: Start with what makes your tournament format different or why your team has better margins than others. Don't spend 15 minutes on esports market size - they've seen those slides 100 times.

Why this matters right now

Esports funding dropped 40% in 2023 but came back in 2024. Investors are writing checks again but they're more careful about team valuations after FaZe's SPAC disaster. Tournament platforms and infrastructure software are getting more interest than pure team organizations. Web3 gaming funds are still around but traditional VCs are back for companies with real revenue.

The money is there in 2025 but you need to show a path to profitability. Teams burning $10M annually on rosters without merchandise revenue won't get funded. Platforms with recurring tournament revenue or SaaS models for amateur leagues are what investors want to see.

20 active esports investors

1. Bitkraft Ventures

They've backed more esports companies than anyone and actually understand how team economics work.

• Recent Deals: FaZe Clan ($40M Series A, 2020), Community Gaming ($11M Series A, 2024), Frankly ($4.2M seed, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Bitkraft Ventures
• Sector Focus: Esports teams, tournament platforms, gaming infrastructure, streaming tech
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: Berlin, Germany / Los Angeles, USA
• Website: bitkraft.vc

2. Galaxy Interactive

They get that team valuations are based on brand value, not just tournament winnings.

• Recent Deals: TSM ($540M valuation, 2022), Playfly Sports ($250M Series B, 2024), Super League Gaming (acquired 2023)
• LinkedIn: Galaxy Interactive
• Sector Focus: Esports organizations, gaming platforms, interactive media
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Growth
• Location: San Francisco, USA
• Website: galaxyinteractive.io

3. Makers Fund

They funded 100 Thieves and understand that merchandise can be bigger than sponsorships.

• Recent Deals: 100 Thieves ($60M Series C, 2021), Singularity 6 ($30M Series B, 2021), Artie ($10M Series A, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Makers Fund
• Sector Focus: Gaming teams, lifestyle brands, gaming tech
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B
• Location: San Francisco, USA
• Website: makers.fund

4. aXiomatic Gaming

They own Team Liquid so they know exactly what team P&Ls look like.

• Recent Deals: Team Liquid (majority stake, 2016), Allied Esports ($30M, 2019), ongoing infrastructure investments
• LinkedIn: aXiomatic Gaming
• Sector Focus: Esports teams, tournament venues, gaming infrastructure
• Stage Focus: Growth, Buyouts
• Location: Los Angeles, USA
• Website: axiomatic.gg

5. HBSE Ventures

Harris Blitzer's sports fund that treats esports teams like traditional sports franchises.

• Recent Deals: NRG Esports (investment, 2016), Dignitas (acquired 2016), gaming betting platforms (2023-2024)
• LinkedIn: HBSE Ventures
• Sector Focus: Esports teams, gaming betting, sports tech
• Stage Focus: Series B, Growth
• Location: Philadelphia, USA
• Website: N/A

6. Griffin Gaming Partners

$750M fund that focuses on gaming infrastructure over teams.

• Recent Deals: Vindex ($60M, 2020), Forte ($725M, 2021), Maincard ($15M Series A, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Griffin Gaming Partners
• Sector Focus: Gaming infrastructure, esports platforms, web3 gaming
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Growth
• Location: Santa Monica, USA
• Website: griffingp.com

7. Animoca Brands

Web3-focused but they back traditional esports companies too if the metrics work.

• Recent Deals: Planetarium Labs ($32M Series A, 2024), QORPO ($5M seed, 2024), Ragnarok Landverse ($2.5M, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Animoca Brands
• Sector Focus: Web3 gaming, esports platforms, gaming infrastructure
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: Hong Kong
• Website: animocabrands.com

8. Lumikai

India's gaming fund that backed NODWIN at a $349M valuation - they understand regional esports.

• Recent Deals: NODWIN Gaming ($349M valuation, 2023), Loco ($42M Series A, 2022), Revenant Esports (investment, 2023)
• LinkedIn: Lumikai
• Sector Focus: Esports teams, streaming platforms, tournament organizers
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: Mumbai, India
• Website: lumikai.com

9. Krafton

PUBG's publisher investing in competitive gaming infrastructure they'll use themselves.

• Recent Deals: 5minlab ($6.8M, 2024), OVERDARE ($2M, 2024), Naver Z ($72M Series B, 2021)
• LinkedIn: Krafton
• Sector Focus: Tournament platforms, esports infrastructure, mobile gaming
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Strategic
• Location: Seoul, South Korea
• Website: krafton.com

10. Nazara Technologies

Backs esports teams across Southeast Asia and MENA where growth is actually happening.

• Recent Deals: Nodwin Gaming (majority stake, 2022), Sportskeeda ($13M, 2021), ongoing team investments
• LinkedIn: Nazara Technologies
• Sector Focus: Esports teams, tournament organizers, gaming media
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Acquisitions
• Location: Mumbai, India
• Website: nazara.com
  

11. Advantage

Sports-focused fund that applies traditional sports team economics to esports.

• Recent Deals: DraftKings (IPO, 2020), SoFi Stadium tech ($300M, 2019), esports venue investments (2023-2024)
• LinkedIn: Advantage
• Sector Focus: Esports venues, team organizations, sports betting
• Stage Focus: Series B, Growth, Infrastructure
• Location: New York, USA
• Website: N/A

12. KB Partners

Korean fund backing mobile esports platforms where most Asian viewership happens.

• Recent Deals: Riot Games Korea infrastructure ($50M, 2021), mobile tournament platforms (2023-2024)
• LinkedIn: KB Partners
• Sector Focus: Mobile esports, tournament platforms, gaming infrastructure
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B
• Location: Seoul, South Korea
• Website: N/A

13. BITKRAFT Esports Ventures

Their second fund specifically for competitive gaming after the first one did well.

• Recent Deals: Riot Games ($100M credit line, 2023), esports analytics platforms (2024)
• LinkedIn: BITKRAFT Esports Ventures
• Sector Focus: Tournament software, esports analytics, team management tools
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Location: Berlin, Germany
• Website: bitkraft.vc

14. NRG Esports

Team organization that invests in gaming infrastructure they want to use.

• Recent Deals: Gaming peripherals ($5M, 2023), tournament platforms (strategic investments, 2024)
• LinkedIn: NRG Esports
• Sector Focus: Gaming hardware, tournament platforms, team tools
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Strategic
• Location: Los Angeles, USA
• Website: nrg.gg

15. Tirta Ventures

Backs Southeast Asian esports teams where valuations are more reasonable.

• Recent Deals: Team Secret (investment, 2022), Bacon Time ($1.5M seed, 2023), regional tournament platforms (2024)
• LinkedIn: Tirta Ventures
• Sector Focus: Esports teams, mobile gaming, tournament organizers
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Location: Singapore
• Website: tirta.vc

16. OCA Ventures

Chicago fund that backed Super League Gaming and understands amateur esports economics.

• Recent Deals: Super League Gaming ($25M Series C, 2019), Nookazon ($5M Series A, 2021)
• LinkedIn: OCA Ventures
• Sector Focus: Amateur esports, gaming platforms, community tools
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: Chicago, USA
• Website: ocaventures.com

17. KB Investment

Series B+ fund for established esports companies with proven revenue.

• Recent Deals: Smilegate ($200M growth round, 2022), Pearl Abyss investments (ongoing)
• LinkedIn: KB Investment
• Sector Focus: Gaming publishers, esports leagues, infrastructure
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: Seoul, South Korea
• Website: N/A

18. Tencent

Strategic investor in Riot Games and League of Legends esports ecosystem.

• Recent Deals: Riot Games (full acquisition, 2015), Epic Games ($330M, 2023), ongoing league investments
• LinkedIn: Tencent
• Sector Focus: Gaming publishers, esports leagues, streaming platforms
• Stage Focus: Strategic, Growth, Buyouts
• Location: Shenzhen, China
• Website: tencent.com

19. London Venture Partners

European gaming fund that understands EMEA esports regulations better than US funds.

• Recent Deals: Yogscast ($20M, 2017), European tournament platforms (2023-2024)
• LinkedIn: London Venture Partners
• Sector Focus: Esports teams, gaming content, tournament platforms
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B
• Location: London, UK
• Website: londonvp.com

20. SeventySix Capital

Philadelphia fund backing gaming tech that helps teams and leagues operate better.

• Recent Deals: Skillz ($25M Series C, 2018), esports analytics platforms (2023-2024)
• LinkedIn: SeventySix Capital
• Sector Focus: Esports analytics, team management software, tournament tech
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B
• Location: Philadelphia, USA
• Website: seventysixcapital.com

Track who's actually interested

These 20 investors closed esports deals from 2021 to November 2025. Before you start emailing everyone, set up proper tracking so you know who's actually looking at your stuff.

Upload your deck to Ellty and make a different link for each investor. You'll see exactly which slides they check out and how long they spend on your tournament revenue breakdown. Most founders are surprised when investors skip the market size slides but spend 10 minutes on player contract structures.

When investors ask for financial models or sponsor agreements, share an Ellty data room instead of sending 15 different email attachments. Your cap table, tournament calendar, and player contracts all in one place with analytics on what they're actually reviewing.

Common questions

How do I know if an investor actually backs esports? Check their portfolio for team organizations or tournament platforms, not just gaming publishers. Lots of VCs say they "love gaming" but have never funded anything competitive.

Should I pitch team-focused funds or platform-focused funds? Depends on your business model. If you're building tournament software, go for platform investors. If you're starting a team, find funds that've backed other organizations and understand roster costs.

What's different about esports fundraising versus regular gaming? Esports has weird unit economics that confuse most investors. You need to explain why you're spending $500K on a player contract or why merchandise revenue takes 18 months to scale.

How many esports investors should I talk to? Probably 30-40 to get 5 serious conversations. The hit rate is low because most gaming VCs don't actually understand competitive gaming economics.

When should I set up a data room? Before your first investor meeting. They'll ask for sponsor contracts, player agreements, and tournament calendars immediately if they're interested.

Do investors care about tracking analytics? The smart ones do. If an investor spends 30 seconds on your deck, that's useful information. Move on faster instead of doing three follow-up emails.