eSports
G2 completes seven-figure Series B investment round and announces new investors
G2, one of the world’s leading entertainment and esports brands, has today announced its successful Series B investment round. The round was led by the investment arm of the Wilf family, WISE Ventures, who have become part of G2’s ownership group. Among the multiple new investors joining them are The Tornante Company (owned by former Paramount Pictures and The Walt Disney Company CEO) , Gary Vaynerchuk, and G2’s own leadership team.
The capital raised from the Series B investment round will be used towards venturing into new titles, a wider global expansion for the organisation, and G2’s direct-to-fans offerings. Funds will also be utilised for wider investment into the Call of Duty League (CDL), after acquiring full ownership of esports organisation Version1’s Minnesota Rokkr’s Call of Duty League slot. This acquisition of Minnesota Rokkr follows G2 obtaining operating rights to Minnesota Rokkr in late 2023 through a strategic partnership with Version1, owned and operated by the Wilf family. G2 is renowned for being one of the most decorated clubs in the world with over 100 first-place finishes across the last decade, competing in major league titles including League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2, VALORANT, Sim Racing and Rainbox Six Siege.
Funds will also be used toward a broader diversification of G2’s direct-to-fans offerings including updates to its fan-focused app, major content projects and exciting new campaigns that are yet to be announced. With over 30 million fans globally and boasting partnerships with some of the most prestigious mainstream brands globally including Mastercard, Red Bull, Ralph Lauren and Oakley, G2 will look to further establish itself as one of the most successful organisations worldwide, and continue to solidify esports as the new generation of sports.
The investment round introduced multiple new investors, while also seeing existing investors increase their contributions to the organisation. Notable additions to G2’s elite ownership team and shareholder base include WISE Ventures, the investment arm of the Wilf family, owners of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings and MLS and NWSL teams Orlando City SC and Pride and real estate development company Garden Homes, among other holdings, as well as investor and entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, and the investment arm of former Paramount Pictures and The Walt Disney Company CEO, The Tornante Company.
Previous investors, including Jens Hilgers (Founder of Bitkraft and ESL), Al Tylis (part owner of Necaxa (MX Liga), Wrexham (Welsh Football club), DC United (MLS), DC Pickleball) and Bluepool (owners of Brooklyn Nets (NBA) and New York Liberty (WNBA) ), also increased their investments during this round. Additionally, G2’s leadership team joined as investors and shareholders, reflecting their commitment and confidence in the Company’s future.
New and existing investors join a roster of previous investors that include ties to McLaren Racing, Baltimore Orioles (MLB), LAFC (MLS), Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL) and Portuguese footballer Andre Gomes.
Alban Dechelotte, CEO of G2, comments: “This successful investment round and the addition of our new investors showcases G2’s strength and value as an organisation. This year is our 10th anniversary, and looking back over the last decade, we’ve not only built a globally successful brand with teams that are consistently on top, but also we’ve built a valuable business that’s been profitable for multiple years. As we look ahead, we’re excited to keep building our legacy to become a next generation sports organisation.”
Konrad von Moltke, Principal of WISE Ventures, added: “Since getting to know G2’s management team in early 2023 we have continued to be impressed with their strategic vision, work ethic, operational excellence and communication. We are thrilled to be partnering with G2 on their next stage of growth.”
Jonathan Wilf, Controlling Owner of Version1, commented: “G2 and Version1 are a natural fit. We are fully invested in the future of esports – our partnership with G2 and our investment in this funding round is a testament to that. We are excited to build on the legacy of Version1, and we can’t wait to bring more championships to G2’s global fanbase.”
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025, G2 will be inviting fans to celebrate with exclusive events, exciting new merch collaborations with major global IPs, content drops, and more, looking back at 10 successful years, and looking forward to the organisation’s bright future.
The post G2 completes seven-figure Series B investment round and announces new investors appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
Emmy-Winning Director R.J. Cutler’s Docuseries Esports World Cup: Level Up Premieres June 6 on Prime Video
Prime Video, one of the leading entertainment destinations, will premiere the five-part documentary Esports World Cup: Level Up on June 6, with new episodes released weekly. Directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler (Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, Elton John: Never Too Late and Martha), the series goes behind-the-scenes of the inaugural Esports World Cup (EWC) in 2024 — a defining moment in global esports, where over $60 million in prize money ignited a high-stakes, multinational battle to crown the world’s top esports Club.
The series is produced by This Machine (a part of Sony Pictures Television), with R.J. Cutler directing, John Dorsey serving as showrunner, and Jane Cha Cutler, Trevor Smith, Elise Pearlstein and Mark Blatty executive producing. Level Up will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
Esports World Cup: Level Up offers a rare look inside a global competition that’s redefining what it means to be a champion for a new generation of athletes and fans. R.J. Cutler and his team of expert storytellers embedded themselves within the eight-week tournament – watched by over 500 million fans globally – to uncover the personal sacrifices, rivalries and stakes driving the action.
Shot in verité style, the series combines intimate home visits from around the world and on-the-ground coverage from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It follows a wide cast of characters – from Club CEOs orchestrating million-dollar strategies to rising stars chasing life-changing wins – while capturing the pulse of elite esports competition.
“What drew me to the Esports World Cup was the compelling human stories unfolding within this high-stakes arena. Level Up isn’t just about the incredible competition and prize money; it’s about the dedication, the passion, and the sheer will of these athletes and teams pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Under high pressure, we discover the true character of the competitors who vie for $60 million, but who also expose their humanity in the process,” said Cutler.
At the heart of Level Up is the “EWC Club Championship,” an unprecedented, multi-title tournament format where Clubs compete across more than 20 games, earning points toward a single leaderboard. Every match, every point, reshapes the race for global dominance. With the highest prize pool in esports history on the line, the EWC is not just a tournament – it’s a proving ground for the next generation of sports icons.
“A win might make the headlines — but the real story is the people behind it. Level Up dives into the human side of esports: the pressure, the ambition, the sacrifices. It’s about what it really takes to compete at the highest level — and why it matters. R.J. is the best at bringing those stories to life, and this one captures the heart of what we’re building,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation.
The post Emmy-Winning Director R.J. Cutler’s Docuseries Esports World Cup: Level Up Premieres June 6 on Prime Video appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Esports betting pioneer adds daily fantasy esports offering to its growing range of products, with its sights set on the US market
PandaScore, the award-winning provider of esports odds, data and betting products, has continued to push boundaries with the launch of Daily Fantasy eSports, a truly groundbreaking product for operators and players.
Daily Fantasy eSports has been developed for the US market but will have global appeal with players drawn in by the chance to create virtual teams of real-life players and earn points based on their actual game performances.
Contests range from daily matchups to season-long leagues, with plenty of prizes up for grabs.
PandaScore’s Daily Fantasy eSports is backed by an expert-led esports trading team to deliver fast, accurate settlement data across unique, player-focused markets driven by the provider’s established and proven betting models.
An Interactive Player Widget serves up rich player stats and profiles, with PandaScore’s powerful BetBuilder enabling same-game parlays.
But that’s not all. PandaScore has more than 17,000 players in its esports player age and info database, the largest in the market.
It also offers dedicated helper codes and documentation to ensure smooth and seamless operator integration. It really is as easy as 1-2-3.
1 – There is a kick-off call to align on goals, timelines and fantasy formats.
2 – The operator accesses PandaScore’s dedicated fantasy-focused API to accelerate the build
3 – The dedicated integration manager ensures effortless onboarding and a successful launch
By leveraging PandaScore’s odds and data, alongside its team of experts and specialists, online sportsbook and daily fantasy sports operators can launch faster, ensure accuracy and scale their Daily Fantasy eSports offering with confidence.
Oliver Niner, Head of B2B at PandaScore, said: “Daily Fantasy eSports is a pioneering product from PandaScore that will really hit the mark with operators across North America, as well as other global markets.
“It allows operators to engage esports fans and bettors with a compelling product and proposition, but without the degree of risk that comes with standard betting as the payouts are controlled.
“Daily Fantasy eSports is already live with Dabble and is performing incredibly well, so we look forward to going live with more operators in the coming months.
“This really is a game-changing product, and we can’t wait to see it become available at some of the biggest betting brands in North America and beyond.”
The launch of Daily Fantasy eSports complements PandaScore’s growing esports betting offering, which includes odds and data for a huge number of disciplines, plus betting products like its BetBuilder, MicroMarkets and StoryBuilder.
The post PandaScore launches game-changing Daily Fantasy eSports product appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Esports Charts, a Ukraine-born analytics company that aggregates real-time viewership insights about esports, has won the Esports Innovation Award at the EsportsNext Industry Awards, hosted by the Esports Trade Association (ESTA) in Dallas, US.
The Esports Innovation Award recognizes an organization or individual that has introduced groundbreaking technology, services, or strategies significantly advancing the esports industry.
Esports Charts was honored for its scalable analytics platform, which provides comprehensive tournament and viewership statistics across more than 25 livestreaming services — helping stakeholders from publishers and teams to fans make smarter, data-driven decisions.
“Winning the Innovation Award from ESTA is an important milestone for us as a leading esports analytics service in the world. Also, we’re especially proud to represent Ukraine-born innovation on an international stage.
“From day one, our mission has been to bring clarity and transparency to the world of esports data. And this recognition from the industry is both an honor and a motivation to keep raising the bar.
“Thank you to our incredible team and partners, who believed in us from the start. This award is a shared success — and we’re just getting started,” Artyom Odintsov, co-founder and CEO of Esports Charts.
The post Esports Charts Wins “Esports Innovation Award” at the EsportsNext Industry Awards appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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