eSports
GosuGamers acquired by esports entrepreneur and partners with GRID
GosuGamers has been acquired by esports entrepreneur Samson Oh and partnered with GRID, the leading platform and provider of data to esports, and its founder Moritz Maurer, signalling a new era for the global esports media outlet.
GosuGamers has been a staple of the esports scene since its founding in 2002, and the acquisition looks to breathe new life into the brand by enhancing its editorial team while recruiting new marketing, operations, tech and product specialists from all over the world.
With the acquisition, Moritz Maurer, the founder of GRID and one of the most well-recognised entrepreneurs is backing the new vision, which will see an integrated partnership with GRID, the leading platform & provider of official data solutions in esports.
With GRID on board as the official technology partner, the esports data solutions provider will incorporate its own proprietary technology to the GosuGamers platform, including a Live Stats feature which has been designed to redefine tournament viewing experience, featuring real-time data and match predictions to keep fans up to speed in one centralised esports hub.
The new-look media outlet will be headed up by Samson Oh, a renowned entrepreneur with years of experience working within the esports and gaming industry, including at Team Flash, MOT Games and Cargo Studio. Under Samson, GosuGamers will refocus on expanding its reach beyond Asia to become a truly global media outlet, while his experience in nurturing young and aspiring talents will see the GosuGamers brand make strides in creating content that is accessible and speaks to a range of esports and gaming cultures.
Freddy Tan, the former Chief Editor at IGN for Southeast Asia joins as Head of Creative to help develop GosuGamers’ global and localised content. The business has also added a breadth of talent from the sports industry. Esther Quek, a former NBA sports marketing trailblazer joins as Head of Marketing to develop the profile of the brand and its partnerships, while Wei Khim Cheah, a highly experienced media and broadcast expert having held senior positions at ESPN and Globecast, will support as an advisor.
Now backed by a host of industry veterans, GosuGamers is now steadily expanding its profile in global esports with a growing list of editors based around the world creating localised content across Europe, North America and Southeast Asia building the outlet’s presence to a reach of more than ten million unique users.
In the few short months under the new leadership, GosuGamers has recruited from all over the world from Europe, US, and Asia, while a new platform is currently being developed. The media outlet has also started the Unmuted podcast, a show that takes a deep dive into the world of esports with all the biggest news and trends, while more weekly shows and editorial series are being planned.
Samson Oh, CEO at GosuGamers, commented: “The takeover is a game-changer for GosuGamers, which has won the hearts of esports enthusiasts since its founding. Now, with GRID on board, we can continue providing fans with a hub of entertaining, creative and cutting-edge reporting, while being a positive force for the industry by championing innovative data integration that will fuel a more transparent and informative culture within esports and journalism.”
Moritz Maurer, CEO and founder of GRID added: “GosuGamers was the definitive source of news when I got into esports and the opportunity to build on that great legacy with such amazing partners is both humbling and exciting.”
Founded as a hub for esports enthusiasts in 2002, the takeover will only strengthen its ties with the passionate community around GosuGamers, which has agreed several partnerships with tournaments over the next year.
The esports media outlet will also be teaming up with Mobile Legends: Bang Bang developer MOONTON Games in a new partnership that will give unrivalled access into the Mobile Legends Professional League (MPL) Philippines esports circuit for its eighth season, with room to expand the partnership into other territories, including Indonesia and Brazil, in the future.
Matt Jaron, Head of Business Development, MOONTON Games added: “GosuGamers has fostered a passionate gaming community over the years. We want to strengthen that relationship and build stronger ties with GosuGamers and nurture the growth of the esports ecosystem through this partnership.”
Angela Bernhard Thomas
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eSports
R&D rethink needed for sportsbooks to harness esports’ power
Esports betting is still grappling with a perception problem amongst operators. Despite the leaps and bounds in product development made by suppliers – particularly in the last two years – esports hasn’t shaken off the image built in the late 2010s.
Our good friend, Oliver Niner, Head of Sales at PandaScore, has been kind to share the below article with us.
There’s scepticism around esports betting’s value, how well it can actually perform and what’s needed to make it appeal to bettors. A big part of that comes down to perception, which shapes the research and development (R&D) choices made by each operator.
Self-fulfilling prophecy?
Operators who have put the research and development (R&D) resources into esports are seeing excellent growth, while others are still treating it like part of a long tail. The lack of a uniform approach to esports often translates into hesitancy to be bullish and invest in esports.
Whereas in the United States, post-PASPA sports betting has exploded and operators are seeking to capture as much territory and market share as possible because in most cases, you switch the lights on and the money comes in. It’s, of course, good business sense to take opportunities like this – you can apply the same templates used elsewhere on an incredibly lucrative market.
This kind of approach has been attempted for esports and hasn’t found the same success. Granted, the legislation for betting on esports has been somewhat slower than that of sports betting and iGaming.
However, bullish operators have acknowledged the fact that esports hasn’t found the same success in regulated states and asked what can be done differently, while for others, esports has been thrown into the too-hard basket or relegated to the bargain bucket.
For the latter, the fate of the esports vertical becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy – especially if an operator already using a budget esports product that throttles its very growth.
It takes two to tango
When esports is discussed in broader betting circles, you’ll often hear different versions of the same talking point: the problem with esports is no one is doing it well, it doesn’t innovate.
This argument is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Esports is a driver of innovation, and it is sportsbook R&D that is holding it back.
Multiple suppliers on the market are investing significant resources into R&D, and bullish operators are leveraging these product innovations to acquire new customers and create engagements made for the internet age.
There are understandable reasons why sports betting doesn’t innovate. It’s largely because operators focus on acquisition, entering new territories and spending money on data rights. But the actual R&D on sportsbook products is left lacking, with ever-increasing cost-per-acquisition (CPA) numbers a clear symptom of this.
It means that if an operator does decide to use or acquire an esports specialist supplier but does little to cater its product and attempts to just lay the sports betting template over the top, of course performance will be throttled.
It’s like putting a Ferrari engine in a Prius – no offence to Toyota or Prius owners.
The same problem exists on the platform supplier front. Platforms are understandably focused on compliance and getting customers live, not necessarily improving models or their products.
Even the idea that if you just acquire an innovative company the problem is solved or you have found the solution, doesn’t hold water. In many cases, the company is acquired and plenty of noise is made about it, but there’s little organisational investment in R&D afterwards.
It’s not just in esports
These problems extend to customer acquisition and marketing for most emerging markets, not just esports. There’s a rush to use the same old playbook in newer sectors because it’s easy.
The fantasy vs. house sector in the US is already experiencing an acquisition arms race. As analyst Dustin Gouker points out, deposit match bonuses for new users on fantasy vs house products have jumped from $100 to as high as $500 in some places.
This is the same race that played out in sports betting and despite the costs, there’s little effort from most operators to try something different. There’s less work when you just put the same acquisition template on an emerging sector and call it a day. This seems to be an accepted practice in the industry, for better or for worse.
Esports betting success requires ongoing dialogue
Rather than attempting to wedge esports into hegemonic sportsbook approaches, sportsbooks need to take a completely unique approach.
The fact is the betting sector has barely scratched the surface – communities of esports fans are still dormant. Canadian operator Rivalry has built a successful, esports-first business by embracing the ever-changing internet culture that esports inhabits. French esports organisation Karmine Corp recently sold out a 30,000-person stadium for an event with no prize money up for grabs.
Innovative products developed on the supplier side like microbetting and betbuilders are only half of the equation.
Maximising esports revenues requires institutional investment, ongoing R&D and collaboration between suppliers and operators to create products and experiences. This includes having staff on the operator side that can drive and push the product further, and crucially, rethinking current sportsbook strategies and practices.
Building experiences for betting’s greatest emerging market – one that caters to your future core audience – takes investment, innovation and a willingness to experiment. If the industry wants to make the most of the Millennial and Gen Z audience that will become its primary customers, investment into R&D and close collaboration between suppliers and operators is needed. Many hands makes light work.
Asia
Esports media platform TalkEsport raises $1 million in pre-series A funding round
TalkEsport, India’s 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 TalkEsport’s 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 India’s 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, “Our new era of esports coverage will begin not only with TalkEsport’s 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 – both in the form of video and text.”
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.
The post Esports media platform TalkEsport raises $1 million in pre-series A funding round appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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