A new $50 million investment fund has been established to support businesses within the esports and video game industry. The fund, announced by Esports Global, aims to provide capital and strategic support to a range of companies in the sector.
The Esports Global Fund LP, based in Guernsey, has secured its backing from the Alshaya family, a Kuwait-based investment group with a diverse portfolio across retail, hospitality, and technology. The fund’s strategy is to build a portfolio of 10 to 15 companies globally, focusing on those that can benefit from both the investment and the management’s industry expertise. It will allocate capital to a mix of early-stage startups and more mature companies seeking Series B funding.
The fund will not be limited to esports teams but will also consider adjacent businesses in technology and education that serve the gaming community. Companies interested in seeking investment have been directed to contact the fund directly.
The initiative is led by industry figures Chester King, Founder and President of the British Esports Federation, and Dave Martin, from British Esports and Resolve Esports, who was also one of the London Royal Ravens founders. They are supported by a team with expertise in technology, finance, and sports medicine.
In a statement, the leadership indicated that the fund was created in response to the sector’s maturation. Martin pointed to significant industry developments, such as the upcoming Olympic Esports Games and the convergence of traditional sports with competitive gaming, as signs of long-term growth potential. However, Martin emphasised that businesses need “smart capital”—a combination of funding and industry-specific guidance—to succeed.
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Echoing this sentiment, King stated that the fund offers “well-connected capital,” distinguishing it from purely financial investors. He observed that many promising esports ventures have struggled due to a lack of industry access or management experience, which his team aims to provide. King predicted that the most significant growth in the next five years will come from the broader ecosystem of products and services that support gamers.
