eSports

Fnatic Raises $10 Million and Launches Crowdfunding to Accelerate High-Performance Esports

Published

6 years ago

November 11, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Fnatic, a leading global esports brand, today announces that it has raised $10 million in an internal round led by Beringea with participation from existing investors Unbound, LVL1 Group, JHD as well as key management. The funding will be used to support the global growth of its pioneering esports brand and drive the success of its leading high-performance teams. Fnatic has now raised nearly $35 million across its various funding rounds.

Building on the momentum of this investment round, Fnatic has also announced that it has launched a crowd equity campaign with Crowdcube, the world’s largest crowdfunding platform. Through this campaign, Fnatic will provide a unique opportunity for its growing fanbase to invest in the business and play a part in its mission to seek out and level up the next generation of gamers. This campaign offers a chance for its fanbase to help shape the future of Fnatic.

“We’ve been looking to conduct a crowdfund campaign for a while,” said Sam Mathews, founder and CEO of Fnatic. “This investment provides the perfect opportunity for our community, friends and enthusiasts to join our established investors and own a piece of Fnatic. Crowdfunding is a dynamic and increasingly popular way to fundraise as it provides an opportunity to transform our active and engaged community into investors by giving them the chance to get closer to our journey than ever before. We’re very excited to be working directly with our audience, partnering with them to shape the future of Fnatic, and of entertainment, sports and gaming performance.”

This crowdfunding campaign reflects Fnatic’s ambition to innovate and continuously enhance gaming performance while making it accessible to all. The proceeds of this campaign will be directly allocated to initiatives that will foster the advancement of Fnatic’s mission to seek out and level up the next generation of gamers. Esports viewership and gaming has boomed in the past year, and this campaign offers investors the opportunity to both support a leading global esports brand and to play an active role in furthering the growing esports movement.

This past year saw viewership of esports skyrocket. Over the past three years, Fnatic has been ranked consistently as one of the most viewed teams among western esports fans and is the second most watched team of 2020 with over 110 million hours watched, to date. As one of the most globally recognised and successful esports brands with total cash winnings nearing $16 million across 903 tournaments, Fnatic continuously sets the bar through community activations and innovative brand partnerships with world renowned brands such as BMW, Gucci, OnePlus, AMD, Monster, Hisense and more.

“Esports is an industry experiencing explosive growth, and yet in many ways is still in adolescence,” said Karen McCormick, Chief Investment Officer of Beringea. “Having evaluated the industry from many angles, Fnatic was a relatively simple investment decision given the premier status of the brand, consistency as a true performance company, and growth and engagement of the fan base. The business has also become a global leader in a very capital efficient way, building a standout team while maintaining a clear focus on economics and profitability.”

Since Crowdcube was founded in 2011, it has helped more than 1,120 raises successfully fundraise. With more than 900,000 members, a total of £1bn has invested on the platform to date. In good company, notable businesses that have successfully raised through Crowdcube include Revolut, BrewDog, Monzo, Carwow, Freetrade and Mindful Chef. Fnatic plans to raise £1 million ($1.3m) through this campaign, which will be open to the public on November 19th. For more information, please visit https://invest.fnatic.com

Brazil

Esportes Gaming Brasil exec calls for ‘responsible sponsorship’ at BiS Brasília

Published

2 days ago

June 4, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

esportes-gaming-brasil-exec-calls-for-‘responsible-sponsorship’-at-bis-brasilia

Esportes Gaming Brasil director Hugo Baungartner used a panel appearance at BiS Brasília (Brazilian iGaming Summit) to argue that sports and cultural sponsorships should be measured by their long-term impact, not just brand visibility. Baungartner spoke during the session “A Importância dos Patrocínios e das Leis de Incentivo para a Sustentabilidade do Esporte e da Cultura.”

During the debate, Baungartner said sector maturity requires a long-term approach that turns sponsorships into platforms for relationship-building and local ecosystem development, connecting with fans, consumers and communities.

He highlighted the group’s sports partnerships with Corinthians, Ceará, Náutico and Ferroviária, as well as support for Brazilian cultural events including Carnaval, São João and the Festival de Parintins. Baungartner said major events can move entire supply chains by boosting tourism, commerce and job opportunities, and pointed to the importance of working with local suppliers and professionals in Parintins to expand the positive impacts of sponsorship spending.

Baungartner also addressed challenges in Brazil’s regulated betting market, saying consolidation depends on governance, integrity and consumer protection, alongside efforts to combat illegal operators. He said advances in provider regulation and stronger financial traceability mechanisms are important steps to limit unauthorized activity and improve user security.

“Patrocínio responsável é aquele que cria conexão real com o público e deixa legado no território. No esporte e na cultura, isso significa investir com governança, transparência e propósito, fortalecendo um ecossistema que gera renda, emprego e oportunidades”, afirmou.

The post Esportes Gaming Brasil exec calls for ‘responsible sponsorship’ at BiS Brasília appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

eSports

Team Vitality and Fulllife Unveil a New FPS Jersey for the Valorant Masters London and IEM Cologne Major 2026

Published

3 days ago

June 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

team-vitality-and-fulllife-unveil-a-new-fps-jersey-for-the-valorant-masters-london-and-iem-cologne-major-2026

Team Vitality has unveiled its new “FPS Jersey,” specially designed for IEM Cologne 2026 and the VALORANT Masters 2026 in collaboration with its apparel partner Fulllife. Conceived as a strong symbol of ambition, performance and legacy, the jersey features an exclusive central crest and introduces a bold visual evolution for the club.

After making history on Counter-Strike, Team Vitality is celebrating its FPS DNA through a jersey dedicated to its two flagship titles. Through this initiative, the club reinforces its ambition to leave a lasting mark on the world’s biggest FPS stages and establish this jersey as a new benchmark within the esports industry.

AN EXCEPTIONAL JERSEY FOR A HISTORIC MOMENT

For this new release, Team Vitality embraces a completely new visual approach. For the first time in the club’s history, purple is introduced alongside its iconic yellow and black colours, in line with the organisation’s new 2026 artistic direction. This bold creative choice allows the jersey to stand out within the esports landscape while surprising and exciting fans.

The symbol featured on the front of the jersey reinterprets an iconic part of the club’s logo: the “V” combined with the lower section of the bee’s body. This graphic element, called the “Mini Bee,” is integrated throughout the jersey’s design to symbolise the swarm — representing collective strength, the identity of the Hive and the power of the Team Vitality community.

Fulllife has brought its technical expertise to a piece designed both for competition and for the fans in the stands. Every detail reflects the club’s continued rise on the international stage and its ambition to leave a lasting legacy in esports. The accompanying apparel collection also incorporates the same colour palette and includes lifestyle pieces designed for everyday wear.

“We are extremely proud of this new FPS-focused marketing campaign — a true love letter to Counter-Strike and VALORANT. An exclusive jersey, a dedicated fan zone, and numerous activations created hand in hand with our partners for our fans… We are ready for two major international events, with the clear ambition of continuing to establish Team Vitality among the best esports clubs in the world,” said Amélie Canet, Chief Marketing Officer.

PERFORMANCE AND RESPONSIBILITY

The FPS Jersey is manufactured in Portugal using NanoMatter, a technical fabric made from 100% recycled polyester and specifically developed for competitive players. Ultra-comfortable, lightweight and breathable, it is designed to perform under the most demanding conditions.

Each order is delivered in Fulllife’s iconic Capsule packaging, redesigned in Team Vitality’s colors, FSC-certified and accompanied by 100% recycled and recyclable polybags.

“This jersey is one of the boldest pieces we have ever produced. Our role was to bring a strong creative vision to life using the best materials and manufacturing processes available, delivering a product that truly reflects Team Vitality’s ambitions on the international stage,” said Maxime Baziadoly, General Manager of Fulllife.

The post Team Vitality and Fulllife Unveil a New FPS Jersey for the Valorant Masters London and IEM Cologne Major 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Belgium

Epic Games and BLAST bring 2026 Fortnite Global Championship to Antwerp

Published

4 days ago

June 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

epic-games-and-blast-bring-2026-fortnite-global-championship-to-antwerp

Epic Games and BLAST will host the 2026 Fortnite Global Championship in Antwerp, Belgium, on September 26-27, marking the FNCS season finale at Lotto Arena.

Epic and BLAST said the event brings the Fortnite competitive circuit and BLAST to Antwerp for the first time. The announcement was made at the Fortnite Major 1 Summit in Düsseldorf, Germany.

A $2,000,000 USD prize pool will be at stake, alongside the FNCS Global Championship trophy crafted by silverware artisan Thomas Lyte.

Epic and BLAST positioned Antwerp—located in the Benelux region—as a travel-friendly destination for fans coming from Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Germany. Ticket information is available via the venue listing.

The post Epic Games and BLAST bring 2026 Fortnite Global Championship to Antwerp appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.