eSports
Former HelloFresh Founding Member and VP of Operations & Product appointed as Skrmiish CEO
Luke Grob, the former HelloFresh founding member and VP of Operations & Product, has been appointed as Skrmiish’s Chief Executive Officer.
As a business strategy and operations expert who specialises in early-stage business growth, Grob has been appointed to lead the company’s ambitious growth targets, starting with global launch of the Skrmiish app in January 2021.
Speaking about his new role, Grob said: “I’ve spent much of my career working with high growth companies with large addressable markets and the potential of Skrmiish is enormous. The explosion in gaming is well documented and Skrmiish is perfectly positioned to be a genuine disruptor in the space. I am looking forward to working with the team to make Skrmiish a powerhouse in the global competitive gaming space.”
Grob’s commitment to scaling companies with big ambitions stems from an innate passion about understanding the numbers that drive ventures.
Grob joined Rocket Internet in 2012 and took a leading position in the HelloFresh UK founding team, holding multiple roles including the Director of Global Operations and VP of Growth & Innovation, supporting its growth from infancy to Europe’s fastest growing business (FT 2017), expanding the team exponentially and seeing turnover move from single digits to +£300M in less than three years, before a successful IPO (ETR:HFG) in year six. HelloFresh is now valued at over $11B.
He went onto become Head of Growth at REEF Technology (Backed by Softbank Vision Fund) which pioneered the transformation of underutilized urban spaces and Dark Kitchen Industry, scaling their early operations across the UK and US and helping securing a +$950M investment to fuel growth in the US. Over the past three years Grob has been a mentor at Techstars, is an advisory board member to multiple early-stage businesses as well as EMEA Expansion and Growth Consultant at TemperPack.
Grob is a champion at driving big business growth in prospering industries and believes that Skrmiish is one such venture.
Chris Heaton, co-founder of Skrmiish had this to say about Grob’s appointment: “I am thrilled and proud to be able to welcome Luke to the company. He is someone with a proven track record of helping companies in early-stage growth go on to become phenomenal success stories. Having Luke at the helm with his exceptional experience and expertise will ensure we set out and deliver on our ambitious growth plan through 2021 and beyond. His arrival is quite the coup for Skrmiish and signals our intention to become a global name in gaming.”
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data providers
DATA.BET reports 168% turnover growth from virtual content in Q1 2025–Q1 2026
DATA.BET says turnover from its virtual content grew 168% between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026, with the supplier reporting the product accounted for 39% of total virtual sports turnover and 45% of profits over the period.
The company said the content is developed fully in-house and delivered through automated bot-vs-bot matches that run 24/7 without dependence on real-world fixture schedules. DATA.BET positioned the format as a way to provide continuous events and reduce operational overhead for operators.
Across the same period, DATA.BET reported +299% active users, +129% across clients GGR, +246% events per quarter, and +218% bets placed.
DATA.BET also said the audience profile overlaps with live football bettors, which it believes supports retention during seasonal breaks. The supplier added that the algorithm-driven format “carries no fraud exposure,” supports In-Stream Betting overlays, and provides near-zero latency between broadcast and market updates.
“Over the past year, our bot-vs-bot virtual content has delivered consistent, measurable results across every operator deployment. Building e-Football in-house gives us the flexibility to configure it to what each operator actually needs — whether that is a specific league structure, a particular mix of bot and player content, or a branded competition format,” mentioned Rostyslav Likhtin, Head of Product at DATA.BET.
The post DATA.BET reports 168% turnover growth from virtual content in Q1 2025–Q1 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
energy drinks
Team Vitality names FYZIO official sports nutrition and energy drinks supplier
Multi-year deal adds Laboratoires Gilbert’s new brand to jerseys across CS2, VALORANT, Rocket League and LoL teams ahead of a September 2026 launch.
Team Vitality has signed a multi-year partnership with FYZIO, naming the brand its new official sports nutrition and energy drinks supplier. FYZIO is a sports nutrition and hydration brand developed by Laboratoires Gilbert, a French healthcare company established in 1904.
The partnership will put FYZIO branding on the left sleeve of Team Vitality’s official jerseys for several flagship rosters, including CS2, VALORANT (VCT), Rocket League, and League of Legends teams across the LEC, LFL, and Rising Bees. FYZIO will also support Team Vitality teams competing in Teamfight Tactics, Tekken, and Trackmania.
FYZIO is scheduled to launch in September 2026. Team Vitality said the brand will supply products intended to support areas including hydration, fatigue and stress reduction, concentration and memory, and sleep quality.
“We are delighted to announce this partnership with FYZIO and proud to support the launch of this ambitious new brand from the French group, Laboratoires Gilbert. By integrating its specialised nutrition products into our teams’ routines, we are further strengthening our commitment to high-performance excellence,” comments Vas Roberts, Co-CEO of Team Vitality.
“For more than 120 years, Laboratoires Gilbert has been developing solutions dedicated to health and well-being. With FYZIO, we are bringing this expertise to a new ambition: helping everyone achieve their goals, whatever they may be, through a modern, accessible, and responsible approach to sports nutrition. Our partnership with Team Vitality reflects this shared vision of progress, high standards, and sustainable performance. Your performance, our nature“, explains Cédric Batteur, Chairman & CEO, Laboratoires Gilbert.
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eSports
McDonald’s Germany signs on as presenting partner for G2 NORD and G2 Hel
McDonald’s Germany has partnered with G2 as presenting partner of G2 NORD, the organisation’s League of Legends academy team competing in Germany’s Prime League. The deal also includes support for the return of G2 Hel, G2’s women’s League of Legends team.
Under the agreement, McDonald’s Germany branding, including the “ich liebe es” (I’m lovin’ it) tagline, will appear on G2 NORD and G2 Hel jerseys. The partners also plan a year-long content programme focused on player storytelling and behind-the-scenes access, including a series featuring team president Niklot “Tolkin” Stüber.
G2 positioned the partnership around its regional development pathway. G2 NORD was formed earlier this year through a collaboration between G2 and NORD Esports, and the organisation said the roster has already won the Prime League Winter Snowdown and reached the playoffs in its first EMEA Masters run.
The company said McDonald’s Germany’s backing enables G2 Hel’s return, with the team set to compete in the upcoming Game Changers circuit. “This partnership goes beyond traditional sponsorship, it’s a shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of talent development and creating meaningful opportunities within the space,” said Alban Dechelotte, CEO of G2. Stijn Mentrop-Huliselan, CMO of McDonald’s Germany, added: “We’re proud to support G2 Nord and to celebrate the return of G2 Hel – a strong signal for equity, visibility and inclusion in esports.”
To launch the collaboration, McDonald’s and G2 released an announcement video featuring Jankos, Sola, Tolkin, Team Nord and Caltys, produced in-house by G2. McDonald’s Germany said its lead agency Scholz & Friends supported the development and execution of the partnership.
The post McDonald’s Germany signs on as presenting partner for G2 NORD and G2 Hel appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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