Asia
Tier One Entertainment raises Pre-Series A financing to expand presence across Asia
Tier One Entertainment, the gaming and esports entertainment pioneer and leader in Southeast Asia, has raised an undisclosed amount of financing on its recent Pre-series A round.
The Pre-series A round was led by Gobi Partners through its Gobi-Core Philippine Fund, a joint-venture fund with Core Capital. In addition, Warner Music Group joins the round as part of their strategic investments in the region. Warner Music Group Corp. is an American multinational entertainment and record label conglomerate that is considered is one of the “big three” recording companies worldwide. Meanwhile, Gobi Partners is one of the longest-standing venture capital firms with a Pan-Asian presence across North Asia, South Asia, and ASEAN, with over US$1.2 billion in assets under management (AUM).
Octava, a Singapore-based family office, KAYAC Inc, a Japan-based internet company, and Tier One Entertainment’s early stage investor, Atlas Ventures have contributed to this round.
Started as a professional talent agency, Singapore-registered Tier One Entertainment is now the largest gaming and esports entertainment provider in Southeast Asia, housing 420 talents with a cumulative reach of 100.9 Million on Facebook, 23.5 Million on Youtube, 11.8 Million on Instagram, and 9.1 Million on Tiktok.
The infusion of finance will power Tier One Entertainment, currently operational in Malaysia, Myanmar and the Philippines, to set up local operations in other Asian countries.
The proceeds of the financing will be specifically utilized to hire back-end teams that will further support their talents, expand their esports operations in Blacklist International, Tier One’s Esports team, and set-up their first content creation hub in the Philippines.
“The gaming industry is going through a golden age and this funding will help accelerate our growth by allowing us to replicate our success in other markets. In just a few years of operations, we’ve found a winning formula in esports and gaming by developing a robust business model around top tier content creation and authentic distribution. We firmly believe that we are an Asian behemoth in the making and now that we have more support from established venture capital firms around the globe, Tier One Entertainment is now poised for explosive growth,” Tryke Gutierrez, Founder, and CEO, Tier One Entertainment, said.
Tier One Entertainment was founded in 2017 by esports veteran Tryke Gutierrez, cosplay and gaming superstar Alodia Gosiengfiao and seasoned entrepreneur Brian Lim. Together, they sought to revolutionize Southeast Asia’s esports landscape, bringing their expertise in creating winning formulas to turn their talents into gaming superstars.
“We have come a long way since our first business meeting at my home in 2017. With the growth of mobile gaming, streaming and esports as an avenue for youth entertainment, we came up with the foresight to develop and house these talents by building our very own YG Entertainment of gaming. We are truly grateful for our new backers for believing in our vision that we can take this company to the next level,” Alodia Gosiengfiao, Co-founder, Tier One Entertainment, said
The company has locked in top talents in the Philippines, Myanmar, and Malaysia to date. As COVID-19 accelerated gaming and esports’ interest, they plan to take advantage of this growth by acquiring more up-and-coming talents in other markets.
“Tier One showed their resilience and agility through their meteoric rise in the industry. Not only did the team understand the complex space of esports and entertainment, Tier One continues to thrive by expanding its footprint across the region. We’re excited to have Tier One join our portfolio of startups under the Gobi-Core Philippine Fund”, Carlo Delantar, Partner, Core Capital, noted.
The esports company is also backed up by Bitkraft Ventures and Atlas Ventures during its seeding round and has clients such as Foodpanda, Unilever, Riot games, Samsung, Smart communications among others under its business portfolio. The company positions itself as capital efficient and generating multimillion in annual revenues.
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Asia
Books on Wheels: DigiPlus Foundation Brings Mobile Library to Boost Literacy Among Aurora’s Young Learners
DigiPlus Foundation continues to champion inclusive learning by empowering young learners in Aurora Province through a meaningful partnership with youth-led volunteer group Sikat Aurora.
Following six months of sustained support for Sikat Aurora’s Abot Ko ang Libro storytelling initiative, an activity that brings reading sessions and learning spaces closer to children in local communities, DigiPlus Foundation and GameZone surprised the group with a new mobile library designed to support their mission beyond a single location. The mobile library will allow Sikat Aurora volunteers to roam across Aurora Province, reaching more children with books, learning materials, and storytelling activities.
The donation strengthens Sikat Aurora’s efforts to uplift nonformal education as a vital complement to classroom learning, especially for children with limited access to books and educational resources. By taking learning on the road, the mobile library transforms storytelling sessions into a scalable, sustainable program that can reach far-flung communities across the province.
RJ Belen, Founder of Sikat Aurora, said: “We are truly grateful for the trust and support of DigiPlus Foundation. This mobile library will help us reach more young learners in Aurora and strengthen our mission of nurturing a love for reading. Through nonformal education, we help support what children learn in school and create spaces where learning feels accessible, enjoyable, and empowering.”
“This will allow us to bring learning to children who may not always have access to educational materials, helping them build confidence and curiosity as they grow.”
Neil Orillaneda, Program Manager for Technology Education of DigiPlus Foundation, said: “Our goal is simple: no learner left behind. By supporting initiatives like Sikat Aurora’s mobile library, we help bridge learning gaps and ensure that children, regardless of location or circumstance, have access to educational resources that support their growth.”
The mobile library donation reflects DigiPlus Foundation’s belief that learning happens not only inside classrooms, but also within communities through shared stories, accessible resources, and partnerships that place children at the center of development.
The mobile library donation is part of a Php 1-million contribution from GameZone during the International Series Philippines (ISP), channeled through DigiPlus Foundation to support a range of community initiatives nationwide. Beyond education, the donation also funds livelihood support for local weavers, health program assistance for the LGBTQ+ community, aid for persons with disabilities in Cebu, and flood rescue equipment for Manila, reflecting a holistic approach to community development that addresses education, health, inclusion, and disaster preparedness.
The post Books on Wheels: DigiPlus Foundation Brings Mobile Library to Boost Literacy Among Aurora’s Young Learners appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
The World Esports Summit returns to Busan, South Korea, for its 10th edition, taking place on 10–11 February 2025.
Hosted at the Wyndham Grand Busan, the Summit will bring together 40+ speakers from the international esports ecosystem, including representatives from federations, publishers, global brands, sports organizations, technology companies, and public institutions.
Over the past decade, the World Esports Summit has provided a platform for dialogue and cooperation among stakeholders shaping the world of esports. The 2025 edition will continue this role, offering space for discussion on current developments, industry challenges, and future directions.
The Summit will feature contributions from a wide range of organizations, including Alibaba, FIBA, FIFAe, Tencent, Moonton, NetEase, FIA, Sportradar, EFG, Good Game, Telekom, among others.
Across two days, participants will take part in keynote sessions and panel discussions addressing topics such as esports governance, international collaboration, industry development, integrity, and the continued convergence of esports and traditional sports.
Further information on the program, speakers, and registration is available on the official World Esports Summit website.
The post World Esports Summit Celebrates Its 10th Edition in Busan appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Following the launch of its inaugural women-focused VALORANT tournament La Imperia, the Insurgence Gaming Company has announced its second competitive initiative, MOBA Legends 5v5 Discord Play-Ins, a series of open community tournaments created to make organised competition more accessible to emerging players.
While La Imperia introduced a visibility-led invitational format, the MOBA Legends 5v5 Discord Play-Ins take a different approach. The series is built around open participation and will be hosted entirely online, with all tournament operations managed through Discord. This allows teams from across India to compete in a structured setting without the restrictions often associated with invite-only events.
The Play-Ins are designed as a starting point for players and teams who want to experience organised competition. Matches will be played in a 5v5 MOBA Draft Pick format, with scheduling, match reporting, and communication handled through dedicated Discord channels.
The announcement continues Insurgence Gaming Company’s early focus on grassroots esports. The company was created to address gaps in India’s competitive ecosystem, particularly at the amateur and semi-professional level where consistent tournament opportunities are still limited.
Speaking on the launch, Jasper Shabin, Founder of the Insurgence Gaming Company, said: “With La Imperia, we focused on visibility. With the Discord Play-Ins, the focus shifts to access. Competitive players need regular places to play, improve, and test themselves, not just one-off tournaments. MOBA Legends 5v5 is one of the most accessible competitive titles on mobile, which makes it a strong fit for an open, community-driven format.”
Beyond competition, the Discord Play-Ins are also intended to build a sense of continuity. Players will have access to channels dedicated to match coordination, tournament updates, and post-game discussion, helping teams stay connected beyond a single tournament run.
With the MOBA Legends 5v5 Discord Play-Ins, the Insurgence Gaming Company continues to shape its identity around community-first formats, pairing visibility-led initiatives like La Imperia with open competitive pathways that support long-term grassroots growth in Indian esports.
The post Insurgence Gaming Company Expands Grassroots Vision with MOBA Legends 5v5 Discord Play-Ins appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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