Gamer Sensei, the premier professional esports coaching service, co-founded by USA-based Kiwi William Collis, has secured an additional US$4 million in venture funding.
This latest round was led by Accomplice and Advancit Capital, joined by Origin Ventures, CRCM Ventures and Kiwi Ventures, with additional participation from other new and existing investors including, aXiomatic, Abstract Ventures and Subversive Capital.
The funding will help fuel the continued growth of the company at its headquarters in downtown Boston.
This latest round of funding includes investments from Boston Seed Capital, Sigma Prime, Corigin Ventures, GC Tracker and Tim & Todd McSweeney that have previously invested in Gamer Sensei, solidifying the company’s position in the multi-billion dollar esports industry that is projected to see revenues double by 2020.*
Gamer Sensei, founded by Rohan Gopaldas, William Collis, and Jiapeng Ji, provides one-on- one personalised online lessons for players looking to improve at their favourite competitive esports games like League of Legends, DOTA 2, Hearthstone, Heroes of the Storm, Overwatch and more.
Users pick their game of choice and get matched with a coach from a curated collection of experts via a patent-pending system. Players get unparalleled personalised advice and strategic education in their favourite game as they complete lessons with their sensei.
“When I founded Gamer Sensei, I knew that we were on to something special pretty quickly,” says Collis, who describes himself as “a loyal Kiwi”).
“In the year-and-half since the company’s founding, Gamer Sensei has established itself as the best destination in the world for esports mastery,” says Collis. “The company has trained players that go on to earn places on top pro and national teams, matching players and coaches across six continents to drive these skill improvements.”
The company is one of the fastest- growing success stories in gaming, and the latest raise cements them as a pillar of the emerging esports ecosystem.
“When I founded Gamer Sensei, I knew that we were on to something special pretty quickly,” says Collis, who describes himself as “a loyal Kiwi” (although born in America, his mother is a New Zealander).
“But I had no idea how swiftly we would be successful, and how much of an unmet need there was in the market for personal coaching.”
“When I look back at our business, I am proudest of two things. Firstly, how we’ve built a community that effectively trains players of all skill levels. Whether you are an aspiring pro tweaking your Hearthstone deck lists before a big tournament, or a new player just looking to understand how League of Legends works – we’ve built an amazing platform that will help you improve at esports.
“Even if you’re a parent, a few Gamer Sensei lessons are a great way to surprise your son or daughter with a sudden knowledge of the games they love – and maybe even an opportunity to win a few games at their side!”
“Gamer Sensei is creating new careers in esports. For the first time, coaches can earn a fulltime living from helping other players master their favourite game.”
“The second thing I’m proudest of is how Gamer Sensei is creating new careers in esports. For the first time, it’s possible for coaches to earn a fulltime living from helping other players master their favourite game.
“I’m blown away at the support and passion we receive from our coaching community, and I love that Gamer Sensei has enabled these talented individuals to live their dreams.”
Gamer Sensei co-founder/CEO Rohan Gopaldas said: The esports industry is hotter than ever as evidenced by the growing number of traditional sports groups and team owners – from the NBA to the NFL – looking to get in on the action.”
“Gamer Sensei is front and centre with a unique offering that benefits both players and coaches, and this latest investment will allow us continue to build and evolve the platform to implement new features and forge new partnerships.”
“When I joined Gamer Sensei,” says Ankith Harathi, who leads Gamer Sensei’s growth team, “I knew I was entering a special company. We have an amazing atmosphere in the office; collaborative and high energy. And the talent that Gamer Sensei has brought together to drive its success is incredible.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” echoed Chase Huber, who leads Gamer Sensei’s marketing. “I have a deep background in gaming, starting with my time at Warner Bros. But I’ve never seen a company like this. It is unbelievable to be a part of such momentum and passion driving a new market!”
Gamer Sensei CTO Jiapeng Ji said: “As a co-founder of Gamer Sensei, I’m particularly excited by the strength of our technology team. We’re able to turn new features extremely quickly, and with strong reliability and quality.
“We’ve got some big innovations in the pipeline – stay tuned!”
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