TNL Take: The money that poured into esports in 2017, from team investment to franchise buy-ins, was astonishing.
US startups haven't been left out of the bounty as they took in almost $200M in venture funding last year.
![2017 US Esports Funding Hits ~$200M (Graph: The Next Level)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/578230a5e4fcb5fc31994d3d/1514307461716-NKXSNOXOKSQ0MM0JUX9P/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kE19h41U-zSIpJ7n_4R9EKx7gQa3H78H3Y0txjaiv_0fDoOvxcdMmMKkDsyUqMSsMWxHk725yiiHCCLfrh8O1z5QHyNOqBUUEtDDsRWrJLTmLnfI4-mpoO4N8y9tvn_d_w4-g8Ve5BaNwVWIS3UEfsu-IjapFnGHzfdT3V6W5URm/TNL+066.png)
2017 US Esports Funding Hits ~$200M (Graph: The Next Level)
Here's a breakdown of who got the investment and where they play in the esports ecosystem (Note: Some startups tread the line between esports, gaming and content):
Discord ($50M): Messaging, chat and game integration with ~100M users. Basically Slack/Skype for gamers
Skillz ($25M): Mobile esports platform
Super Evil Megacorp ($19M): Publisher of mobile esports game Vainglory
Super League Gaming ($15M): Organizes esports events and leagues within movie theaters
Plays.tv ($15M): Game highlights and social sharing platform
Smash.gg ($11M): Esports tournament organization platform
Underworld Esports ($10M* Estimated): Portland based esports team
Sliver.tv ($9.8M): 3D/VR live streaming platform for esports
Wavedash Games ($6M): Game publisher with upcoming esports title
Gamer Sensei ($4M): Esports coaching platform
Gawkbox ($3.7M): Monetization tools for streamers
Guilded ($3.2M): Esports team management platform
Maestro ($3M): Enterprise live streaming monetization and data collection
Haste ($3M): Network performance for esports
Genvid ($2.5M): Esports interactive broadcasts
FanAI ($1.8M): Esports audience monetization platform
Taunt ($1.75M): Esports fan competition platform
Matcherino ($1.5M): Crowd funded esports prize pools
VY Esports ($1.5M): Platform bridging esports, media companies and brands
Foundry IV (Undisclosed): Esports game developer
As expected, the majority of investment was West Coast based with 12 of the 20 investments taking place in California.
![2017 US Esports Funding Hits ~$200M (Map: The Next Level)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/578230a5e4fcb5fc31994d3d/1514394994522-3Q61P1M8ICHKFMMSN6B9/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kNNMRMEOiz4kwHF2nJ9M2y57gQa3H78H3Y0txjaiv_0fDoOvxcdMmMKkDsyUqMSsMWxHk725yiiHCCLfrh8O1z5QHyNOqBUUEtDDsRWrJLTmdBiXHFoNc5WAb4zGC0jIhKNOHyLbKPX6lJgcbVhSWmbdHs6ERvdlPioeICzOWyiW/TNL+067.png)
2017 US Esports Funding Hits ~$200M (Map: The Next Level)
What will 2018 hold?
Potentially a further surge in seed stage rounds with some of those above already looking for Series A.