International esports organization G2 Esports announced that it completed a Series B investment round led by the Wilf family’s investment arm WISE Ventures, with participation from the Tornante Company, Gary Vaynerchuk, and G2’s leadership team. If some of these names look familiar, that is probably because they are the same investors that backed former Minnesota ROKKR (Call of Duty League) owners Version1, parts of which were acquired by G2 in November 2023. Version1 still exists as a brand but a majority of its employees were laid off following the ROKKR takeover, when G2 secured the operating rights for the franchise.
In case you are not familiar with the Wilf family, they are the owners of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, MLS, and NWSL teams Orlando City SC and Pride, respectively, as well as real estate development company Garden Homes. These new investors join previous investors including Jens Hilgers (founder of Bitkraft and ESL), Al Tylis—part owner of Necaxa (MX Liga), Wrexham (Welsh Football club), DC United (MLS), DC Pickleball—and Bluepool—owners of Brooklyn Nets (NBA) and New York Liberty (WNBA)—who also increased their investments during this round.
Financial terms of this deal were not disclosed publicly, but the company said in a social media post that it is a “seven-figure sum.”
The company said in a release that this new funding round will help the company “drive G2’s global expansion, strategic entry into new gaming titles, and the development of enhanced direct-to-fan experiences, solidifying its position as a leader in esports and entertainment.”
“This successful investment round and the addition of our new investors showcases G2’s strength and value as an organization,” Alban Dechelotte, CEO of G2 Esports, said in a release. “This year is our 10th anniversary, and looking back over the last decade, we’ve not only built a globally successful brand with teams that are consistently on top, but also we’ve built a valuable business that’s been profitable for multiple years. As we look ahead, we’re excited to keep building our legacy to become a next-generation sports organization.”
This news follows the announcement earlier this week that the company had been accepted by the Esports World Cup Foundation’s Esports World Cup Club Program, making it eligible for up to $1 million USD in funding, depending on the company meeting certain milestones related to promoting the eight-week event this summer.