For Investors Intrigued and Confused by Esports, a VC Fund Opens
- BitKraft raises $18.5 million for seed-stage investments
- Competitive video gaming likened to early days of social media
The Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) Sports FIFA Online Championship at the Nexon Co. e-Sports Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, on Oct. 17, 2015.
Photographer: Jean Chung/BloombergBetter ratings than the NBA Finals! Teenage millionaires! A $700 million league! When it comes to the fast-growing world of professional video gaming, there’s plenty of hyperbole. The reality is significantly more slippery, and that can be a problem for investors eager to ride the momentum.
Enter Jens Hilgers, whose 20 years of esports experience make him a senior citizen in the industry. Last year Hilgers launched BitKraft Esports Ventures, the world’s first esports-specific venture capital fund. BitKraft just raised $18.5 million, including $11.5 million from its founders, the rest from big-name investors looking for opportunity amid the noise.