Courtside Ventures

Courtside Ventures, founded in 2015 and based in New York, is a venture capital firm that focuses on early-stage investments in companies at the intersection of sports, technology, and media. The firm aims to partner with founders who are innovating within the sports, lifestyle, and gaming sectors. Courtside Ventures leverages the expertise of its team, composed of specialized sports and media entrepreneurs and investors, to provide substantial strategic support to portfolio companies. By fostering long-term partnerships, Courtside Ventures seeks to enhance operational effectiveness and drive growth for the businesses it invests in.

Vasu Kulkarni

Partner

Deepen Parikh

Partner

Cort Post

Principal

Oliver Ressler

Venture Partner

Past deals in eSports

Draftea

Series A in 2022
Draftea is a pioneering daily fantasy sports platform aimed at the Spanish-speaking audience. It enables sports enthusiasts to create their own fantasy teams by selecting players based on their understanding of the game. Users can enter contests and earn prizes as they accumulate points when their chosen players achieve specific performance milestones, such as scoring goals or completing passes in real matches. As a technology startup, Draftea is supported by notable investors, including Sequoia, Kaszek, and Bullpen Capital, positioning it as a significant player in the growing fantasy sports market.

Draftea

Seed Round in 2022
Draftea is a pioneering daily fantasy sports platform aimed at the Spanish-speaking audience. It enables sports enthusiasts to create their own fantasy teams by selecting players based on their understanding of the game. Users can enter contests and earn prizes as they accumulate points when their chosen players achieve specific performance milestones, such as scoring goals or completing passes in real matches. As a technology startup, Draftea is supported by notable investors, including Sequoia, Kaszek, and Bullpen Capital, positioning it as a significant player in the growing fantasy sports market.

Faze

Series A in 2022
Fazo app is a Cricket NFT platform where fans can collect, use, play and interact with cricket through NFTs.

Planet Mojo

Seed Round in 2021
Planet Mojo is a player vs. player (PvP) cross-platform auto chess game reinvented for blockchain, allowing players to own their game characters (as NFTs) and play-to-earn in ongoing tournaments. Players will have the option to use their customized game characters and assets across an upcoming suite of games set inside the Planet Mojo universe.

Incredible Dream

Seed Round in 2021
Operator of an online game platform intended to streamline and enhance gaming. The company develops original fantasy worlds, characters, games, and transmedia experiences for digital natives, enabling gamers to connect with other humans in a meaningful way through fun to play tabletop games.

Faze

Seed Round in 2021
Fazo app is a Cricket NFT platform where fans can collect, use, play and interact with cricket through NFTs.

Nifty Games

Series B in 2021
Nifty Games Inc. specializes in designing and developing mobile-based sports games, focusing on delivering head-to-head, free-to-play experiences. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in San Francisco, the company targets the rapidly growing segment of mobile gaming by offering classic sports competitions that can be completed in just a few minutes. Nifty Games aims to provide fun and competitive gaming experiences through quick-session arcade-style gameplay, appealing to a diverse global audience of sports enthusiasts. Its commitment to innovation in mobile sports gaming positions it as a key player in this dynamic industry.

ARENA

Seed Round in 2021
Go Arena is a fitness company that provides workout and fitness solutions. Arena's users can take their unit wherever they go, thanks to the Lithium-Ion Regenerative Charging Battery and the lightweight foldable travel dolly. The ARENA app subscription also features 24-hour exclusive challenges where users can compete against their favorite creator’s high score and more. Go Arena was founded in 2020 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA.

Drop Fake

Seed Round in 2021
Drop Fake is a remote-first video game studio established in 2021, focused on creating a cross-platform strategy game designed to be accessible to a wide audience. The company is committed to developing games that emphasize diversity, authenticity, and emotional engagement, ensuring an inclusive experience for players. By aiming for a free and fair gaming environment, Drop Fake seeks to foster a sense of community among its users, encouraging them to connect and find their place within the metaverse.

Rei do Pitaco

Venture Round in 2021
Rei do Pitaco is a pioneering Brazilian mobile application focused on Daily Fantasy Sports, specifically designed to enhance the enjoyment of sports for fans in Brazil. The platform allows users to participate in single-round fantasy sports contests across major football leagues, enabling them to build teams by selecting their preferred players. Users can compete with friends, create leagues, and earn cash prizes, fostering active engagement in the gaming experience. By combining competitive elements with the thrill of football, Rei do Pitaco aims to create a trustworthy and enjoyable environment for sports enthusiasts.

WinZO

Series B in 2021
WinZO is an e-sports gaming platform established in 2018 and headquartered in New Delhi, India. It provides a diverse selection of over 70 games, including popular titles like carrom, cricket, bubble shooter, fruit samurai, knife up, memory mania, fantasy league, and trivia-based games. The platform combines elements of data science, gaming, and social interaction, catering to a growing audience of gamers in the region.

WinZO

Debt Financing in 2021
WinZO is an e-sports gaming platform established in 2018 and headquartered in New Delhi, India. It provides a diverse selection of over 70 games, including popular titles like carrom, cricket, bubble shooter, fruit samurai, knife up, memory mania, fantasy league, and trivia-based games. The platform combines elements of data science, gaming, and social interaction, catering to a growing audience of gamers in the region.

VAULT

Series A in 2020
Flick, Inc. is a software company that has developed a chat application tailored for sports influencers and their fans. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Mamaroneck, New York, the platform allows sports influencers to connect with their most engaged followers, fostering a deeper level of interaction. Users can create branded hubs where they can communicate directly with fans, host quizzes, and provide live in-game statistics and events. The application is designed to enhance fan engagement through features such as polls, pre-game hype, and post-game analysis, making it a comprehensive tool for sports enthusiasts. Flick is also accessible via the App Store and Google Play, further expanding its reach within the sports community.

WinZO

Series B in 2020
WinZO is an e-sports gaming platform established in 2018 and headquartered in New Delhi, India. It provides a diverse selection of over 70 games, including popular titles like carrom, cricket, bubble shooter, fruit samurai, knife up, memory mania, fantasy league, and trivia-based games. The platform combines elements of data science, gaming, and social interaction, catering to a growing audience of gamers in the region.

Religion of Sports

Series A in 2020
Religion of Sports Media, Inc. is a media production company based in Santa Monica, California, founded in 2016 by Tom Brady, Michael Strahan, and Gotham Chopra. The company specializes in creating high-quality sports content, including documentaries that explore the lives of famous athletes and the broader cultural impact of sports. Its platform offers a variety of multimedia content, such as game highlights, scores, podcasts, and articles, allowing fans to engage with their favorite sports icons and relive memorable moments. By focusing on human and emotional storytelling, Religion of Sports aims to connect audiences with the deeper narratives within the sports world.

The Meta

Seed Round in 2020
The Meta Game Inc. is a company focused on developing training tools for first-person shooter (FPS) gamers, enhancing their skills across all levels. Its primary product, KovaaK, features a range of capabilities including realistic weapon simulation, target and dodging physics, and customizable training scenarios tailored to individual user profiles. The company integrates principles from performance science, game development, and machine learning to create effective training modules that help gamers refine their tactics and improve their gameplay. Founded in 2017 and based in San Francisco, California, The Meta Game Inc. aims to advance the eSports training landscape.

FanAI

Series A in 2019
FanAI Inc. operates an artificial intelligence-driven audience monetization platform, primarily targeting the esports industry and its associated sponsorship ecosystems. Established in 2016 and located in Santa Monica, California, the company provides sponsors with valuable insights into fan behavior, enabling them to cultivate targeted relationships with fans and predict their responses. The platform offers a range of features, including dashboards, real-time analysis, fan segmentation, behavior analytics, and metrics for measuring return on investment and sponsorship effectiveness. By making audience data actionable, FanAI aims to enhance franchise and sponsorship revenues for event organizers, game publishers, leagues, teams, digital agencies, and brands.

Players' Lounge

Seed Round in 2019
Players' Lounge Inc., also known as Players' Lounge Online, is an online platform that enables gamers to compete for cash and prizes through e-sports competitions. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in New York, the company caters primarily to casual gamers by allowing them to find opponents willing to wager on their favorite video games or participate in tournaments. Players' Lounge aims to provide a gaming experience that offers financial opportunities to the vast majority of gamers, as opposed to just the small percentage of professional players who earn substantial incomes. By facilitating social gaming tournaments that can be played both in-person and online, Players' Lounge fosters a competitive but accessible environment for gamers looking to enhance their gaming experience while potentially earning rewards.

The Athletic

Series C in 2018
The Athletic Media Company is an online sports media publisher that specializes in providing in-depth coverage of local and national sports for fans in North America. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, The Athletic offers a subscription-based platform that features articles, podcasts, and videos focused on various sports, including basketball and football. The company is dedicated to delivering authentic sports news free from advertisements and pop-ups, allowing users to engage with quality content produced by skilled local and national sports journalists. Through its platform, The Athletic connects sports fans with comprehensive information and updates about their favorite teams and athletes.

Upcomer

Seed Round in 2018
Upcomer is a new platform for esports fans to stay updated and engaged with esports. We're building a new kind of esports community and our mobile apps are currently rated 4.8/5 from 5K+ ratings. Try our product at www.upcomer.com

Religion of Sports

Venture Round in 2018
Religion of Sports Media, Inc. is a media production company based in Santa Monica, California, founded in 2016 by Tom Brady, Michael Strahan, and Gotham Chopra. The company specializes in creating high-quality sports content, including documentaries that explore the lives of famous athletes and the broader cultural impact of sports. Its platform offers a variety of multimedia content, such as game highlights, scores, podcasts, and articles, allowing fans to engage with their favorite sports icons and relive memorable moments. By focusing on human and emotional storytelling, Religion of Sports aims to connect audiences with the deeper narratives within the sports world.

The Athletic

Series B in 2018
The Athletic Media Company is an online sports media publisher that specializes in providing in-depth coverage of local and national sports for fans in North America. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, The Athletic offers a subscription-based platform that features articles, podcasts, and videos focused on various sports, including basketball and football. The company is dedicated to delivering authentic sports news free from advertisements and pop-ups, allowing users to engage with quality content produced by skilled local and national sports journalists. Through its platform, The Athletic connects sports fans with comprehensive information and updates about their favorite teams and athletes.

FanAI

Venture Round in 2018
FanAI Inc. operates an artificial intelligence-driven audience monetization platform, primarily targeting the esports industry and its associated sponsorship ecosystems. Established in 2016 and located in Santa Monica, California, the company provides sponsors with valuable insights into fan behavior, enabling them to cultivate targeted relationships with fans and predict their responses. The platform offers a range of features, including dashboards, real-time analysis, fan segmentation, behavior analytics, and metrics for measuring return on investment and sponsorship effectiveness. By making audience data actionable, FanAI aims to enhance franchise and sponsorship revenues for event organizers, game publishers, leagues, teams, digital agencies, and brands.

LiveLike

Series B in 2018
LiveLike Inc. is a technology company that provides a live streaming platform designed to enhance sports viewing experiences for fans across various devices, including mobile and virtual reality. Established in 2015 and headquartered in New York, with an additional office in Gurugram, India, LiveLike develops a white-label platform that enables broadcasters to deliver both regular and interactive content under their own brand. The platform incorporates features such as watch parties, gamification, and access to sports statistics, aiming to engage younger audiences and improve retention and monetization for media companies. Key clients include prominent organizations and events like Fox Sports VR, the French Open, the UEFA Champions League, and the Super Bowl, showcasing LiveLike's commitment to revolutionizing the sports broadcasting landscape through innovative technologies.

Epics.gg

Seed Round in 2018
Epics.gg operates a digital trading card platform focused on esports, allowing users to buy, sell, and collect digital trading cards featuring esports athletes. The platform is designed to deliver an engaging experience for fans, offering the thrill of collecting while fostering long-term value in their collections. In addition to its core trading card services, Epics.gg provides an integrated marketplace and trading system, enhancing user interaction and collection building. The company is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, with an additional office located in Bath, United Kingdom.

100 Thieves

Seed Round in 2017
100 Thieves, LLC, an esports organization, competes in professional leagues. The company has a team, which participates in leagues and championships. Additionally, it also retails sports apparel through its online store. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in Detroit, Michigan.

VY Esports

Seed Round in 2017
VY Esports Corp. is a global esports company headquartered in Los Angeles, California, that focuses on providing innovative marketing and advertising solutions within the esports industry. Established in 2017, the company offers a content and services platform that allows brands to invest in advertising across various esports events and teams. By consolidating advertising inventory, VY Esports creates unique opportunities for brand engagement and guidance on navigating the esports landscape. The company also specializes in monetization strategies, including sponsorships and media rights sales, while supporting content ideation, production, and distribution. With a team distributed across the United States and Europe, VY Esports aims to connect effectively with esports audiences worldwide through brand partnerships, live events, and influencer programs.

The Athletic

Series A in 2017
The Athletic Media Company is an online sports media publisher that specializes in providing in-depth coverage of local and national sports for fans in North America. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, The Athletic offers a subscription-based platform that features articles, podcasts, and videos focused on various sports, including basketball and football. The company is dedicated to delivering authentic sports news free from advertisements and pop-ups, allowing users to engage with quality content produced by skilled local and national sports journalists. Through its platform, The Athletic connects sports fans with comprehensive information and updates about their favorite teams and athletes.

FanAI

Seed Round in 2017
FanAI Inc. operates an artificial intelligence-driven audience monetization platform, primarily targeting the esports industry and its associated sponsorship ecosystems. Established in 2016 and located in Santa Monica, California, the company provides sponsors with valuable insights into fan behavior, enabling them to cultivate targeted relationships with fans and predict their responses. The platform offers a range of features, including dashboards, real-time analysis, fan segmentation, behavior analytics, and metrics for measuring return on investment and sponsorship effectiveness. By making audience data actionable, FanAI aims to enhance franchise and sponsorship revenues for event organizers, game publishers, leagues, teams, digital agencies, and brands.

Wavedash

Series A in 2017
Wavedash Games, Inc. is an independent game publisher based in Oakland, California, founded in 2015. The company aims to create innovative platform fighter games by leveraging the expertise of a diverse team drawn from leading companies in the gaming industry, including Riot, Blizzard, and BioWare. Wavedash focuses on developing products that cater to the modern gaming landscape, emphasizing spectator-friendly features and high production values for video streaming. Their offerings include competitive and cooperative multiplayer experiences, targeting the growing community of esports enthusiasts.

The Athletic

Seed Round in 2017
The Athletic Media Company is an online sports media publisher that specializes in providing in-depth coverage of local and national sports for fans in North America. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, The Athletic offers a subscription-based platform that features articles, podcasts, and videos focused on various sports, including basketball and football. The company is dedicated to delivering authentic sports news free from advertisements and pop-ups, allowing users to engage with quality content produced by skilled local and national sports journalists. Through its platform, The Athletic connects sports fans with comprehensive information and updates about their favorite teams and athletes.

LiveLike

Series A in 2016
LiveLike Inc. is a technology company that provides a live streaming platform designed to enhance sports viewing experiences for fans across various devices, including mobile and virtual reality. Established in 2015 and headquartered in New York, with an additional office in Gurugram, India, LiveLike develops a white-label platform that enables broadcasters to deliver both regular and interactive content under their own brand. The platform incorporates features such as watch parties, gamification, and access to sports statistics, aiming to engage younger audiences and improve retention and monetization for media companies. Key clients include prominent organizations and events like Fox Sports VR, the French Open, the UEFA Champions League, and the Super Bowl, showcasing LiveLike's commitment to revolutionizing the sports broadcasting landscape through innovative technologies.

GameCo

Series A in 2016
GameCo Inc. is a pioneering company based in New York that specializes in providing skill-based video game gambling machines for casino floors. Founded in 2014, GameCo has developed Video Game Gambling Machines (VGM), which merge the interactive experience of video gaming with the thrill of gambling. This innovative platform is the first of its kind approved by regulators in the United States, allowing players to influence their payouts through skill-based gameplay. GameCo's patented arcade-style cabinets engage a new demographic of casino customers while maintaining the traditional economics associated with slot machines.

GameCo

Seed Round in 2016
GameCo Inc. is a pioneering company based in New York that specializes in providing skill-based video game gambling machines for casino floors. Founded in 2014, GameCo has developed Video Game Gambling Machines (VGM), which merge the interactive experience of video gaming with the thrill of gambling. This innovative platform is the first of its kind approved by regulators in the United States, allowing players to influence their payouts through skill-based gameplay. GameCo's patented arcade-style cabinets engage a new demographic of casino customers while maintaining the traditional economics associated with slot machines.

GameCo

Series A in 2016
GameCo Inc. is a pioneering company based in New York that specializes in providing skill-based video game gambling machines for casino floors. Founded in 2014, GameCo has developed Video Game Gambling Machines (VGM), which merge the interactive experience of video gaming with the thrill of gambling. This innovative platform is the first of its kind approved by regulators in the United States, allowing players to influence their payouts through skill-based gameplay. GameCo's patented arcade-style cabinets engage a new demographic of casino customers while maintaining the traditional economics associated with slot machines.

Drone Racing League

Seed Round in 2016
Drone Racing League, Inc. is a New York-based organization that specializes in professional drone racing competitions for elite pilots. Founded in 2015, the league designs and constructs its own racing drone, the Racer3, which can exceed speeds of 85 MPH. The organization is known for creating complex, immersive 3D race courses that enhance the spectator experience, blending media and technology to produce engaging drone racing content. In addition to organizing races, the league sells tickets and offers various media services to reach a broader audience, aiming to establish drone racing as a popular sport with mass appeal.

Mixer

Seed Round in 2016
Mixer, formerly Beam, offers gaming live-streams made interactive. Mixer gives viewers a window into streamer's game worlds, allowing you to do everything from striking lightning down, to generating the level's terrain. Mixer is a next-generation live streaming platform for gamers that lets viewers participate in the gameplay itself.Instead of sitting idle, viewers get to engage with the content directly, creating quests, choosing weapons, or even acting as characters within the game world.

VSporto

Seed Round in 2016
VSporto, LLC is a provider of Internet radio and podcast services tailored for sports enthusiasts. Founded in 2011 and based in Ridgeland, Mississippi, the company offers a platform that connects fans with high-quality audio and video content related to their favorite teams. This includes news, opinions, analysis, and interviews with current and former players and coaches, ensuring fans stay informed about the latest developments in the sports world. By focusing on delivering engaging content, VSporto aims to enhance the experience of true sports fans.
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