– USA, NY – ReKTGlobal, the parent company of Rogue, today announces a $10.8-million Series A funding round. The global esports venture company’s financing was led by Nick Gross, an entrepreneur, philanthropist and musician, who is founder of entertainment and media company Gross Labs and will now join the board of ReKTGlobal.
Other notable investors participating in the round include Steve Aoki, Imagine Dragons band members and manager Mac Reynolds, Live Nation, Larry Rudolph, partner of Maverick Management, Ozone Entertainment founder Bret Disend, and 1916 Management founder Jonny Gordon along with other sports, media, and entertainment investors.
The round will help fund Rogue’s global expansion and entry into the new League of Legends Europe Championship (LEC). Rogue is the only North American esports organization to secure a franchise spot in the LEC without previously participating in the Riot Games’ European League of Legends Championship Series.
“Nick Gross and the investors selected for this round bring incredible expertise and connections in the entertainment world that will help fuel Rogue’s international growth as a pro gaming powerhouse with esports superstars, celebrity supporters and a rabid fanbase,” said Amish Shah, co-founder of ReKTGlobal.
An early investor in ReKTGlobal and the lead investor in the Series A funding round, Nick Gross has worked closely with ReKTGlobal to bring esports programming to his Find Your Grind organization and to establish the Junior Rogue program, which both work to mentor kids under 17 to ensure that competitive gaming is seen as a viable career path for future generations.
“We’ve believed in the vision of ReKTGlobal’s co-founders Amish Shah and Dave Bialek from the beginning. By partnering with ReKTGlobal, Find Your Grind was able to bring esports curriculum to high schools across the Unites States and award $450,000 in annual scholarships to students interested in exploring esports as a possible lifepath,” said Gross, who also serves on the board of The Gross Family Foundation, one of the largest philanthropic organizations in the world. “I’m passionate about this space, and it’s exciting to take my involvement with ReKTGlobal to the next level by joining the board, bringing our Find Your Grind and Junior Rogue programs to Europe, and expanding Rogue esports around the world.”
Co-founded by Derek Nelson and Frank Villarreal in May 2016, Rogue was acquired by parent company ReKTGlobal in December 2017. Rogue is known for yielding championships and top talent in multiple games, including Rocket League, Fortnite, FIFA, CS:GO and RainbowSix. The team quickly became a top esports organization in North America and is now expanding its reach with a global presence in several of the world’s most popular games.
Rogue’s rapid growth attracted early investment from Grammy-nominated producer, DJ and EDM entrepreneur Steve Aoki in 2016. Its continued success then gained the attention of ReKTGlobal, whose acquisition of the team provided it with opportunities on a global scale and secured investments from Grammy-winning band Imagine Dragons, who wrote the song “Warriors” for the League of Legends World Championships, where they performed at the Seoul World Cup Stadium to 40,000 fans and 170 million online viewers. ReKTGlobal’s esports scouting expertise has also landed blockbuster athletes for Rogue, including top Fortnite streamer Benjamin “DrLupo” Lupo and FIFA eWorld Cup Champion MSDOSSARY.
LEC opening weekend kicks off January 18 with Rogue facing off against Misfits. Rogue’s LEC starting roster has Kim “Profit” Jun-hyung in the top lane, Mateusz “Kikis” Szkudlarek in the jungle, Chres “Sencux” Laursen in the mid lane, and Martin “HeaQ” Kordmaa and Kim “Wadid” Bae-in in the bot lane. Rogue will also join the Polish League of Legends Ultraliga, which is broadcasted on National TV, as part of the team’s international expansion. Rogue Esports Club (RogueEC) is considered the favorite to win the tournament, as the development team with the most potential outside of the LEC in Europe.
About Rogue
Rogue is a global professional esports organization with offices in Las Vegas, NV, and Berlin, Germany and teams in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, FIFA, Rainbow Six: Siege, Fortnite and Rocket League. Since Rogue’s inception, it has become a globally recognized brand with over a dozen championship wins in multiple games. Rogue’s list of accolades includes a world championship Overwatch team with major tournaments wins in North America, Europe and Asia, a FIFA player winning the 2018 FIFA eWorld Cup, and top-ranked, wildly popular teams in Rocket League and Rainbow Six: Siege, which won the 2018 U.S. Nationals.
For more information : https://www.rogue.gg
About ReKTGlobal
ReKTGlobal, Inc. is a global esports venture company that bridges the gap between traditional sports and esports, providing solutions for the entire ecosystem. ReKTGlobal is also the parent company of professional esports organization, Rogue.
For more information : https://www.rektglobal.com
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