Stadiums packed to capacity filled with screaming fans. Global audiences in the hundreds of millions. A multibillion-dollar economy. College scholarships for the top players. Talent agents. Professional teams with dedicated scouts. Beloved celebrities. Doping scandals. Are we talking about professional sports? Well, of a sort. We’re talking esports.
Esports are a global phenomenon with audiences comparable to or larger than those for traditional sports franchises. For example, more people watched last year’s League of Legends finals than watched MLB’s World Series, the NBA Finals or the NHL Finals.
After a16z Deal Analyst Bennett Carroccio walks you through the “up to the right” charts, Frank Chen talks with a16z General Partner Andrew Chen and Deal Partner D’Arcy Coolican about what’s going on: why it’s happening now, how dramatically it’s shaped our culture, how the money flows, what the investing opportunities are, and what they are looking for in startups.
Watch time: 36:20
Andrew Chen is a General Partner for A16Z GAMES, focused on the intersection of tech and gaming — this includes AI, studios, infrastructure, and consumer apps.
D'Arcy Coolican D'Arcy Coolican is a partner on the investment team where he focuses on marketplaces, social networks, and consumer technology companies.
Frank Chen heads our Early Stage Venture (ESV) Programs team and is responsible for developing company-building enablement products.
Bennett Carroccio Bennett Carroccio is a partner on the venture investing team, specializing in early stage and venture consumer-facing technology investments. His focus areas include vertical marketplaces, real estate (proptech), logistics, and social networks.