Telecommunications firm Telstra and mass media group Liberty Global co-led a $25m series C round for US-based mobile eSports platform operator Skillz on Wednesday.
The corporates were joined by financial services firm Bridge Bank, venture capital firm Accomplice, asset management firm Wildcat Capital and Andy Miller, the co-owner of basketball team the Sacramento Kings.
Skillz has built a mobile platform that enables anyone to enter eSports tournaments, and which has so far hosted more than 100 million tournaments in partnership with more than 3,000 game studios.
Bruce Dines, partner at Liberty Global’s corporate venturing unit, Liberty Global Ventures, said: “This year, the top eSport event had more viewers than game seven of the [Major League Baseball] World Series.
“It is important for Liberty Global to progressively support new forms of entertainment and content. We are excited to be a part of the eSports growth story and particularly excited to collaborate with Skillz in the creation and development of new eSports content.”
The company has now raised approximately $53m since it was founded in 2012, conglomerate Kraft Group having participated in its $15m series B round, which was led by Wildcat Capital and backed by Sequoia Capital and angel investors including Marc Lasry.
Skillz’s earlier funding had come from Accomplice (then known as Atlas Venture), NextView Ventures and various angel investors.