Esports Global

What Esports Global does

Esports Global is a UK-based private investment firm that operates the Esports Global Fund LP, a $50 million Guernsey-domiciled private investment vehicle targeting 10 to 15 high-growth companies in the esports and video games sector globally, with allocations for both early-stage and Series B deals. The fund is backed primarily by Kuwait's Alshaya family and is available exclusively to FCA-classified Professional Investors in the United Kingdom; Esports Global UK Limited serves as investment advisor under FCA authorisation via its appointed representative relationship with G10 Capital Ltd, while the fund itself is registered with the Guernsey Financial Services Commission under the Private Investment Fund Rules 2025. The firm generates revenue from management fees and carried interest on the fund.

Beyond fund management, Esports Global has expanded into operating businesses following its November 2025 acquisition of National Student Esports (NSE) from Benchmark Group and its appointment of British Esports Federation as the operator of the resulting platform. The combined entity spans British Esports' school and college Student Champs (ages 12+) and BTEC qualifications with NSE's British University Esports Championship, covering 117 universities, 2,200 teams, 17,800 players and a Discord community of roughly 180,000 UK student gamers. The core technology is conventional fund administration and tournament operations; there is no proprietary software, AI/ML capability, or data platform disclosed.

The company was formally incorporated in England and Wales in 2021 (Company No 13793330) and is led by Founder Chairman Chester King (founder of British Esports Federation, co-owner of London Royal Ravens, IOC Esports Liaison Group member) and CEO Dave Martin (corporate finance background, co-founder of London Royal Ravens and Williams Resolve). Ben Hakham serves as Chief Investment Officer, bringing prior UBS Managing Director and $1bn family office CIO experience. The firm has 1-10 employees and is registered at Aston House in Gerrards Cross, with operational presence in London and a Guernsey-domiciled fund entity in St. Peter Port.

Name

Esports Global

Legal name

Esports Global UK Limited

Website

https://esportsglobal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Esports Global operates a $50 million Guernsey-based private fund investing in esports and gaming companies for UK professional investors. Led by British Esports Federation founders Chester King and Dave Martin, the firm also runs student esports via its NSE acquisition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Equity / Venture Capital — Esports & Gaming Sector

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

ESG Integration / Responsible Investment Funds (Broad ESG) (FSANAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Collegiate Esports Leagues & Tournaments (MPAKANAG), Esports Teams & Player Organizations (MPAFADAB)

Keywords

• Esports investment fund
• Gaming sector investing
• Investment advisory services
• Venture capital esports
• Student esports tournaments

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Fund Management: The Esports Global Fund LP manages a $50 million investment fund targeting esports and video games companies globally. Revenue is generated through fund management fees and carried interest on successful investments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Esports Global operates a $50 million private investment fund (Esports Global Fund LP) targeting 10 to 15 high-growth companies in esports and video games globally, with allocations for early-stage and Series B investments. The fund is available only to Professional Investors within the United Kingdom and is supplemented by investment advisory services. Following the November 2025 acquisition of National Student Esports (NSE), the company also operates UK university esports tournaments and community programs serving 117 universities.

Product overview

Esports Global operates as a High Growth Esports Investment Fund, offering a single primary investment vehicle (the Esports Global Investment Fund LP) that targets $50 million to invest in 10 to 15 gaming and esports companies globally, with additional early-stage and Series B allocation. The fund is supplemented by investment advisory services leveraging a global partner network. The company also acquired NSE (National Student Esports) to form one of Europe's largest student esports providers, combining NSE's university esports operations with British Esports Federation's school and college programs to create unified student esports pathways.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Esports Global Investment Fund Private investment fund targeting $50 million to deploy into 10 to 15 high-growth companies in gaming and esports worldwide, with additional allocation for early-stage and Series B investments. Available exclusively to Professional Investors within the United Kingdom. The fund is structured as Esports Global Fund LP, registered in Guernsey under GFSC Private Investment Fund Rules, with Esports Global UK Limited serving as investment advisor.
• NSE (National Student Esports) Operations National Student Esports organization providing UK university esports tournaments and community activities, including the British University Esports Championship (BUEC). Acquired by Esports Global in November 2025 to form one of Europe's largest student esports providers serving 117 universities and 180,000 student gamers across the UK.
• Investment Advisory Services Advisory services for esports and gaming investment opportunities, leveraging a global network of partners to identify, qualify, deploy capital, and grow esports investment opportunities. Services include deal flow sourcing, investment qualification, capital deployment, and portfolio company growth support.

Quantifiable outcome

• London Royal Ravens Call of Duty team exited in 2023 to Infinite Reality
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Student Esports (NSE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2025Esports Global acquired NSE from Benchmark Group. NSE was formed in 2017 and backed by British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS). In 2024/25, 17,800 players from 2,200 teams across 117 universities competed in NSE's British University Esports Championship. British Esports Federation has been appointed to run the UK university esports provider going forward.
• British Esports FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2025Founders Chester King and Dave Martin established the British Esports Federation in 2016. It runs Student Champs for schools/colleges aged 12+, offers Esports BTEC and other qualifications, and operates the National Esports Performance Campus in Sunderland. British Esports has been appointed to run NSE going forward.
• ReKTGlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounders structured the deal with ReKTGlobal to acquire one of only 12 licenses for the Call of Duty League, creating the London Royal Ravens. The UK franchise represents 2.5m Call of Duty fans in the UK. The London Royal Ravens exited in 2023 to Infinite Reality and was rebranded to Carolina Royal Ravens.
• Resolve EsportsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounders took a major stake in Resolve in Summer 2020. Since initial investment, Resolve has built an online training academy for League of Legends fans, entered Fortnite, and partnered with Williams F1.
• Benchmark GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company of NSE. Benchmark formed NSE in 2017 as a group company driven by purpose and united by sport, backed by BUCS. Esports Global acquired NSE from Benchmark.
• British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-ordinating body for university sports in the UK. BUCS backed NSE and continues as a partner in the British University Esports Championship. CEO Will Roberts commented on the partnership bringing continuity and confidence to student esports.
• G10 Capital LtdcoreOthersEsports Global UK Limited is an appointed representative of G10 Capital Ltd (FRN 648953), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. G10 provides regulatory oversight and FCA authorization for Esports Global's investment activities.
• Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC)coreOthersThe Esports Global Fund LP is registered with the GFSC under the Private Investment Fund Rules, 2025. The fund is based in Guernsey, a well-known jurisdiction for investment fund structuring.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hiro Capital: London-based VC fund investing in gaming, esports, and metaverse technologies. Direct geographic and sector comparable with similar stage focus on UK and European gaming founders.
• Galaxy Interactive: Multi-stage investment firm focused on interactive entertainment, gaming, and esports. Comparable as a sector-specialist investor with institutional backing deploying capital across gaming/esports opportunities.
• Konvoy Ventures: Venture fund focused on esports, gaming infrastructure, and the business of games. Comparable sector mandate targeting esports-native founders and infrastructure companies.
• London Venture Partners (LVP): London-based gaming and interactive entertainment VC fund. Direct comparable given geographic overlap (UK), sector focus, and stage mandate (seed to Series B) in gaming/esports.
• Play Ventures: Early-stage gaming-focused VC fund with multiple funds backing game studios, gaming infrastructure, and esports-adjacent businesses. Comparable sector mandate, fund structure, and global investment thesis.
• Makers Fund: Global interactive entertainment-focused venture capital firm investing across games and gaming ecosystem. Comparable sector focus and stage mandate (seed through growth).
• BITKRAFT Ventures: Gaming and interactive entertainment-focused venture capital fund with multiple vintage funds investing across early-stage gaming, esports, and metaverse. Directly comparable as a sector-specialist VC with institutional LPs targeting gaming/esports founders globally.
• Velo Partners: Gaming and esports-focused investment firm with both fund and direct investment capabilities. Comparable as a long-tenured sector specialist with investment, advisory, and operational support for portfolio companies.

Broad incumbents

• Andreessen Horowitz (a16z Games): Major generalist VC with a dedicated games and interactive media investment practice. Broader incumbent that also invests in esports/gaming but as part of a much wider portfolio of technology investments.
• OverActive Media: Publicly-listed esports and entertainment holding company owning multiple franchise teams and venue operations. Comparable as an integrated esports investment-and-operations business, though structured as an operating company rather than a fund manager.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Esports Global