What LANFest does

LANFest is a US-based nonprofit gaming community organization that operates a national network of in-person LAN gaming events through a chapter-based model with 23+ chapters across 19 states. The organization produces recurring regional events including FortLAN (Fort Wayne, Indiana), InfernaLAN (Washington), MassiveLAN (Minnesota State Fairgrounds), Below Zero LAN (Minnesota), Wichita LANFest (Kansas), Emerald City LAN (Seattle's Lumen Field Event Center), and LAN All Night (Great Wolf Lodge, Grapevine, Texas). Attendees bring their own computers to participate in competitive tournaments, community gaming, vendor showcases, and charitable fundraising. The organization runs the Battle for Charity (B4C) flagship esports tournament series, which has raised over $100,000 for various charitable causes since debuting in 2022 at the HyperX Esports Arena in Las Vegas. LANFest also delivers professional broadcast coverage to scholastic esports programs, partnering with Washington State Scholastic Esports and the Indiana Esports Network.

The organization's technology stack is built on third-party SaaS infrastructure: Twitch for live event streaming and broadcasts, Tiltify for charitable donation processing, Tixr for ticketing, and SpreadShop for branded merchandise e-commerce. The organization also runs its own event management platform coordinating regional event logistics. An operational relationship with Intel is implied by the lanfest.intel.com hosting domain, though no formal ownership structure is disclosed. The platform maintains a comprehensive Code of Conduct with zero-tolerance harassment policies to support its family-friendly positioning.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: (1) event ticket sales for regional LAN events, (2) corporate sponsorships from hardware and software brands including Biwin, Logitech, Zotac, SignalRGB, GLYDR, and Wildcard, (3) branded merchandise sales through SpreadShop featuring the 'Lanny' mascot, and (4) charitable donations facilitated through Tiltify. The organization operates primarily with volunteer-driven chapters supported by a small national team, and serves enthusiast gamers of all ages, scholastic esports programs (K-12 through college), and nonprofit beneficiaries including Ronald McDonald House, Camp Good Days, NMDP, 1Up On Cancer, and others.

Name

LANFest

Legal name

LANFest

Website

https://lanfest.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

LANFest is a US-based nonprofit that operates a national network of in-person LAN gaming events through 23+ chapters across 19 states, hosts the Battle for Charity esports tournament series, and delivers broadcast coverage to scholastic esports programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Gaming Events & Esports

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113), Spectator Sports (71121), Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

In-Person Arena/LAN Esports Events (MPAKANAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Esports Tournament Venues & Esports Arenas (MPAGANAN), Amateur & Grassroots Esports Tournaments (MPAGANAD), Amateur/Grassroots Esports Leagues & Community Tournaments (MPAFADAL), Tournament & Event LAN Venues (BYOC/Hall Rentals, Pop-Up LAN Halls) (MPAFALAC)

Keywords

• LAN gaming events
• Esports tournaments
• Charitable gaming fundraisers
• Gaming community events
• Scholastic esports broadcasts

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Clara

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Event Tickets: LANFest generates revenue through ticket sales for its regional LAN events (FortLAN, InfernaLAN, MassiveLAN, Below Zero LAN, LAN All Night, etc.) where attendees bring their own computers to game together.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsors like Biwin, SignalRGB, GLYDR, Wildcard, Logitech, Zotac, and others sponsor LANFest events with hardware, prizes, and financial support in exchange for brand visibility at gaming events.
3. Merchandise Sales: LANFest operates an online shop selling branded merchandise including apparel through SpreadShop.
4. Donations and Fundraising: Battle for Charity events raise funds for various charitable causes through viewer donations facilitated by Tiltify platform.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

LANFest is a nonprofit organization that builds healthy gaming communities through in-person LAN gaming events, charitable esports tournaments, and scholastic esports broadcast programs. It operates a national network of 23+ chapters across 19 U.S. states that host multi-day regional events (FortLAN, InfernaLAN, MassiveLAN, Below Zero LAN, Emerald City LAN, Wichita LANFest, LAN All Night). Its flagship Battle for Charity (B4C) tournament series has raised over $100,000 for charitable causes since 2022, and it delivers professional broadcast coverage to Washington State Scholastic Esports and the Indiana Esports Network.

Product overview

LANFest is a nonprofit organization that builds healthy communities through gaming, operating a network of regional chapter events across the United States. The organization offers a portfolio of gaming event products including Battle for Charity (B4C), a flagship esports fundraising tournament series; Scholastic Esports Broadcasts delivering professional coverage to school esports networks; and regional events such as FortLAN, InfernaLAN, MassiveLAN, Below Zero LAN, and LAN All Night. These events combine competitive gaming tournaments, community gaming, vendor marketplaces, and charitable fundraising components. The organization also operates a merchandise shop selling branded apparel featuring their mascot 'Lanny'.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Battle for Charity (B4C): A charitable esports tournament series featuring content creators competing for designated charities, raising over $100,000 since 2022.
• FortLAN
• LAN All Night
• InfernaLAN
• MassiveLAN
• Below Zero LAN
• Emerald City LAN
• Wichita LANFest
• Scholastic Esports

Products and services

• Battle for Charity (B4C) Flagship esports fundraising tournament series featuring content creators competing in games like Call of Duty to raise money for charitable causes; debuted in 2022 at HyperX Esports Arena in Las Vegas and has raised over $100,000 since launch.
• Scholastic Esports Broadcasts Professional broadcast coverage and event production delivered to Washington State Scholastic Esports and the Indiana Esports Network, providing opportunities for students, educators, coaches, casters, and production crew to gain esports experience from elementary through college.
• Regional Chapter LAN Events Regional multi-day LAN gaming events organized by LANFest chapters across the United States (FortLAN, InfernaLAN, MassiveLAN, Below Zero LAN, Emerald City LAN, Wichita LANFest), featuring competitive gaming tournaments, community matches, vendor areas, and charitable fundraising components.
• LAN All Night Gaming Festival Annual multi-day overnight gaming festival held at venues like Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas, featuring tournaments, arcade games, panels, and charitable fundraising; running for over five years.
• LANFest Merchandise Shop Online merchandise storefront selling LANFest branded apparel and accessories through SpreadShop, including mascot character 'Lanny' themed merchandise.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $100,000 raised for charitable causes since 2022
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BiwincoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBiwin, a leading innovator in memory and storage technology, has partnered with LANFest to join events across the United States. Biwin will bring hands-on experiences, hardware showcases, giveaways, and exclusive discounts to attendees, showcasing cutting-edge DDR5 memory and next-generation PCIe SSDs while supporting LANFest's community-driven mission.
• Streamers Saving Lives NMDPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA charity streaming partnership where streamers host fundraising streams at LANFest events. At Below Zero LAN V7, Minnesota Mocha and friends hosted a charity stream raising over $1,000 for NMDP (National Marrow Donor Program).
• Zotec (Zotec Partners)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerZotec provided two 4070-powered stream rigs for Below Zero LAN V7 event, enabling professional-quality streaming capabilities for the charity fundraising activities.
• Ronald McDonald HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable beneficiary of MassiveLAN Winter 2025. Over 250 gamers united to support the Ronald McDonald House and make a monumental impact on families in need.
• 1Up On CancercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit beneficiary of LAN All Night 12, raising more than $1,000 to support adult cancer patients in need.
• The Shepherd's HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit beneficiary of FortLAN Spring 2025, receiving $1,500 raised to support veterans in recovery.
• Wichita Animal Action League (WAAL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit beneficiary of Wichita LANFest 39, receiving $750 raised to help protect and support animals in need throughout the Wichita area.
• Camp Good DayscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable beneficiary of MassiveLAN Winter 2026, receiving $4,478 raised through ticket sales, charity raffles, and individual guild donor drive campaigns.
• Washington State Scholastic EsportscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLANFest delivers professional, high-quality broadcast coverage to Washington State Scholastic Esports, providing experience for players, students, educators, coaches, casters, and production crew.
• Indiana Esports NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLANFest delivers professional, high-quality broadcast coverage to Indiana Esports Network, supporting scholastic esports initiatives from elementary through college.
• Northwest HalominorGTM or Marketing PartnerGaming community partner that hosted Halo tournaments at InfernaLAN Cyberpunk 2025, providing competitive gaming content for attendees.
• Dapper GamesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Magic: The Gathering draft at InfernaLAN Cyberpunk 2025, contributing to the diverse gaming experiences offered at the event.
• Event Sponsors (Arcade 92, Chicken N Pickle, E&R Customs, etc.)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMultiple sponsors including Arcade 92, Chicken N Pickle, E&R Customs, Ellie Mae Squirrel, Grapevine Dodge, Ikarus Project LLC, and Standish 913 supported LAN All Night 12 event.
• 100 Yen LifeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner providing unique arcade games for Emerald City LAN winter event at Lumen Field Event Center in Seattle.
• Free GeekminorGTM or Marketing PartnerE-waste recycler and PC thrift store that attended Below Zero LAN V7 in Minnesota, bringing retro desktops with games installed for attendees to play original QUAKE.
• PokeConminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConvention partner that provided Nintendo consoles for attendees to explore at Below Zero LAN V7 event.
• Grand Wayne CentercoreOthersVenue partner for FortLAN Spring and Fall 2025 events in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
• Odyssey EsportsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner that streamed Smash Ultimate finals during FortLAN Spring 2025, attracting top regional players.
• Exclaim.ggminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMerchandise platform for upgraded FortLAN merch and jerseys available at exclaim.gg/store/fortlangg
• SignalRGBminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of LANFest with lighting control software, supporting gaming events with prizes and brand visibility.
• GLYDRminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor partner supporting LANFest events and community initiatives.
• WildcardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor partner of LANFest, featuring game giveaways and brand presence at events.
• LogitechminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor partner providing gaming peripherals and support for LANFest events.
• ZotacminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHardware sponsor partner for LANFest events.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Extra Life: Extra Life is a charity gaming fundraising program under Children's Miracle Network Hospitals where gamers raise donations through streams, tournaments, and play sessions. It overlaps with LANFest's Battle for Charity mission of channeling gaming activity into charitable fundraising, though without LANFest's physical event infrastructure.
• Games Done Quick: Games Done Quick is a charity speedrunning event organization that runs biannual marathon streams (AGDQ, SGDQ) raising millions of dollars for charitable causes via Tiltify and similar platforms. It shares LANFest's charity-gaming mission and donation-driven revenue model but focuses on streamed speedrunning rather than in-person LAN events.

Direct peers

• Pandemic Con: Pandemic Con is a regional LAN gaming event operator running multi-day BYOC gaming events with competitive tournaments, community areas, and vendor halls. It is directly comparable to LANFest's regional chapter events (FortLAN, MassiveLAN, InfernaLAN) in format, audience, and operational scope.
• LANWAR: LANWAR is a community-driven LAN party organization running regional events for amateur and enthusiast gamers across multiple U.S. markets. It directly competes with LANFest in the grassroots, bring-your-own-computer LAN event space with a similar volunteer-driven chapter model.
• Belong Gaming Arenas: Belong Gaming Arenas is a network of competitive gaming centers offering high-end gaming PCs, console stations, and tournament hosting. It is comparable to LANFest's mission of providing dedicated physical gaming venues for community play and tournaments, though Belong operates commercial hourly-play venues rather than volunteer-run event series.
• EVO: EVO is a premier fighting game esports tournament circuit hosting major in-person competitions with streaming production, sponsorships, and community-driven event participation. While narrower in game focus, it shares LANFest's model of competitive in-person tournament events with broadcast monetization and sponsor-driven revenue.

Broad incumbents

• DreamHack: DreamHack is one of the world's largest LAN gaming festival brands, hosting multi-day competitive gaming, esports tournaments, and expo experiences across multiple continents. It serves the same amateur-to-pro gaming community as LANFest but at significantly larger scale and with a commercial rather than nonprofit orientation.
• ESL Gaming (ESL FACEIT Group): ESL FACEIT Group operates the world's largest esports tournament and competitive gaming platform, running community amateur leagues as well as professional circuits. It overlaps with LANFest's grassroots tournament operator role but at vastly greater scale and with a commercial, platform-based business model.
• PAX (Penny Arcade Expo): PAX is one of the largest U.S. gaming convention series, hosting multi-day expo events featuring tournaments, panels, vendor halls, and community gaming spaces. It serves an overlapping audience with LANFest but operates at much larger scale as a commercial convention rather than community-driven LAN party.

Regional players

• The Gaming Stadium: The Gaming Stadium is a competitive gaming venue and event operator based in Vancouver, Canada, hosting esports tournaments, community gaming nights, and broadcast events. It shares LANFest's model of operating physical gaming venues for tournaments and community play but is regionally focused on the Canadian market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/LANFESTgames
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@lanfest
• Facebookfacebook.com/JoinLANFest
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lanfest
• Instagraminstagram.com/lanfestgames
• TikToktiktok.com/@lanfest_official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 LANFest