Dplus KIA
Dplus KIA is a South Korean privately held esports organization competing across five major game titles including League of Legends, VALORANT, PUBG Mobile, FC Online, and Rainbow Six Siege. It monetizes through team merchandise sales, brand sponsorships led by title sponsor Kia, and a fan membership platform serving a global fanbase.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersSeoul, South Korea
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Dplus KIA does
Dplus KIA is a South Korean privately held esports organization operating under the legal entity AD-ESPORTS., LTD. (주식회사 에이디이스포트), headquartered at Uwin City, 632 Gukhoe-daero, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. The organization fields competitive rosters across five major esports titles: League of Legends (LCK, LCK CL, and LCK Academy Series), VALORANT (VCT CK), PUBG Mobile (PMRC/PMMI), FC Online (FSL), and Rainbow Six Siege (APL). Its League of Legends roster won the 2026 Esports World Cup, the organization's first EWC championship title. The organization is led by representative Lee Dong-hyeong (이동형) and operates with approximately sixteen employees.
Dplus KIA monetizes through three primary revenue streams: direct-to-consumer merchandise sales via two owned e-commerce storefronts (shop.dpluskia.gg for the Korean market operated by Spomon, and enshop.dpluskia.gg for global markets), sponsorship and partnership revenue from twelve active brand partners led by title sponsor Kia and including Logitech G, Crocs, NEW ERA, AndaSeat, Nutri D-DAY, SOOP, DEGREVE, Montbest, Photoism, b.stage, and Uptempo Global, and a fan membership subscription service hosted on b.stage (dpluskia.bstage.in). The merchandise portfolio comprises seasonal uniform collections (2024, 2025, 2026) priced at $114-$159 for shirts and jackets, general apparel, accessories (keyrings, pin buttons, phone cases, drawstring bags, mufflers), and branded collaborations including Crocs Classic Clogs, NEW ERA headwear and apparel, Catch! Teenieping character-licensed uniforms, and a cross-sport collaboration with KIA Tigers.
The business model combines transactional commerce with brand monetization and recurring fan engagement. Distribution is direct-to-consumer with FedEx international shipping to at least eight countries (USA, China, Japan, UK, Germany, France, Australia, Canada). Marketing relies on organic social media presence across Instagram, X, Facebook, YouTube, Weibo, and Xiaohongshu with separate accounts for LoL and broader esports divisions. There is no public funding history, no M&A activity, no parent company, and no disclosed AI/ML capability; the technology stack is a standard web content platform (imweb CDN) plus a third-party membership platform (b.stage) plus third-party logistics (FedEx, Spomon for Korean fulfillment).
Dplus KIA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dplus KIA
- Legal name
- AD-ESPORTS., LTD. (주식회사 에이디이스포츠)
- Website
- https://dpluskia.gg
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Dplus KIA is a South Korean privately held esports organization competing across five major game titles including League of Legends, VALORANT, PUBG Mobile, FC Online, and Rainbow Six Siege. It monetizes through team merchandise sales, brand sponsorships led by title sponsor Kia, and a fan membership platform serving a global fanbase.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dplus KIA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Esports Entertainment & Team Merchandise
- NAICS
- Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Licensing, Merchandising & Co-Branded Products (Sponsored Merchandise, Collabs) (MPAKALAE)
Keywords
Where Dplus KIA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seoul
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Dplus KIA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including uniforms, apparel, accessories, and collaboration products through owned e-commerce platforms (shop.dpluskia.gg, enshop.dpluskia.gg). Products include official uniforms (jerseys, jackets), fan merchandise (keyrings, phone cases, apparel), and limited collaboration items with partners.
- Sponsorship & Partnerships: Partnership deals with brands including Kia (title sponsor), Logitech G, Crocs, NEW ERA, AndaSeat, and others. Brands pay for association with the esports organization and access to fan audiences.
- Membership Services: Fan membership platform (dpluskia.bstage.in) providing exclusive content, merchandise drops, and fan engagement features.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Official Uniforms |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Collaboration Products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | General Apparel |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Accessories |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Dplus KIA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Dplus KIA is a South Korean esports organization that competes in five major competitive gaming titles (League of Legends, VALORANT, PUBG Mobile, FC Online, Rainbow Six Siege) and monetizes its fan base through branded merchandise sales, collaboration products, and a paid fan membership platform. The company sells seasonal uniforms, apparel, accessories, and co-branded items directly to consumers via owned e-commerce platforms, while generating sponsorship revenue from brand partners such as Kia (title sponsor), Logitech G, Crocs, and NEW ERA.
Product overview
Dplus KIA operates as a South Korean esports organization with a diversified product portfolio centered around official team merchandise and collaborative brand partnerships. The core product line includes seasonal uniform collections (jerseys and jackets) for the League of Legends roster competing in LCK and LCK CL, available with player customization options. The merchandise line extends to apparel (fleece jackets, padded jackets, basic t-shirts, caps) and accessories (keyrings, pin buttons, phone cases, drawstring bags, mufflers). Collaborative products feature partnerships with Crocs (footwear), NEW ERA (headwear), Catch! Teenieping (character licensing), and KIA Tigers (baseball team). Business partnerships include gaming peripherals (Logitech G), seating solutions (AndaSeat), recovery products (DEGREVE), hydration (Montbest), fandom platform (b.stage), and localization services (Uptempo Global). A fan membership program provides exclusive content and merchandise access.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 2026 Dplus Kia Official Uniform Shirts Official team jersey for the 2026 season, made of polyester 94% and elastane 6%, featuring sponsor markings and optional player name/number customization for League of Legends roster. Sold to fans and supporters.
- 2026 Dplus Kia Official Uniform Jacket Official team jacket for the 2026 season with shell made of 100% cotton and lining of 100% polyester, featuring team branding. Sold to fans and supporters.
- 2025 Dplus Kia Official Uniform Shirts Official team jersey for the 2025 season with player marking options available for the League of Legends roster. Sold to fans and supporters.
- 2025 Dplus Kia Official Uniform Jacket Official team jacket for the 2025 season with shell fabric of cotton 67%, polyester 33% and lining of cotton 72%, nylon 28%. Sold to fans and supporters.
- 2024 Dplus KIA Official Uniform Shirts Official team jersey for the 2024 season available in sizes from S to 5XL with player marking options. Sold to fans and supporters.
- Dplus KIA x Crocs Classic Clog Footwear collaboration featuring the Crocs Classic Clog style with Dplus Kia branding, made of 100% ethylene-vinyl acetate. Licensed by AD-ESPORTS CO. Sold to fans and fashion-conscious consumers.
- Dplus Kia X NEW ERA Collection Headwear and apparel collaboration with 100-year heritage street culture brand NEW ERA, including sweat shirts, hooded zip-ups, caps, and accessories. Sold to fans and streetwear consumers.
- Dplus Kia x Catch! Teenieping Uniform Shirts Licensed collaboration uniform featuring Catch! Teenieping characters with Dplus Kia League of Legends players. Includes player nickname ping markings. Sold to younger fans and character-IP enthusiasts.
- Dplus Kia x Catch! Teenieping Baseball Jersey Baseball-style jersey featuring Catch! Teenieping character designs alongside Dplus Kia branding. Sold to fans and character-IP enthusiasts.
- 2025 Dplus Kia X KIA Tigers Collaboration Uniform Collaboration uniform merging Dplus Kia esports branding with KIA Tigers baseball team aesthetics, featuring heat-press player markings. Sold to fans of both esports and Korean baseball.
- Dplus Kia Fleece Jacket Full-zip fleece jacket made of 100% polyester shell and lining, manufactured in Indonesia. Available in sizes S to 2XL. Sold to fans seeking casual team-branded apparel.
- Dplus Kia Short Padded Jacket Padded winter jacket with size options from S to 2XL, featuring team branding and winter care instructions. Sold to fans seeking seasonal team-branded outerwear.
- Dplus Kia Collar Point Jacket Stylish collar-point jacket made of 100% polyester shell and lining, imported from Indonesia by LB Korea Trading Co. Sold to fans seeking fashion-forward team apparel.
- Dplus Kia Pin Button Set Set of metal pin buttons featuring individual Dplus Kia players (SIWOO, LUCID, SHOWMAKER, SMASH, CAREER). Round size 4.4cm. Sold to fans and collectors.
- Dplus Kia 2026 Uniform Drawstring Bag Drawstring bag made of 100% polyester in colors mint, black, and white, measuring 35x45cm. Includes optional player marking for League of Legends team. Sold to fans.
- Dplus Kia 2026 Uniform Keyring Acrylic keyring featuring the 2026 uniform design, measuring 45x105mm including ring. Made in China. Sold to fans and collectors.
- Dplus Kia 2026 Season Phone Case Custom phone case for 2026 season featuring team branding. Available for Samsung Galaxy (S22-S26, Z Flip/Fold series) and iPhone (12-17 series) in hard or jelly-hard hybrid TPU cases. Sold to fans.
- Dplus Kia Player Selfie Phone Case Custom phone case featuring Dplus Kia players with Catch! Teenieping character designs. Available for Samsung Galaxy and iPhone series. TPU material. Sold to fans and character-IP enthusiasts.
- Dplus Kia Knit Cheer MUFFLER Knitted cheer muffler made of 100% acrylic, measuring 175x20cm. Colors: mint and black. Manufactured by AD Sports. Sold to fans for in-person event support.
- Dplus Kia Holographic Acrylic Keyring Holographic acrylic keyring featuring Dplus Kia branding, size 7x3.3cm with 7cm diameter ring. Made in China by AD Sports. Sold to fans and collectors.
- Dplus Kia Membership Fan membership program offering exclusive content, MD products, and special experiences for Dplus Kia fans. Accessible at dpluskia.bstage.in. Sold to dedicated fans seeking recurring engagement.
Quantifiable outcome
- EWC 2026 League of Legends Champions
Companies that use Dplus KIA
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Dplus KIA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Dplus KIA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- KiacoreTitle sponsor of Dplus KIA esports organization. Kia's brand slogan 'Movement that inspires' aligns with the organization's competitive drive. Kia supports both players and fans through the partnership, creating inspirational experiences through esports.
- Logitech GmajorGaming peripherals partner providing high-performance gaming equipment. Logitech G focuses on pushing beyond performance limits to expand gaming possibilities, from HERO precision sensors to LIGHTSYNC RGB technology.
- PhotoismminorGlobal IP platform using IP and photo technology to design structures where content is created, distributed, and consumed. Connects fandom and brands through online/offline content experiences.
- Nutri D-DAYminorHealth brand operating 150+ product lines with systematic management systems. Building toward becoming Korea's top health brand through direct company management.
- SOOPminorLive social media platform creating new media where users are the owners. Leading new entertainment culture with accessible live broadcasting through PC or mobile without special technology, equipment, or cost.
- AndaSeatminorWorld-class sitting solution brand helping gamers, professionals, and creators achieve peak performance. Provides comfort, support, and performance through precisely designed gaming chairs and ergonomic innovation.
- CrocsmajorFootwear brand that shattered industry conventions with innovative materials and design, introducing a new standard of comfort globally. Dplus KIA x Crocs Classic Clog collaboration available through official shop.
- NEW ERAmajorHeadwear brand with over 100 years of heritage, becoming a symbol of self-expression and street culture icon beyond just a cap brand. Collaboration products include sweatshirts, hoodies, and caps providing premium brand experience.
- MontbestminorPremium water brand with philosophy 'Dream your Dreamz', going beyond providing good water to create culture of proper drinking and premium drinking experiences. Partnership aligned with Dplus KIA's value of pursuing the best in their field.
- DEGREVEminorRecovery product brand presenting various ergonomic functional recovery products based on human balance design. Supports efficient condition management for players requiring high concentration and optimal physical state.
- b.stagecoreGlobal fandom business platform helping artists and brands communicate closely with worldwide fans. Provides digital hub enabling Dplus KIA to connect with fans more closely and deeply through innovative fandom experience solutions.
- Uptempo GlobalminorGlobal business support partner providing multilingual communication and sophisticated localization solutions. Supports Dplus KIA's various content and messages reaching global fans authentically with professional technical skills.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Dplus KIA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DRX: DRX is a Korean esports organization with a flagship LCK League of Legends team and additional titles; directly competes in the same LCK matches and shares the Korean-anchored sponsor and merchandise ecosystem.
- Kwangdong Freecs: Kwangdong Freecs is a Korean LCK team under pharmaceutical sponsorship; a direct league peer with a similar operating profile of single LCK-focused brand plus secondary esports activity.
- Nongshim RedForce: Nongshim RedForce operates a Korean LCK League of Legends team under food-brand title sponsorship; directly comparable corporate-title-sponsorship esports org in the same league and merchandise market.
- KT Rolster: KT Rolster is a legacy Korean esports brand with a flagship LCK LoL team under telecom title sponsorship; direct LCK peer competing for the same Korean fan base, broadcast slots, and sponsor mindshare.
- OKSavingsBank BRION: BRION (OKSavingsBank BRION) is a Korean LCK League of Legends team under banking sponsor; direct in-league peer competing for viewership and merchandise revenue.
- FearX: FearX is a Korean LCK organization competing in League of Legends; a direct same-league peer with overlapping Korean fan base and partnership category overlap.
- Gen.G: Gen.G Esports fields LCK LoL and other rosters from Seoul with a comparable multi-title Korean esports portfolio; competitors head-to-head in the same league and for the same Kia-tier and consumer-brand sponsorships.
- Hanwha Life Esports: Hanwha Life Esports is a Korean LCK franchise operated under a financial-services title sponsor (Hanwha Life); directly comparable operating model — corporate-title-sponsored LoL team plus broader Korean esports operations.
- T1: T1 Entertainment & Sports operates the most globally recognized Korean League of Legends franchise (LCK) alongside VALORANT and other rosters; directly comparable multi-title Korean esports organization competing in the same LoL league and targeting overlapping fan and sponsor pools.
- Paper Rex: Paper Rex is an Asia-Pacific esports organization with a flagship VALORANT Champions Tour team; directly comparable on the multi-title non-LoL side where Dplus KIA competes in VALORANT (VCT CK), and a near-peer for international partnership deals.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Dplus KIA social profiles
Digital presenceDplus KIA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dplus KIA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Dplus KIA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dplus KIA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dplus KIA
What does Dplus KIA do?
Dplus KIA is a South Korean esports organization that competes in five major competitive gaming titles (League of Legends, VALORANT, PUBG Mobile, FC Online, Rainbow Six Siege) and monetizes its fan base through branded merchandise sales, collaboration products, and a paid fan membership platform. The company sells seasonal uniforms, apparel, accessories, and co-branded items directly to consumers via owned e-commerce platforms, while generating sponsorship revenue from brand partners such as Kia (title sponsor), Logitech G, Crocs, and NEW ERA.
Is Dplus KIA a public or private company?
Dplus KIA is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Dplus KIA founded?
Dplus KIA was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Dplus KIA based?
Dplus KIA is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does Dplus KIA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Merchandise Sales are the primary driver. The others are sponsorship & Partnerships and membership Services.
Who are Dplus KIA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DRX, Kwangdong Freecs, Nongshim RedForce, KT Rolster, OKSavingsBank BRION, FearX, Gen.G, Hanwha Life Esports, T1 and Paper Rex.
Does Dplus KIA have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dplus KIA.
What industry is Dplus KIA in?
Dplus KIA's product category is Esports Entertainment & Team Merchandise. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKALAE, Licensing, Merchandising & Co-Branded Products (Sponsored Merchandise, Collabs). Its NAICS code is 711211.