esports player foundation

What esports player foundation does

The esports player foundation (epf) is a Cologne, Germany-based not-for-profit organization founded in 2020 as the world's first dedicated excellence and funding institution for esports talent development. Structured as a GmbH (limited liability company) with game e.V. — the German games industry association — as its 100% shareholder, epf provides free, holistic support to selected young esports players across five game titles: Brawl Stars, Counter-Strike 2, EA SPORTS FC, League of Legends, and VALORANT. The foundation's 'five pillars' model — Game, Body, Mind, Nutrition, and Life — bundles in-game coaching, fitness training, sports psychology, nutritional counseling, career planning, financial advisory, media training, and parental guidance into a single integrated program. epf is governed by an advisory board (Beirat) that includes representatives from Riot Games EMEA, Ubisoft, the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), and the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).

The portfolio of branded programs includes DKB XPERION NXT (a League of Legends talent team co-sponsored by DKB and XPERION Germany), Telekom eAcademy (a Brawl Stars youth league), NXT Gen Academy (an EA FC youth competition with MediaMarktSaturn), Equal Esports (a diversity initiative for women and non-binary players culminating in the Equal Esports Cup at Gamescom), Esports Academy Berlin (a Land Berlin-funded regional program), the DB Esports dual-career scholarship with Deutsche Bahn, and the Xantaro IT-Trials program. The organization operates dual offices in Cologne (HQ, Züsestrasse 48) and Berlin (XPERION training facility), employs 32 staff, and ran approximately 8,000+ total talent applications across programs in 2025-2026 (600+ for Equal Esports, 1,700+ for Telekom eAcademy). Go-to-market is community- and event-driven: talents are recruited through online applications, bootcamps, and selection camps, and supported through a co-branded partner network.

epf generates no direct revenue. Funding is sourced from state grants (Land Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia, BMFTR advisory involvement) and corporate sponsorships from a concentrated set of DAX-level German enterprises and gaming-industry partners (Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Telekom, DKB, MediaMarktSaturn/XPERION, Logitech G, Dextro Energy, LeetDesk, Xantaro, adidas, Riot Games, SK Gaming, G2 Esports, BIG, Konrad Adenauer Foundation). Recent strategic posture includes a leadership transition in 2025 (Julius Althoff appointed Managing Director, co-founder Jörg Adami to Advisory Board Chair), the May 2026 rebrand of Esports Team Berlin to Esports Academy Berlin, and a series of new enabling-partner signings in 2025-2026. Notable talent outcomes include EMEA Masters wins, world ranking #1 and #2 in Brawl Stars, and Prime League promotion for DKB XPERION NXT.

Name

esports player foundation

Legal name

esports player foundation GmbH

Website

https://esportsplayerfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The esports player foundation is a German not-for-profit founded in 2020 as the world's first dedicated esports talent development institution. It provides free, holistic coaching and dual-career support to young players across five game titles, funded by state governments and corporate partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Esports Talent Development

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Esports Talent & Player Management (Agents, Coaching, Training Orgs) (MPAFADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Esports Teams & Player Organizations (MPAFADAB), Collegiate/Scholastic Esports Programs & Leagues (MPAFADAK), Esports & Competitive Gaming Programs (EDALAIAO)

Keywords

• Esports talent development
• Esports coaching services
• Dual career programs
• Esports scholarships
• Youth esports leagues

Headquarters

HQ city

Cologne

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. State/Federal Funding: Funding from German state governments including the State of Berlin and the State of North Rhine-Westphalia for esports talent development programs.
2. Corporate Partnership Funding: Financial support from business partners including Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Kreditbank (DKB), Deutsche Telekom, MediaMarktSaturn, and other enabling partners who sponsor talent programs and initiatives.
3. Shareholder Support: The organization is a 100% subsidiary of game e.V. (Verband der deutschen Games-Branche), which provides strategic guidance and organizational support.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The esports player foundation (epf) is a German not-for-profit organization that provides holistic talent development services to young esports players across multiple game titles including Counter-Strike 2, League of Legends, EA SPORTS FC, VALORANT, and Brawl Stars. Services are delivered free of charge to talents and span in-game coaching, bootcamps, fitness training, nutrition counseling, sports psychology, media training, hardware support, dual career pathways (combining esports with vocational training or university), and post-career transition planning.

Product overview

The esports player foundation (epf) is a Not-for-Profit organization and the world's first excellence and talent development institution exclusively focused on esports players. The organization operates a comprehensive portfolio of talent development programs across multiple game titles including Brawl Stars, Counter-Strike 2, EA SPORTS FC, League of Legends, and VALORANT. Core offerings include DKB XPERION NXT (League of Legends), XPERION NXT (multi-title), Equal Esports (diversity initiative), Telekom eAcademy (Brawl Stars league), NXT Gen Academy (EA FC), Esports Academy Berlin, and the DB Esports dual career program with Deutsche Bahn. These programs provide holistic support through five pillars: Game, Body, Mind, Nutrition, and Life. The organization partners with companies including Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Kreditbank, Deutsche Telekom, MediaMarktSaturn, and Xantaro to fund and operate its various initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• XPERION NXT: Joint project with XPERION Germany providing talent development in Counter-Strike 2, League of Legends, Valorant, EA FC and Brawl Stars
• Telekom eAcademy
• Equal Esports
• Esports Academy Berlin
• NXT Gen Academy
• DKB XPERION NXT
• DB Esports
• Games & Politics
• Equal Esports Cup

Products and services

• Talent Development Program (Talentförderung) Comprehensive esports talent development program offering professional coaching, bootcamps, fitness training, nutrition counseling, sports psychology, media training, and hardware support for promising esports players.
• DKB XPERION NXT League of Legends esports team and talent development program co-sponsored by Deutsche Kreditbank (DKB) and XPERION Germany, providing young players a pathway to professional competition.
• XPERION NXT Multi-title esports talent development project in Counter-Strike 2, League of Legends, VALORANT, and EA FC providing pathways to top national and international leagues.
• Equal Esports Initiative promoting gender equality and diversity in esports by supporting women and non-binary talents through coaching, bootcamps, and the Equal Esports Cup tournament.
• Telekom eAcademy Brawl Stars youth league for the DACH region providing young talents aged 13+ opportunities to develop as esports athletes with professional coaching and competition experience.
• NXT Gen Academy EA FC youth academy and league for DACH region providing 32 young players a platform to compete in the digital football ecosystem, partnered with MediaMarktSaturn.
• Duale Karriere bei der Deutschen Bahn (DB Esports) Partnership with Deutsche Bahn offering esports talents vocational training and career development alongside their competitive gaming pursuits.
• Esports Academy Berlin Regional talent development program for Berlin-based esports talents across Brawl Stars, League of Legends, VALORANT, and EA FC, supported by the Berlin Senate Department for Economics.
• Xantaro IT-Trials IT career pathway program providing esports talents opportunities to start careers in IT while receiving competitive gaming support, in partnership with Xantaro.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple talents progressed to professional teams and international competitions (EMEA Masters wins, Prime League success)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweitminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 June 2026Charity partner for donation stream events. esports player foundation organized a charity stream raising 3,140 euros for SOS Children's Villages worldwide.
• Logitech GmajorTechnology or Integration · 3 July 2025Logitech G provides professional gaming hardware (keyboards, mice, headsets) to supported talents as Official Supplier and Hardware Partner.
• game e.V. (Verband der deutschen Games-Branche)coreStrategic or Co-development Partnergame e.V. is the 100% shareholder of the esports player foundation and provides strategic advice and initiatives for the development and support of esports players. The association represents the German games industry including developers, publishers, and esports organizers.
• Deutsche BahncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeutsche Bahn partners with esports player foundation for the DB Esports-Stipendium (dual career esports scholarship), combining esports talent development with vocational training at Deutsche Bahn. The partnership includes the DB Trackstars corporate gaming community program.
• Deutsche Kreditbank AG (DKB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDKB enables the DKB XPERION NXT team for League of Legends talent development and sponsors the DKB Esports Nachwuchsspieler Award for young talents.
• Deutsche TelekomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeutsche Telekom co-funds the Equal Esports initiative for women and non-binary players, the Telekom eAcademy Brawl Stars youth league, and the Equal Esports Cup tournament.
• XPERION Germany (MediaMarktSaturn)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint project for XPERION NXT talent development across multiple game titles. XPERION provides training facilities in Berlin and Hamburg. Also partner for MMS NXT Gen Academy for EA FC talents.
• Riot GamescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRiot Games supports through the Equal Esports Cup in League of Legends and provides strategic guidance through advisory board participation (Hans Christian Lueneborg, Director EMEA Operations).
• SK GamingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSK Gaming co-hosts the Equal Esports Cup and Proving Grounds tournament, providing competition platform for women and non-binary esports talents.
• State of Berlin (Senatsverwaltung für Wirtschaft, Energie und Betriebe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin state government funds the Esports Academy Berlin (formerly Esports Team Berlin), supporting up to 25 young talents with holistic development programs through esports player foundation.
• State of North Rhine-WestphaliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth Rhine-Westphalia co-founded the Esports Academy NRW in 2022 and provided startup funding for esports player foundation in 2020.
• Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt (BMFTR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal Ministry supports esports framework conditions and innovation without acting as a financial partner. Dr. Matteo Riatti represents the ministry on the advisory board.
• Konrad Adenauer FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPolitical foundation cooperates on the 'Values in Gaming and Esports' initiative and hosts the Games & Politics discussion format, positioning esports players as role models.
• XantarominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerXantaro runs the Xantaro IT-Trials program, combining esports talent development with IT career pathways through routing, switching, and security training.
• adidasminorStrategic or Co-development Partneradidas hosted the Equal Esports Bootcamp in Herzogenaurach as part of the 'Esports meets Sports' initiative.
• Eintracht Frankfurt / DOSBminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint Equal Esports Bootcamp with German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and Eintracht Frankfurt for talent development.
• G2 EsportsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerG2 Esports hosts events and provides mentorship opportunities for esports talents through visits and professional environment exposure.
• Berlin International Gaming (BIG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBIG provides bootcamp visit opportunities and professional environment exposure for young talents.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SK Gaming: Cologne-headquartered esports organization and epf enabling partner that runs its own talent-development initiatives (including co-hosting Equal Esports Cup); competes for the same DACH talent pool with a for-profit structure.
• Fnatic: Global esports organization with an established academy/youth talent pipeline (Fnatic Rising) that competes directly with epf for emerging player talent in Europe and offers a for-profit alternative path to professional play.
• NASEF (Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations): International non-profit running scholastic and collegiate esports programs and competitions; closely mirrors epf's Esports Academy Berlin and Equal Esports youth-development mission across school and college ecosystems.
• British Esports Federation: UK national not-for-profit federation for esports with similar remit of developing competitive pathways, representing the industry to government, and supporting grassroots talent — directly analogous to epf's role in Germany.
• G2 Esports: Berlin-based global esports organization that provides mentorship and professional environment exposure to epf-supported talents; represents the for-profit benchmark against which epf's value proposition (neutrality, holistic support) must compete.
• Berlin International Gaming (BIG): Berlin-based esports club providing bootcamp visits and pro-environment exposure to epf talents; operates its own youth-development programs in CS and other titles, positioning it as a German-market peer for emerging talent.

Others

• Verein Deutsche Sprache esports / game e.V. Parent organization and German games industry association (game e.V.) that wholly owns epf; comparable as a policy and industry-representation body rather than a talent developer, but a key stakeholder and potential comparator for the foundation's governance structure.

Emerging players

• Allied Esports (now part of Esports Entertainment Group): Esports venue and content company with talent-development programming and education-focused initiatives; less directly comparable but useful as a benchmark for monetizing youth/community esports programming at scale.

Broad incumbents

• ESL Gaming: Global tournament organizer and ESL Pro Tour operator that controls much of the competitive ecosystem in which epf's talents compete; not a direct talent developer but a structural dependency for the foundation's competitive pathways.
• World Esports Association (WESA): Industry association representing organized esports stakeholders; not a talent developer but operates in the same governance/representation layer as epf at the international level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EsportsPlayerF1
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1xGjrxVpBCLroZgfKM9ZrQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/esports-player-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/esports_player_foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about esports player foundation