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Houston-based esports tournament software and management company Mainline announced it had raised $6.8 million in its Series A round. The funding was led by Houston-focused venture capital firm Work America Capital. There were also investments from unnamed individual investors in professional sports and other strategic backers.
The funding will be used to further develop its esports tournament software technology platform; increase its marketing presence; hire development, marketing and sales talent; and expand its event management customer base to additional major brands, according to the company.
Mainline raises $6.8M in Series A
“The world of esports and gaming is exploding; however, continuity in tournament organization is lacking, keeping the sport from really taking off in other viable and exciting markets,” said Chris Buckner, Mainline Chief Executive Officer, in a release. “Mainline gives brands the tools they need to run powerful esports programs that will evolve the quickly maturing industry to the benefit of players, students and the greater esports ecosystem.”
Mainline’s licensed tournament platform specializes in running esports tournaments, along with enabling others to manage, monetize, and market their esports programs. The company was created as a subsidiary of social and content management company FanReact (now Truss) in 2016, to serve the collegiate esports market.
Since then, Mainline has helped run thousands of online tournaments and live events for brands and gaming organizations. This includes Modern Times Group (STO: MTG-B) production company DreamHack, Bluehole subsidiary video game company PUBG Corp, and North American esports organization Clutch Gaming. Earlier this year, the company also worked with ESPN on its inaugural Collegiate Esports Championship.
