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gaming

2 mins read

StatusPRO Raises $20M to Fuel Virtual Reality Sports Growth

StatusPRO,  a sports technology company that combines data with augmented, mixed, and virtual reality to provide training and gaming products has secured a $20 million Series A funding round.

This investment, one the largest Series A investments for a VR gaming entity thus far, marks a pivotal moment for the company, positioning it as a frontrunner in the VR gaming sphere.

Led by Google Ventures and backed by Dream Sports, alongside notable celebrity investors like LeBron James and Drake, this funding underscores StatusPro’s aggressive strides toward dominating the VR landscape.

statuspro

“No matter if it’s virtual reality or spatial computing, our vision at StatusPRO is to define first-person sports and deliver experiences that truly embody the emotion, competition, and sense of community that comes with being a professional athlete,” said Troy Jones, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of StatusPRO.

NFL Pro Era, the company’s immersive NFL training and gaming platform, has already racked up over 1 million users, boasting an average playtime double the industry standard. This engagement highlights the strong demand for VR experiences that blur the lines between training and entertainment.

But StatusPro’s ambitions extend beyond the gridiron. The Series A funding will fuel the development of new VR experiences across various sports, potentially creating a diverse VR sports ecosystem that caters to a wider audience.

The investor lineup adds another layer of excitement to StatusPRO’s story. Google Ventures’ backing signifies the tech giant’s confidence in VR’s potential to reshape the sports landscape. Sports tech leader Dream Sports brings valuable industry expertise, while celebrity investors like LeBron James and Drake lend star power and cultural relevance.

This strategic blend of financial muscle, industry knowledge, and star power positions StatusPro for an exciting future. The company is poised to capitalize on the surging VR market, estimated to reach $20.9 billion by 2025.

With its innovative approach, passionate team, and now, ample resources, StatusPRO is well on its way to becoming a leading force in the VR sports revolution.

by Tony O. Lawson

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3 mins read

Metafy Has Raised $8.7 Million to Help Video Gamers Monetize their Gaming Skills

In ten years, when you ask kids what they want to be when they grow up, you just might hear the words “professional gaming coach.” Thanks to the Pittsburgh-based startup Metafy, now millions of gamers have a chance to pursue a viable career path as professional coaches.

The CEO behind the startup, Josh Fabian, is a longtime gamer himself and saw firsthand the need for more sustainable ways for gamers to make a living. Now, his company already has 450 of the world’s best players coaching games like Mortal Kombat 11 and Super Smash Brothers Melee on the platform.

All players need to play is to go on the website to pick a game and coach and then schedule a time for their private coaching session. If you’re wondering who would potentially want such a thing, the answer is the 224 million gamers in the U.S. The idea of a coaching business came to Fabian after hiring a professional gamer to coach his kids.

Fabian was shocked when the gamer agreed to coach his children for only $20 an hour. Now two of Fabian’s children are in the Top 100 Pokemon players in the world.

“I kept coming back to this idea that there must be a better way,” he says. “Not just for us to get coaching that’s valuable and productive. But also, for these guys are trying to make a living doing what they love,” said the CEO.

And now, with Metafy, gamers can make a living doing what they love. Metafy coaches can set their rates from $15 to $200 an hour, set their hours, and receive 100% of their earnings. It’s a pretty good deal to be able to do what you love.

Metafy not only caters to aspiring professionals but casual players wanting an extra advantage and parents looking to keep up with their kids.

Metafy has raised a total of $8.7M in funding over 2 rounds. $3.2M in December 2020 and most recently, $5.5M in May 2021.

You can learn more about Metafy or even get coached by the world’s best players by visiting their website.

 

Written by Reese Williams


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