Loading organizations...
§ Private Profile · London, England
Global esports performance brand fielding pro teams and selling gaming gear for enthusiasts and pro gamers, focused on advancing esports performance.
Fnatic is a London, United Kingdom-based esports organization that fields professional competitive gaming teams and manufactures branded gaming peripherals such as mice, keyboards, and audio headsets. The company operates globally with more than 100 employees across four international offices located in London, Berlin, Belgrade, and Tokyo. It currently manages over 20 professional gamers competing across five major video game titles, achieving significant historical success as the first organization to win three Counter-Strike Majors. The enterprise generates commercial revenue through retail and direct-to-consumer equipment sales, supported by an executive management team with prior experience at recognizable corporations including Vivendi, Bumble, and Goldman Sachs. To finance its competitive rosters and hardware development operations, the organization has raised $55 million in total venture funding to date. Fnatic was founded in 2004 by Sam Mathews and Anne Mathews.
Fnatic has raised $63.0M across 5 funding rounds.
Fnatic has raised $63.0M in total across 5 funding rounds.
Fnatic is a global esports performance brand and organization, not a traditional technology company. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in London, it focuses on building and supporting professional esports teams, creating performance gear, and delivering content and experiences for gamers worldwide.[1][3][4] With over 20 years of history, Fnatic has won more tier-1 esports tournaments than any other team, amassed $16M+ in prize money across 30+ games, and built a fanbase of 33M+ across social platforms, positioning it as the third most-watched Western esports brand in 2020.[3][4] It sells award-winning gaming hardware like mice, keyboards, and headsets through its site and retailers, while partnering with brands such as Red Bull, BMW, and AMD to amplify esports culture.[3][4]
Fnatic was founded on July 23, 2004, by Sam Mathews and Anne Mathews, initially as a Counter-Strike team, with early help from Joris Van Laerhoven.[1][2][6] Registered in Australia that year, it quickly expanded, winning Esports Eward Team of the Year in 2006 and 2009, and partnering with MSI and SteelSeries around 2008-2009.[1] Headquartered in London, Fnatic evolved from Counter-Strike 1.6 dominance—featuring one of the world's most successful teams—to supporting squads in over 30 games, including a peak Counter-Strike: Global Offensive era in 2015.[1][3] Under Sam Mathews (Chairman & Co-Founder) and leaders like CEO Wouter Sleijffers and CGO Patrik Sättermon, it has raised $55M from top investors like Beringea, surviving roster changes and competition challenges to become a cornerstone of esports.[2][3][4]
Fnatic rides the explosive growth of esports as a cultural shift, with 3.2 billion gamers worldwide fueling a $1B+ industry.[3] Its early entry in 2004 capitalized on gaming's transition from niche to mainstream entertainment, influencing the ecosystem by professionalizing talent development and hardware—paving the way for esports' integration into tech giants' portfolios (e.g., partnerships with AMD, OnePlus).[3][4] Market forces like streaming platforms, mobile gaming, and brand investments favor Fnatic's model, as it bridges competitive play with consumer products, amplifying Western dominance against Eastern rivals and shaping how tech firms engage Gen Z audiences.[1][3]
Fnatic's next phase likely emphasizes gear expansion, AI-driven coaching, and metaverse activations amid esports' projected $5B+ market by 2030, building on its $55M funding for global scaling.[3] Trends like Web3 gaming and inclusive creator economies will shape it, potentially evolving influence through acquisitions or deeper tech integrations. As esports matures, Fnatic—born from Counter-Strike grit—remains primed to lead performance innovation, turning gamers into global legends.[3][4]
Fnatic has raised $63.0M in total across 5 funding rounds.
Fnatic's investors include Marubeni Corporation, Karen McCormick, JHD, LVL1 Group, Unbound, Beringea, DCM, Nokia Growth Partners, Slow Ventures, Derek Jeter, Rashaun Williams, Lev Leviev.
Fnatic has raised $63.0M across 5 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $17.0M Other Equity in May 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 2021 | $17M Venture Round | — | Marubeni Corporation | Announced |
| Nov 11, 2020 | $10M Venture Round | Karen Mccormick | JHD, LVL1 Group, Unbound | Announced |
| Nov 1, 2020 | $10M Series U | Beringea | DCM, Nokia Growth Partners, Slow Ventures, Derek Jeter, Rashaun Williams, JHD, LVL1 Group, Unbound | Announced |
| Apr 1, 2019 | $19M Series A | LEV Leviev | Beringea, Broadway Angels, DCM, Nokia Growth Partners, Slow Ventures, Derek Jeter, Rashaun Williams, Joichi ITO, Blackpine, Unbound | Announced |
| Apr 10, 2017 | $7M Venture Round | — | Hannes Wallin, Joichi ITO, Hersh Interactive Group, Christopher Pallotta | Announced |