Battleriff

Based in Gothenburg, Sweden, Battleriff was an e-sports platform established in 2014 by co-founders Mathias Lindmark, Antony Sastre, Tom Smith, Lars Hellewig, and Elias Lofgren. The company aimed to provide an arena for gamers of all skill levels to compete in online games for prize money. The platform operated by hosting challenges, tournaments, and competitive ladders, allowing players to develop their skills and challenge each other.

The business model centered on its function as a fiduciary, enabling gamers to compete for real money. It supported popular games like Hearthstone, FIFA, and Smite, automatically tracking game outcomes and crediting the winner. A significant milestone for the platform was the Battleriff Pro League for Hearthstone, which was run under a license from Activision Blizzard and awarded top players entry into the prestigious Masters Tour competitions.

Financially, the company secured a seed round of approximately $939K in January 2016 and an angel round in March 2017. A key strategic move was the acquisition of the American esports brand Red Reserve in September 2017 for about $850k, paid in newly issued Battleriff shares, to create synergies and strengthen its position in the international esports market. In January 2020, Battleriff itself was set to be acquired by ESEN eSports for $488K, but this acquisition was later canceled in February 2021. According to market data, the company is now considered deadpooled.

Keywords: esports platform, competitive gaming, online tournaments, gaming ladders, skill-based gaming, prize money gaming, Hearthstone tournaments, FIFA esports, Smite competitions, Red Reserve, Mathias Lindmark, Antony Sastre, ESEN eSports, gaming fiduciary, online gaming competition, esports challenges, player ranking, automated match tracking, licensed tournaments, Activision Blizzard partnership