ProGuides

ProGuides is an online e-sports training platform established to help gaming enthusiasts improve their competitive gameplay. It was founded in 2015 by Sam Wang and Kristoph Oedman, both of whom attended the University of California, Berkeley. The founders, being avid gamers themselves, identified a growing demand from players who wanted to get better at their favorite competitive games, mirroring the rise of esports.

The company operates on a subscription marketplace model, catering to both amateur gamers seeking to improve and expert players or coaches looking for a platform to monetize their skills. The business generates revenue primarily through a monthly subscription fee, which was around $7.99 to $12.99, granting users access to its library of courses. ProGuides also facilitated a marketplace for one-on-one coaching, taking a commission from the fees paid by students to coaches for personalized training sessions.

The core service offerings include a wide array of video courses and on-demand, one-on-one coaching sessions with professional and high-ranking players. The platform featured courses taught by well-known esports professionals across a variety of popular competitive titles such as 'League of Legends', 'Fortnite', 'Counter-Strike: Global Offensive', and 'Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'. Subscribers gained access to hundreds of lessons covering game mechanics, high-level strategies, and the mental aspects of competitive play. The one-on-one coaching provided personalized feedback, critical match analysis, and skill-sharpening exercises.

Throughout its history, ProGuides achieved several milestones, including raising approximately $7.4 million across three funding rounds and paying out over $2 million to its coaches by April 2021. In November 2021, the company was acquired by Statespace, the parent company of the aim training platform Aim Lab, for an undisclosed amount. Following the acquisition, both founders eventually departed the company. By April 2024, reports emerged that ProGuides would be ceasing its operations, and in June 2024, a partnership was announced with coaching platform Coachify to transition ProGuides' users.

Keywords: esports coaching, gaming training, League of Legends coaching, Fortnite guides, CS:GO training, professional gamers, video game coaching, esports learning, Aim Lab, Statespace, Sam Wang, Kristoph Oedman, on-demand coaching, gaming skills, competitive gaming, esports courses, player improvement, game strategy, Valorant coaching, Super Smash Bros. training