Weplay
An online community for youth athletes, their parents and coaches, that allows them share relevant information and stay connected.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
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| investor | €0.0 | round | |
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| Total Funding | 000k | ||
WePlay operates as a multifaceted media holding company with a significant footprint in the esports and entertainment sectors. The company, founded in 2012 by Yura Lazebnikov and Oleg Krot, originated from their shared passion for video games and experience in the IT infrastructure business. Headquartered in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Los Angeles, USA, WePlay has evolved from organizing local amateur esports competitions to becoming a global tournament organizer and content production house.
The business model centers on creating and broadcasting high-quality esports tournaments and entertainment content. A key milestone was the 2016 rebranding to WePlay Esports, which marked a strategic shift towards becoming a world-class tournament operator with its own studios and arenas. In 2023, the company rebranded again to WePlay Studios, broadening its focus to include a range of entertainment content and leveraging its expertise in broadcasting, augmented reality, and computer graphics to enhance viewer experiences. This expansion includes strategic partnerships with major brands and influencer networks, such as One True King and Enthusiast Gaming for events like NFL Tuesday Night Gaming. Revenue is generated through event organization, content production, brand integrations, and marketing media rights. The company also operates on a "growth partner" model, working with clients on a revenue-share basis to accelerate audience growth and monetization.
WePlay's portfolio of businesses includes WePlay Studios, the content production arm; DashFight, a media platform for the fighting game community; and Esports Transfers, an analytics platform. The company has organized numerous successful tournaments for popular games like Dota 2 and CS:GO, often setting viewership records. Notable events include the WePlay! Bukovel Minor and the WePlay AniMajor, which was nominated for a Sports Emmy Award. This demonstrates their capability to produce large-scale, immersive events that combine gaming with thematic elements, such as anime, to engage a global audience.
The founders' journey began with an IT integration business, which provided the capital to turn their gaming hobby into a viable enterprise. Yura Lazebnikov and Oleg Krot's vision was to create a globally oriented business, a lesson learned from early challenges. Their leadership has guided the company's expansion to a multinational level, with a team of over 400 employees and a focus on growing its presence in Asia and the Americas. Keywords: esports production, tournament organizer, gaming entertainment, media holding, content creation, live broadcasting, augmented reality production, esports analytics, brand integration, fighting game community, Dota 2 tournaments, CS:GO events, entertainment technology, viewer engagement, digital media, gaming content, esports marketing, global esports events, video game competitions, influencer marketing