Challengermode, a Swedish tech startup and online competitive gaming platform, has raised $1.3M from strategic and internal investors, including international soccer superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“The additional funding will allow Challengermode to leverage its recent growth by continuing to build stronger relationships with brands, esports organizations and game developers,” the company said in its press release.
Robel Efrem, CEO of Challengermode, also released a statement in the company’s press release. “We are now seeing the next phase of esports going mainstream around the world, and we couldn’t be more excited by the brands and investors who have chosen to join us in creating tools for players and brands alike to thrive in this booming field,” Efrem said.
Challengermode is an online competitive gaming platform that allows regular gamers to compete like professionals in some of the biggest computer games, with prizes ranging from money to sponsored products.
Ibrahimovic is a 35-year-old Swedish forward who plays for Manchester United in the English Premier League. On top of his 15-year career competing internationally for Sweden, Ibrahimovic has also played for Juventus, Barcelona, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, who also just recently joined the world of esports.
This news follows the latest reports that Neymar, another international soccer star, is set to invest in an esports team of his own, continuing the trend of professional athletes worldwide showing an interest in esports.
