UK-based platform to help new players readies game plan with £150,000 funding

e-sports companies have the potential to generate 238 full-time equivalents (FTEs) of employment and £12 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) for the UK economy alone. Providing more opportunities to gamers to compete on a professional level will strengthen the sector. Tapping into the immense potential of the sector, UK-based digital platform SwiftSkill has raised a £150,000 pre-seed round from Jenson Funding Partners.

The funding will allow it to expand the team, provide its service to additional e-sports game titles and help gamers build skills to become professional e-sports players.

Founded in 2020 by Anil Kumar Peri of Cranfield University and Shankha Subhra Dutta from Lancaster University, SwiftSkill was created after the pair recognised the lack of advice available to aspiring e-sports players. Being closely connected to the e-sports sector in India, Peri and Dutta recognised that gamers from different regions may not have the same opportunity to enter into e-sports. Those not part of an established team, with dedicated coaches and analysts to improve player performance, can often struggle to build a successful profile in the sector.

The startup wants to reach out to the 400-million aspiring e-sports professionals around the world with its platform, democratising the opportunities for different regions to build its talent in the sector.

By providing a digital analysis tool that gives players an insight into their performance, it analyses data from matches, heat maps and brings out a breakdown of their performance. Players can then identify trends and skills that will help them succeed in future matches.

Anil Kumar, Co-founder, SwiftSkill said: “Every gamer plays differently and there can’t be a one-size-fits-all training for those eager to become e-sports professionals. We’re giving aspiring professional gamers the insight they need to play better. The funding will provide the team and skillset needed to address the unique metrics that each e-sports title provides, allowing us to service the e-sports champions of tomorrow.”

Jeffrey Faustin, CIO, Jenson Funding Partners said: “The gaming sector has consistently grown in recent years and the pandemic escalated the lucrative investment opportunities present in the industry. e-sports presents a huge opportunity and innovative businesses such as SwiftSkill are driving the growth of the industry.”