As we find ourselves in the midst of 2023, the esports industry continues to experience unprecedented growth. This burgeoning field, once a niche corner of the entertainment world, has exploded into the mainstream, generating an estimated global revenue of $1.38 billion. As the industry expands, so too does the number of esports startups looking to carve out their own piece of the market. However, these startups face a unique set of challenges and opportunities. In this article, we’ll delve into these challenges and opportunities, with a particular focus on the role of TEN.gg in addressing these issues.
The Challenges Faced by Esports Startups
Esports startups face a myriad of challenges, from difficult access to affiliate programs and sponsorships to an unstructured market with limited business categories.
Difficult Access to Affiliate Programs and Sponsorships
One of the most significant challenges esports startups face is gaining access to affiliate programs and sponsorships. Often, the terms and conditions offered by sponsors are far from favorable, making it difficult for startups to secure the financial backing they need. This is where TEN.gg steps in. This platform allows startups to connect with potential sponsors and negotiate the best possible deals, alleviating one of the most pressing challenges these businesses face.
Unstructured Market and Limited Business Categories
Another major hurdle for esports startups is the lack of proper categorization of businesses within the gaming industry. This makes it challenging to find relevant partners and can severely hamper growth. TEN.gg addresses this issue by providing a catalog with filters, making it easier for startups to find the partners they need.
Lack of Direct Contacts in B2B
Reaching representatives of companies in the video game industry can be a daunting task for esports startups. Whether for marketing, development, or esports, having direct contacts within the industry is crucial. TEN.gg aims to solve this problem by gathering all B2B gaming representatives in a single catalog, making it easier for startups to connect with the right companies.
Problems with Finding Cooperation Partners
Finding contractors, partners, or influencers is another significant challenge for esports startups. Making connections in this industry can be difficult, but TEN.gg aims to eliminate intermediation by providing a database of contacts on its platform.
Overpriced Services and Lack of Proper Competition
The cost and quality of services in the gaming industry can vary greatly, making it difficult for startups to find reliable contractors. TEN.gg plans to implement a service marketplace to connect businesses with esports specialists and IT professionals, addressing the issue of overpriced services and lack of proper competition.
The Opportunities for Esports Startups
While esports startups face significant challenges, there are also numerous opportunities for growth and success in this rapidly expanding industry.
Growth and Potential of the Esports Industry
The esports industry is booming, with over 17 million users and $68 million in aggregated revenue collected in FY20. The Covid-19 pandemic has only accelerated this growth, with people in the age group of 15-24 spending 34% more time on esports during lockdown. This rapid growth presents a significant opportunity for esports startups.
Increasing Investment and Support for Esports Startups
Investment in esports startups is on the rise, with investors recognizing the potential of this growing industry. For example, Unicorn India Ventures has invested in Gamerji, an esports platform, due to the growth potential of the gaming industry and the opportunities created by the ban on Chinese games like PUBG.
Strong Audience Retention and Engagement
Esports has a strong audience retention, particularly among Millennials, and a higher engagement rate compared to other sectors. Video services, particularly YouTube, play a significant role in this, with 95% of gamers choosing YouTube as their preferred platform for streaming gaming content.
Constantly Evolving Esports Ecosystem
The esports ecosystem is constantly changing, with new championships, teams, sponsors, and technologies like Blockchain, NFTs, cryptocurrencies, and VR. This constant evolution presents numerous opportunities for esports startups to innovate and carve out their own niche within the industry.
Supporting the Growth of Esports Startups
Communities, cities, and countries all have a role to play in supporting the growth of esports startups.
Role of Communities in Supporting Esports
Communities can support esports by promoting good practices, facilitating the establishment of teams and gaming centers, encouraging public training, highlighting startups with a social component, and educating young people from an early age.
Creating Dedicated Ecosystems and Places for Esports
Creating unifying ecosystems and dedicated places, such as real estate complexes, can further support the growth of esports. Cities and territories have a real opportunity to take advantage of esports, both at the amateur and professional level, with the potential to host esports events and draw crowds.
Competition Between Cities and Countries in Esports
The competition between cities, regions, and countries to make esports a new asset of differentiation on the economic, tourist, social, and digital level is expected to intensify in the coming years. Organizing esports events can increase visibility for cities, highlight tourist assets, and generate additional income through overnight stays, catering, and transport.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “The Challenges and Opportunities of Esports Startups” are many and varied. From difficult access to affiliate programs and sponsorships to an unstructured market with limited business categories, esports startups face significant hurdles. However, with platforms like TEN.gg addressing these challenges and the rapid growth and potential of the esports industry, there are also numerous opportunities for these startups to succeed. As the esports industry continues to evolve and grow, so too will the opportunities for esports startups. The future of esports startups is bright, and with innovation and perseverance, these startups can navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities that this exciting industry presents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to our FAQ section on the challenges and opportunities of esports startups. Here, we address some common questions related to the article content.
What challenges do esports teams face when it comes to sponsorships?
Esports teams often struggle to find the best terms and conditions for sponsorships, making it difficult to secure partnerships.
How does TEN.gg help esports teams connect with potential sponsors?
TEN.gg provides a platform for esports teams to connect with potential sponsors and negotiate the best deals, easing the process of finding sponsorships.
What is the main goal of TEN.gg?
The main goals of TEN.gg are to gather all B2B gaming representatives in a comprehensive catalog, provide a specialized esports and video gaming service marketplace, and offer a matchmaking server for job seekers and companies.
How does TEN.gg address the problem of finding cooperation partners in the esports industry?
TEN.gg aims to eliminate intermediation by providing a database of contacts, making it easier for esports businesses to find contractors, partners, and influencers.
What challenges do esports businesses face in finding reliable contractors?
Esports businesses often struggle with overpriced services and a lack of proper competition, making it difficult to find reliable contractors. TEN.gg plans to implement a service marketplace to connect businesses with esports specialists and IT professionals, ensuring fair pricing and quality services.
Please note that the information provided here is based on the article’s content and may not cover all aspects of the challenges and opportunities in esports startups.