Target Information

GOALS is an innovative football gaming platform that has recently closed a $20 million Series A funding round. The round was led by Alexis Ohanian's Seven Seven Six, with participation from prominent investors including Northzone, Cassius, and others, alongside several notable angel investors. Having previously co-led their pre-seed round in 2021, we have been consistently impressed by the remarkable progress in product development accomplished by the GOALS team.

With a vision to revolutionize football gaming, GOALS aims to deliver an unparalleled gaming experience. The game is currently in pre-alpha stage, and the team is actively expanding to enhance its offering, ensuring it truly represents the beautiful game while engaging players in innovative ways.

Industry Overview

The global football market is vast and thriving, boasting approximately 2.9 billion players, 720 million live-stream viewers, and 490 million esports fans. Football is not just a sport; it is a universal passion that resonates across cultures globally, extending into the digital domain. The demand for engaging, innovative football gaming experiences has never been higher.

Presently, the football gaming market is largely dominated by Electronic Arts' FIFA series, which generates revenues of about $2.2 billion and claims 20 million paying users, contributing significantly to EA's overall income. However, this segment has recently shown signs of stagnation due to issues such as bugs, latency, and dated gameplay mechanics. This stagnation signals a growing appetite for fresh and revolutionary alternatives.

GOALS is strategically positioned to meet this demand by focusing on a model that emphasizes gameplay quality and community interaction. Their approach promises a free-to-play, cross-platform, multiplayer experience suitable for the esports arena. This strategy not only broadens their market reach but also fosters a community-driven platform that champions creativity and collaboration among players.

By redefining how players engage with football gaming, GOALS is set to unlock new potentials within the gaming landscape, creating an emergent economy where players design, own, and trade digital assets seamlessly within the platform.

Rationale Behind the Deal

The rationale for this investment is deeply rooted in the recognition of GOALS as a trailblazer in football gaming. By offering a fresh take on the genre, they are well-positioned to capitalize on the pent-up demand for innovative gameplay and community-centric features. Our involvement from the pre-seed stage demonstrates our commitment to the vision and potential that GOALS holds in reshaping the future of sports gaming.

Investing in GOALS aligns with our belief in nurturing games that center around community interaction and competitive engagement. Their focus on developing a robust creator economy within the platform resonates with our strategy and long-term vision in the gaming sector.

Investor Information

The lead investor, Alexis Ohanian, is well-known as the co-founder of Reddit and is a recognized figure in the venture capital space through his firm, Seven Seven Six. Ohanian's commitment to fostering innovative ventures in the digital and gaming landscapes significantly enhances the credibility and potential impact of GOALS within the industry. His involvement also emphasizes confidence in GOALS' unique proposition and long-term sustainability.

Alongside Seven Seven Six, the round attracted notable investment from Northzone, Cassius, and a diverse group of angel investors, all of whom bring valuable insights and experiences that can help catalyze GOALS' growth trajectory and market penetration.

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Dealert believes that this investment in GOALS could represent a strong opportunity in the rapidly evolving gaming market, particularly within the football genre. The team's focus on engaging gameplay and community elements positions GOALS uniquely against the backdrop of a stagnant current market dominated by legacy offerings.

Importantly, the concept of empowering players to design, own, and trade their digital assets creates a distinctive user-driven value proposition that could redefine player engagement in sports gaming. This innovative economic model aligns well with current trends in digital ownership and creator economies, suggesting a bright future for GOALS.

While the pre-alpha stage presents inherent uncertainties, the caliber of the leadership team, particularly with Andreas Thorstensson’s extensive experience in esports, contributes to the overall strengths of the venture. His vision, paired with a talented team, bodes well for the future of GOALS.

In conclusion, if GOALS can successfully execute on its vision and effectively launch to the public, it stands to emerge as a major player in both the football and gaming industries, potentially transforming user experiences and setting new standards in the esports realm.

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