CLUB, a London-based mobile football fantasy game that allows users to create their football club, has secured $3.1M in a seed round from Zee Prime Capital.
An array of more than 20 backers, including ATKA, Merit Circle, CitizenX, Moonlanding Ventures, Petrock Capital, and several high-profile angel investors specialising in GameFi, soccer, and media, participated in the round.
Strong leadership
The company will use the funds to develop its inaugural game, and its marketplace, build community and expand its team.
Currently, the company has leadership team consistes of soccer execs, including the former CEO of the English Football Association and the former Directors of Squawka & Sorare Academy Founders.
In early testing, CLUB Game already has more than 25K sign-ups and has begun rolling out its first phase of founding clubs for players wanting to get in early on the action.
“Millions of soccer fans dream of owning their own club. Very few get a chance to realize that ambition. With CLUB Game, we are creating the ability for everyone to live the experience – everything from signing real players, developing their club infrastructure through to climbing the leagues,” says Alex Horne, Chair of CLUB and former CEO of the English Football Association
He adds, “We are democratising ownership by making this F2P and introducing Web3 digital ownership to enhance the gameplay experience, allowing players to realize the value in what they’ve created and shared in their team’s success. I am delighted that we have been able to attract Jonty and Pavel to join us on this exciting journey.”
Play-and-earn soccer ownership game
Founded by Chris Cragg in 2021, CLUB Game is its first product and the first free-to-play, play-and-earn soccer ownership game that allows you to build, own and sell your own real-player soccer club.
Players can build their dream club based on the real-world performances of the biggest stars on the planet. Further, they can buy and sell players in real-time in an exciting live transfer market.
The goal is for COs to create their dream soccer club, from players, and cosmetics to infrastructure, all whilst competing against friends and other COs around the world.
Successful players can grow their club, and if they choose, sell it or its assets to the highest bidder on the CLUB marketplace.
“CLUB taps into the massive soccer market with a long-term, socially driven F2P game, where players get a true sense of club ownership,” says Pavel Stehno, Partner in Zee Prime Capital. “I believe games like CLUB Game and Aurory will lead the trend of GameFi 2.0 by putting players first and optimizing long-term sustainable in-game entertainment.”
Former Bungie Executive, Jonty Barnes says. “CLUB has a great team and a very marketable proposition. The space is ripe for developing innovative entertainment. We’re looking forward to delivering a compelling game that amplifies real-world soccer.”
