Esports

A CHAT WITH THE CHIEF CHILIZEN: ALEXANDRE DREYFUS TALKS RADICAL FAN ENGAGEMENT

Published

8 years ago

March 28, 2019

We caught up with Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO of Chiliz, to talk about Malta, blockchain and the radical fan engagement being pioneered by the company.

With Malta emerging as a leading international blockchain hub, we caught up with Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO of Chiliz – the currency that fuels blockchain-backed platforms and products geared towards casual, mainstream consumers – to talk about building a blockchain business and driving the concept of radical fan engagement.

Given Malta’s blockchain and gaming friendly environment it’s not surprising that Chiliz chose to set-up there, but did you consider any other locations? If so, what clinched the deal for Malta?

I first relocated to Malta 12 years ago, after realising the potential of the gaming industry on the island and it soon became my home. Malta’s open and progressive attitude towards blockchain, coupled with a proactive approach to legislation made the island a natural home for Chiliz.

How have you found recruitment for Chiliz? Has there been any issues in finding the right talent in such a new sector?

Talent acquisition, especially for tech-related jobs, is difficult across the board, and more so on a tiny island like Malta. However, the fact there are over 200 gaming companies on the island, which attract talent from all over the world, helps us.

There aren’t issues around finding talent because of the newness of the industry; if anything, it’s one of the major selling points. Not only do we give candidates the opportunity to work with blockchain technology, the foundation of our product Socios.com, but also with some of the biggest and most recognised sports organisations in the world.

How has the reception been to the Chiliz concept from esports and sports organisations, and have you found more hesitation with traditional sports?

The response to Socios.com, our tokenized voting platform powered by Chiliz, has been very positive from sports organisations and the idea has really resonated with clubs and fans alike. For the first time, fans have the chance to experience enhanced fan engagement, while clubs benefit from a new revenue stream.

We love the concept of radical fan engagement, allowing fans to become influencers with a real say in how their teams are managed. Although, in reality, the concept doesn’t really change the business model of pro sports, but rather adds a new engagement vertical, have you had any pushback from those who perceive the ideas as too disruptive?

Actually, we’ve had the opposite reaction. We’ve been clear from the beginning that we’re not here to disrupt the industry. Socios.com’s aim is to complement the existing ecosystem, by connecting sports organisations to their fans.

The fact that you have already managed to get Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, onboard with Socios.com clearly demonstrates the who concept of radical fan engagement has legs, but when do you feel the idea will hit critical mass and really take off?

We’re due to release the first version of the Socios.com mobile app in Q2, after months of intense development. As well as Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, we have many more club partnerships to announce before the launch, and many more to onboard post launch. Our aim is to build a global platform where we can connect the millions of football fans around the world, building community connected by their passion for their teams and the sport.

At AYO.NEWS we’ve been covering the rapid improvement in blockchain and crypto infrastructure around the world over the past year, but as you know, the crash in crypto prices, high-profile scams and poorly planned ICOs have created a serious distrust of anything ‘crypto’ or ‘token’ related in the mainstream media. Are Chilizens finding the atmosphere is thawing yet?

While there are signs that the crypto-winter has begun to thaw, the market adjustment was ultimately a good thing. It helped to re-focus attention on legitimate organisations that have a real shot at success and has eliminated poorly run projects in the process.

With so many blockchain entrepreneurs and businesses active in one location, what’s the atmosphere like at the Chiliz Blockchain Campus? Do you have plans to open other campuses elsewhere?

Not at the moment. The Chiliz Blockchain Campus already hosts some of the biggest names in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space within state-of-the-art offices. The collaborative environment houses a fully-equipped live streaming studio, meeting rooms with full connectivity. The Campus also has reciprocal agreements with other blockchain accelerators across the world, enabling companies to use the facilities.

Before we go, it’s a big “thank you” to Alexandre for taking the time to share his valuable industry insights with us here at AYO.NEWS. We hope to bring you more from the Chiliz team in the future, but in the meantime make sure you check out chiliz.com.

Esports

LEXUS SUPPORTS ESPORTS AWARDS FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR

Published

5 years ago

October 29, 2021

AYO News Staff

Luxury carmaker Lexus is returning to support the Esports Awards for a third year running

As Official Auto Partner of the awards, the company will be working with the Esports Awards on a number of activations that incorporate their vehicles. Lexus will also sponsor both the Esports Organisation of the Year and Streamer of the Year awards.

Lexus made its esports debut with the Esports Awards in 2019, when it provided several supercars from blockbuster movies, which took centre stage at the Esports Stadium Arlington. Last year, the carmaker collaborated on exclusive content as part of the highly successful virtual ceremony.

“It’s an honour to be able to welcome Lexus as a partner for the third year in a row. After supporting us through a successful virtual ceremony last year, it speaks volumes that Lexus has once again committed to going all-in and driving the esports ecosystem forward. Both of our brands focus on prestige and excellence, and I look forward to showcases our joint values as we return to a physical event in November,” said Michael Ashford, Managing Director, Esports Awards.

Esports

REKTGLOBAL BRINGS TOP GAMING TALENT TO INFINITY FESTIVAL 2021

Published

5 years ago

October 29, 2021

AYO News Staff

ReKTGlobal, the digital entertainment and esports organization, has been named one of the official presenters of gaming content at the 2021 Infinity Festival.

On 3 November, superstar gaming creators Ally Battaggia (a.k.a TheGeekEntry) and Gabby Murray will join Stove’s Kitchen and Paul Shaw in a panel exploring the content creator economy. In addition, ReKTGlobal CCO Kevin Knocke will share his unique expertise in a panel on esports.

Battaggia, who has a growing following across social media, took on streaming during lockdown, joining the fan-favorite NoPIxel GTA RP server. Since then, she’s become a mainstay participant, even crafting a NFT/TCG collection from her beloved GTA RP character. With 9.6M social media followers, Murray has built a fanbase as a multi-talented lifestyle and gaming content creator, with a Discord community that is expanding by the day.

Top gaming creator Stove’s Kitchen (whose real name is Steven Cho), part of the Team RAR (Rare and Ridiculous) internet group, has a devout fan following on his YouTube channel, where he posts gaming and challenge videos. Meanwhile, Shaw oversees Special Projects at TalentX Entertainment, a subsidiary of ReKTGlobal. The four will join forces for Making a Living as a Content Creator: Much More Than Gaming — a panel that explores what sets livestream content monetization and strategy apart from pre-produced content.

Also on 3 November, Knocke will take part in an esports panel with Darin Kwilinski, Lead Content Producer at IGN Entertainment, and Amanda Solomon, CEO at Tyrus Talent Management. The panel, Esports or Esports? Does It Matter? will break down misconceptions about esports to separate the hype from actual substance.

Knocke, who has been competitively gaming since he was a kid, has years of involvement with high profile companies and events in the esports business – specifically Blizzard Entertainment, IGN, SiriusXM, Sony, South by Southwest, E3, PAX, and Ubisoft — giving him a broad perspective on the industry. Before joining IGN, Kwilinski, a lifelong gamer, was a senior editor for esports at ESPN, establishing its vision and voice. Solomon is an executive with a well of expertise in the strategic sales and partnerships realm, specializing in esports, gaming, and talent.

Now in its exciting fourth year, the forward-focused Infinity Festival is the place where Hollywood meets Silicon Valley. The multi-day annual event, held in Los Angeles, brings together Hollywood’s finest storytelling talent with the innovative creators of cutting-edge technology. For 2021, Infinity Festival will blend in-person and virtual events for a unique hybrid experience.

The in-person portion will be held in several adjacent Hollywood locations with most events happening at Goya Studios and the Dream Hotel; the online component will be presented through the easy-to-use FNvirtual event platform. The festival will continue its theme of “Story Enabled by Technology” with an entirely new slate of innovative programming, including industry-leading speakers, panel discussions, an exhibition hall, innovation labs, and a fine art gallery, each with an emerging-tech focus.

For tickets and additional information, visit infinityfestival.com.

Esports

TEAM SINGULARITY TO LAUNCH FAN TOKENS VIA BLOCKSPORT

Published

5 years ago

October 29, 2021

AYO News Staff

Danish esports organisation Team Singularity has extended its partnership with Swiss fan engagement platform Blocksport.

The multi-year agreement will see the launch of the $SNG Fan Token, giving holders access to unique opportunities to influence team-related decisions, enter the fast-track at SNG Academy, access exclusive content, train with professional esports athletes and more.

$SNG Fan Tokens are expected to launch in December 2021 with a supply of 3M, and will be priced at €1 each in the initial sale.

Commenting on the news, Atle S. Stehouwer, CEO and Founder of Team Singularity, said: “I am happy that our partnership with Blocksport is officially extended and we can finally announce the next step in our collaboration.”

Vladimir Liulka, CEO and Co-Founder of Blocksport, added: “We are happy to extend our exclusive partnership with Team Singularity and launch $SNG Fan Token for their fans. Singularity has a global and awesome fan community. The Token opens up a new world – an environment in which they have the chance to be very close to their favorites players and team”.

Team Singularity currently fields rosters in CS:GO, Fortnite, Rocket League, League of Legends, FIFA, Apex Legends, Rainbow Six, VALORANT, Free Fire, Teamfight Tactics, Hearthstone, Quake, League of Legends Wild Rift, Call of Duty, Call of Duty Mobile, Call of Duty Warzone, PUBG, PUBG Mobile, DOTA 2, Overwatch, Heroes of the Storm, Battalion 1944, H1Z1, Tekken7, Rogue Company, Brawlhalla, and Clash Royale. In addition to Blocksport, the organisation has commercial partnerships with PWC, Pluck GG, Raven, SCUF, KontrolFreek, Randers FC, Esportal, Challengermode, MYESPORTSCARD, and MYFUTCARD.

Staying with esports and Blocksport.io, just yesterday we reported the platform had partnered with Jordanian sim motorsports organisation Desert Fox Racing.