NEW YORK and MIAMI, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — StatusPRO, Inc., a sports activities expertise and gaming firm that makes use of real-time participant information to create genuine prolonged actuality experiences, right this moment introduced $20 million in new funding, one of many largest Sequence A of any VR gaming firm to this point, led by GV (Google Ventures).
StatusPRO is becoming a member of GV’s funding portfolio of profitable tech, healthcare, and client firms, asserting its spot as a standout and rising VR firm within the house. After two years of laying a basis within the sports activities gaming business and establishing a brand new style, first-person sports activities, StatusPRO will use the extra capital to broaden improvement into new sports activities titles whereas persevering with to boost its modes and options and additional enhance its cutting-edge expertise.
The spherical contains further funding from India’s famend sports-tech big Dream Sports activities, Minnesota Vikings Homeowners Mark & Zygi Wilf’s Clever Ventures, JDS Sports activities, and Alumni Ventures, with participation from present traders together with LeBron James, Drake, Maverick Carter, Major Avenue Advisors, Haslam Sports activities Group and extra.
StatusPRO was based and developed by two former soccer gamers, Troy Jones and Andrew “Hawk” Hawkins, on the premise that the best way coaches, gamers, and followers expertise their favourite sports activities might be elevated to a brand new stage via XR expertise. In 2022, the Black-founded StatusPRO launched the first-ever NFL and NFLPA-licensed digital actuality (VR) simulation gaming franchise, NFL PRO ERA, and made its mark on the sports activities gaming class by permitting gamers to expertise what it feels prefer to be on the sector taking part in as QB of their favourite NFL group.
This immersive, first-person simulation brings followers nearer to the gridiron by giving them knowledgeable soccer participant’s perspective via VR expertise. Final October, the franchise, which highlighted NFL MVP and All Professional QB Lamar Jackson as its cowl athlete, noticed an evolution that launched new options akin to head-to-head multiplayer gameplay so gamers may work together, join, and compete towards each other within the digital world.
NFL PRO ERA is likely one of the most profitable sports activities franchises in VR historical past. Since launch, StatusPRO has garnered over 1,000,000 customers and gamers have spent a median of 41 minutes in recreation, estimated to be 2x longer in comparison with VR business averages. As one of many high VR studios, StatusPRO has not solely produced the quickest promoting sports activities title in VR historical past however is a high title on the Meta Quest platform (high 10 in gross sales). NFL PRO ERA is among the many most profitable Black-founded gaming franchises ever.
“Irrespective of if its digital actuality or spatial computing, our imaginative and prescient at StatusPRO is to outline first-person sports activities and ship experiences that really embody the emotion, competitors and sense of group that comes with being knowledgeable athlete,” mentioned Troy Jones, co-founder and Chief Government Officer of StatusPRO. “The funding from GV, Dream, and all different syndicates within the spherical, additional validates the chance to leverage rising expertise to innovate the best way followers work together with their favourite sports activities and outline a brand new type of engagement that brings present and future followers nearer to the sport.”
Different substantial new investments got here from a various group of athletes, entertainers, corporations, and business leaders together with Myles Garrett, David Grutman, Bobby Wagner, Jeff Stibel, Peter Delgrosso, Cameron Jordan, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Crystal Hayslett, Devale Ellis, TitletownTech, Black Angel Group, Life Line Household Heritage Fund, Solar Know-how Traders, Andre Gaines of Cinemation Studios, and the Fuller Brothers of 6408 Ventures, amongst others.
“StatusPRO is constructing the subsequent era of sports activities and gaming leisure via cutting-edge digital actuality. The corporate’s distinctive technology-driven method and significant partnerships have resulted in sturdy early development and product traction,” mentioned M.G Siegler, Enterprise Companion at GV. “Troy Jones and Andrew Hawkins have constructed a powerful group and monitor file of execution in a short while, and we’re thrilled to assist StatusPRO as they transfer the VR gaming business ahead.”
VR gaming continues to develop in reputation. The worldwide VR gaming market is projected to develop from $7.92 billion in 2021 to $53.44 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 31.4% in forecast interval 2021-2028 interval. With this projected development, StatusPRO prepares for ongoing buyer acquisition and retention whereas persevering with to solidify the corporate because the revolutionary chief redefining the sports activities gaming world and eyeing world growth within the sports activities VR market with a deal with future sports activities IP.
“As a former skilled athlete, working with a devoted group of people that have all participated in sports activities and labored for years throughout the sports activities enterprise business at a excessive stage, we perceive what it takes to compete and win,” mentioned Andrew Hawkins, co-founder and President of StatusPRO. “We consider that VR is the revolutionary reply to assist permit followers globally to see and expertise what it’s prefer to be a Professional. That is just the start for StatusPRO and paves the best way for us to enter further sectors of sports activities VR, opening doorways for us to discover different skilled sports activities avenues and groups.”
StatusPRO’s NFL PRO ERA is out there on the Meta Quest, Official PlayStation™, Pico, and Steam Retailer.
