Top Esports Companies to Watch: Leading Startups and Organizations in 2025

With a massive global audience of approximately 500 million users, esports is one of the biggest sectors of the gaming industry. The rapidly evolving industry also shows impressive growth potential, with significant investment opportunities for startups providing esports software solutions and other niches. In this guide, we will discuss the investment potential of the esports industry, focusing on the top companies to watch out for. 

• The esports industry is projected to grow to $5.9 billion by 2029, driven by multiple factors including increased viewership, brand partnerships, and the rise of various organizations and startups.
• The esports landscape is saturated by several top-performing companies that excel not just by winning tournaments but also through partnership deals, streaming income, and other methods of earning profits. 
• Outside of team ownership, investors can participate in the industry through stocks, platform development sponsorship, and partnership deals. 

What Are Esports Companies?

Esports companies are businesses that are involved in organized, competitive video gaming (electronic sports). These businesses can take on different forms within the esports ecosystem, but the term is mainly used to describe companies that own or manage professional esports teams that compete in various esports tournaments.

Esports companies differ from game publishers, leagues, or tournament organizers, and other stakeholders in the gaming ecosystem. They’re more similar to traditional sports teams in the sense that they’re mainly involved in signing, training, and managing players. They also promote their brands and content, earning money from winning tournaments and signing sponsorship deals with various organizations. 

Defining Esports Organizations vs. Game Publishers vs. Tournaments

Esports organizations are businesses that own and manage professional esports teams. They’re mainly involved in player management and team operations, participating in various video game tournaments to win prizes. Esports organizations are involved in branding and marketing to acquire and engage fans. They may also seek sponsorship deals from various organizations to generate revenue for the team. 

Game publishers, on the other hand, are companies that are involved in developing and distributing the video games that esports organizations and other consumers play. They own the games and mainly generate revenue from sales and in-game transactions. Examples of publishers in the industry include Riot Games (publishers of League of Legends and Valorant), Valve (the company behind Counter-Strike and Dota 2), and Activision Blizzard (makers of Call of Duty and Overwatch).

Some publishers participate actively in the industry by creating leagues and tournaments around their games. However, this responsibility primarily belongs to tournament organizers. These are companies that organize competitions for esports teams or individual players to compete in different games. 

League or tournament organizers provide exciting content for viewers and fans, while also giving esports organizations a shot at winning prizes. Examples of major esports tournaments include the League of Legends World Championship, the Counter-Strike Majors, Valorant Champions, and the Esports World Cup.

The Role of Esports Companies in the Gaming Ecosystem

The main role of an esports company is the management of professional players and teams that participate in tournaments and competitive gaming events. With competitive video gaming going mainstream, esports companies perform similar roles as teams in traditional sports, such as the New York Yankees baseball team or Premier League Clubs Chelsea or Manchester United. Some of the main roles of esports companies include: 

• Player management: Esports teams scout and recruit new video gaming talents for the specific game they intend to participate in. They sign contracts with players, pay salaries, and enter players or teams into professional tournaments. 
• Team operations: The company handles the day-to-day operation of their team, including handling logistics and schedules, providing training equipment and facilities, hiring coaching staff, and the overall strategy for any competition they enter. 
• Content creation: Esports companies have contributed to the mainstream popularity of the industry through the creation and distribution of video gaming content across various platforms. Esports organizations typically partner with streaming platforms to broadcast team matches. They may also create reels, analysis videos, commentaries, and other content across social media channels. 
• Fan engagement: Many esports organizations have built an active fan base around their team and sports. The content they create and post regularly allows them to engage actively with their fan base across various social media channels, online forums, and other channels.

Esports Industry Growth

Although esports is still a relatively young industry, it is experiencing rapid growth and holds significant potential for further expansion. According to Statista, the esports market is expected to generate up to $4.8 billion by the end of 2025. This growth is expected to continue at a compound annual growth rate of 5.5%, with the market potentially reaching a valuation of $5.9 billion by 2029.

Alongside the financial growth, the number of active esports viewers is also on the rise. With the increasing popularity of video gaming beyond its traditional “nerd” culture, the number of active esports users is expected to reach 896 million by 2029, reflecting a significant shift toward broader mainstream acceptance.

Despite some challenges faced by the gaming sector since 2023, including reduced sponsorship deals and slower investments, the outlook for esports remains positive. The industry’s transition to mainstream popularity and its expanding global fan base will continue to drive growth, offering new opportunities for stakeholders involved in esports.

How We Ranked the Top Esports Companies

The global esports market has a lot of top performers. Several metrics can be used to rank these companies, which makes it difficult to choose the absolute best among them. Ultimately, we considered a combination of factors, including their financial value, competitive success, and overall popularity with the viewing audience.

Top 10 Esports Companies in 2025 [Ranked List]

TSM (Team SoloMid)

TSM is one of the most valuable esports organizations in the world, with an estimated valuation ranging between $410 million and $540 million. This valuation is bolstered by major sponsorship deals, its Blitz app, and Dyno bots, which contribute additional revenue streams.

The organization has experienced significant success across various titles, including a notable Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) Championship win in 2023 and a Rainbow Six Siege Invitational 2022 victory. TSM also became the first esports organization to surpass $1 million in earnings from Apex Legends tournaments. 

100 Thieves

Founded: 2017
Headquarters: Los Angeles, California
Major Games: Call of Duty, League of Legends, and Valorant 
Estimated Valuation: $460 million

100 Thieves (also known as 100T) was founded in 2017 with a focus on competitive video gaming as well as a lifestyle brand. The company currently runs four franchise teams competing in various sports. 100T won the Call of Duty World League for the first time in 2019. The company has also been active in the League of Legends Championship, having made multiple appearances in the championship finals before finally winning it in 2021.

Team Liquid

Founded: 2000
Headquarters: Utrecht, Netherlands
Major Games: Counter-Strike, League of Legends, Valorant, and Global Offensive 
Estimated Valuation: $440 million

Team Liquid is one of the oldest and biggest esports companies, with a multi-regional team that participates in professional gaming events across various continents. The company has teams in Europe, Asia, and North/South America, with a total of 150 players competing across 15 sports. Team Liquid holds the record for the highest number of tournaments entered by an esports team and has won over 75 professional esports events so far. 

Faze Clan

Founded: 2010
Headquarters: Los Angeles, California
Major Games: Call of Duty, EA Sports FC, Fortnite, and Counter-Strike 2
Estimated Valuation: $400 million

Faze Clan is one of the most financially successful esports teams in the world, as it is one of the few esports companies listed on NASDAQ. Beyond its participation in esports, this company also thrives as a media organization producing content such as comic books, movies, and game livestream series. As a gaming company, Faze Clan has won multiple championships and has achieved top 3 finishes in a number of tournaments in games like Counter-Strike, Call of Duty, and Halo. 

Cloud9

Founded: 2013
Headquarters: Santa Monica, California
Major Games: Valorant, League of Legends, and Global Offensive 
Estimated Valuation: $380 million

Cloud9 was founded in 2013 with a primary focus on League of Legends. However, the company has grown beyond this niche, participating actively in several tournaments. Cloud9 is the first North American esports company to secure a win in the Counter-Strike Major tournament. The company’s teams have also won up to 178 first-place finishes across different esports. This includes winning the 2018 Rocket League World Championship. 

G2

Founded: 2014
Base: Berlin, Germany
Major Games: Counter-Strike 2, Fortnite, League of Legends, Valorant, and Rocket League 
Estimated Valuation: $340 million

Berlin-based esports company G2 is one of the biggest gaming businesses in Europe. The organization’s teams have performed most impressively in League of Legends and Valorant, but also have a notable presence in other games as well. G2 has contributed significantly to the mainstream popularity of esports, with a record of over 100 million hours in streams and viewership across major platforms. 

Gen.G

Founded: 2017
Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
Major Games: League of Legends, Valorant, Overwatch, and PUBG 
Estimated Valuation: $250 million

Also known as KSV Sports, Generation Gaming (Gen.G) is a South Korean gaming company that competes mainly in the Asian market. The company’s teams have participated in multiple competitions, including the League of Champions Korea, which it won for the first time in 2022. The company has expanded its operations beyond Asia to other parts of the world, becoming the first esports company outside North America to be affiliated with the NBA 2K League.

T1

Founded: 2004
Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
Major Games: League of Legends, Super Smash Bros, Dota 2
Estimated Valuation: $220 million

Formerly known as SK Telecom T1, this South Korean esports is one of the most active in the industry, especially in League of Legends gaming. T1’s League of Legends team is one of the most popular in the world. The team has won multiple championship titles since 2013. T1 is also one of the biggest streamers in the industry, with up to 143.6 million streaming hours as of 2023. In addition to tournament participation, T1 also generates revenues through its esports Academy, apparel line, and esports gaming content. 

Fnatic

Founded: 2004 
Headquarters: London 
Major Games: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, VALORANT, League of Legends
Estimated Valuation: $260 million

Fnatic is a London-based professional esports organization that has been in business since 2004. The company’s earliest claim to fame was winning the League of Legends World Championship in 2011, becoming the first-ever esports team to win the league. The company has gone on to become one of the most successful in this niche of the industry. So far, Fnatic has won over 200 championships across 30 different games.

NRG

Founded: 2015
Headquarters: Los Angeles, California 
Major Games: Overwatch, Valorant, Apex Legends, Rocket League, and Call of Duty 
Estimated Revenue: $240 million

NRG is both an esports company and a successful content business. The company has a studio in Los Angeles, California, that streams gaming content targeting social gamers. In 2021, NRG was nominated as the Best Content Organization at the Streamers Awards. As an esports company, NRG fields teams across various games and has won a number of notable championships, including the Smite World Championship, Overwatch League Grand Finals, and multiple Rocket League championships. 

Most Valuable & Highest-Earning Esports Companies

The esports companies listed above can be ranked based on several factors. Below is a ranking of some of these top companies based on their valuation, tournament earnings, and sponsorship deals. Note that most of these data aren’t publicly available, which means our ranking may not be entirely accurate. 

By Estimated Valuation

• TSM: $540 million
• 100 Thieves: $460 million
• Team Liquid: $440 million
• FaZe Clan: $400 million
• Cloud9: $380 million
• G2 Esports: $340 million
• Fnatic: $260 million
• Gen.G: $250 million 
• NRG: $240 million 
• T1: $220 million

By Tournament Winnings

• Team Liquid
• Fnatic
• T1
• G2 Esports
• Cloud9
• TSM
• FaZe Clan
• NRG
• 100 Thieves
• Gen.G

By Sponsorship Deals

• FaZe Clan
• TSM
• 100 Thieves
• Team Liquid
• Cloud9
• G2 Esports
• Fnatic
• T1
• Gen.G
• NRG

Esports Companies to Watch: Startups & Rising Orgs

Businesses in the esports industry aren’t limited to teams that participate in tournaments. Other companies do business within the industry, providing all kinds of services to consumers from internet streaming services to data and statistics, ticket sales, esports betting platforms, and development companies. The following are a few of the top startups to watch out for in this industry. 

Pandascore 

PandaScore is a reliable historical (and real-time) data and statistics platform focused on the global esport market. This platform collects data from thousands of esports events across all major games like League of Legends, Call of Duty, Dota 2, EAFC, Red Dead Redemption, Valorant, and so on. PandaScore is an AI-enabled platform capable of generating extensive insights based on the data collected. The company offers APIs for both historical and in-game statistics for various use cases. 

Generation Esports 

Generation Esports is a full-service competitive gaming platform that specializes in organizing esports events specifically for high school, middle school, and other youth audiences. The startup’s software is currently being used by over 5,000 schools, making it one of the largest platforms for youth gamers in the world. 

Strafe 

Strafe is an online hub for esports fans to follow and watch live esports matches in real-time. This comprehensive platform offers schedules, live streams, score updates, news, and stats for the most popular esports games, including League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Call of Duty, and Valorant. In addition to staying updated on esports matches and results, Strafe also supports esports betting with the best esports bookmakers. 

Epulze 

Epulze is an esports production company and tournament platform that provides everyday gamers with the opportunity to compete to participate in tournaments for fun or join stake-to-play challenges for an opportunity to win money rewards while enjoying video gaming entertainment in an exciting environment. Amateur gamers can sign up on this platform to participate in all kinds of video game tournaments in sports like Dota 2, Valorant, CS:GO, and so on for cash prizes. 

Mobile Premier League 

Mobile Premier League (MPL) is one of the most popular mobile esports platforms in the world. Originally created as a puzzle game and casual games platform, Mobile Premier League now allows users to participate in both free and paid competitions in over 60 games covering various categories of fantasy sports and esports. 

CrustLab 

CrustLab is a software development company focused on iGaming. However, the company’s expertise also includes the development of custom solutions for the esports industry, including tournament software such as chess esports platforms, mini-games, lootboxes, case battles, as well as esports betting apps. 

Esports Stocks & Investment Opportunities

Esports is a billion-dollar industry, with revenue projected to reach up to $5.5 billion by 2029, giving an annual growth rate of 5.5%. There are plenty of ways to make money in the industry, without necessarily owning or running an esports company. One of the lesser-known options is to buy esports stocks for some of the biggest players in the industry. Some top esports stocks for the best esports companies to invest in include:

Nvidia Corp. (NVDA)

Nvidia is currently one of the most valuable companies in the world. The technology company makes graphics cards for different accelerated systems, including high-end gaming, artificial intelligence, accelerated computing, and so on. The publicly traded company has managed to maintain a healthy balance sheet, with stocks currently trading at around $102.12 USD.

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.

Take-Two Interactive Software is one of the biggest names in the video game publishing business. This company is behind some of the biggest video game franchises, including Grand Theft Auto, Borderlands, and Red Dead Redemption. Take-Two also collaborated with the NBA to create the NBA 2K League esports competition. The Take Two Interactive software stock is currently trading at $211.01 USD.

Unity Software Inc.

Unity Software runs a cross-platform development engine where users can build, operate, and monetize their own video games and other VR/AR-related content. Companies like Unity are positioned to play an important role in the evolution of the gaming industry into high-level gaming with advanced visual capabilities, which is why the company’s stocks show great prospects for the future. Unity Software Inc. (U) stocks are currently trading at $18.75 USD.

Major Sponsorships & Brand Collaborations

Just like the traditional sports industry, the gaming industry is a complex engine oiled by high-profile partnerships and brand collaboration between various international brands across different sectors. Here’s an overview of some high-profile partnerships between esports companies and global brands.  

Tech Brands (Logitech, Intel, Razer)

Video gaming is a tech-dependent domain, which is why technology brands are perfectly positioned to sponsor esports events and teams. Both industries also appeal to the same demographics of young tech-savvy individuals. Tech brand sponsorships in eGaming also involve professional players using the company’s gear or products, among other benefits. Companies like Logitech G actively sponsor esports teams, including Navi, G2, Fnatic, and Team Liquid. Intel, on the other hand, sponsors events like the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) and Tencent League of Legends Pro League. 

Lifestyle & Fashion (Nike, Gucci)

Lifestyle and fashion brands have always been associated with traditional sports. It makes perfect sense that these companies will also form partnerships with esports teams and events. Esports teams and their fans are often highly engaged with branded merchandise, creating opportunities for collaborations on jerseys, apparel lines, and accessories produced by top brands. Nike, for instance, sponsors major leagues like the League of Legends Pro League (LPL), South Korea’s T1 team, and several individual players. 

Media & Streaming Partners

Media platforms like Twitch and YouTube have contributed significantly to the mainstream acceptance and popularity of video gaming. Twitch, in particular, provided an opportunity for game players and teams to build active communities, build their brand, and monetize their content as they play. Streaming platforms are the primary hub for esports viewership, and the industry’s current popularity wouldn’t be possible without them.  

Conclusion

The global esports industry is young and rapidly evolving. In this new era, several organizations are already involved in running teams, publishing games, software development, and other aspects of the industry. Investors looking to get in and leverage the opportunities available within the industry can also get involved by building esports startups, partnering with existing companies, or buying profitable esports stocks. If you’re interested in software development, contact us today to learn more about the industry and set your plans in motion.