The Drop 08.09.2023
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The Drop 08.09.2023
The hottest news from sports, gaming, media, web3, and fitness.
More M&A in gaming sector. ESPN is the news in sports betting. BTG Network companies receive accolades. Capital is flowing into video gaming and media, and two star athletes invest in sports teams.
Top Stories
Mergers Continue in Gaming, Fitness, and Media
🤝🏻 Gamified learning platform Kahoot bought in $1.7Bn deal. Playtika purchases mobile phone gamer Youda Games for $165MM. Tencent buys Techland gaming studio. Yuga Labs acquires Roar Studios. Human Powered Health adds Humango for athlete training. Podcast company Realm grows with Pinna and Listick & Vinyl additions.
ESPN, Penn Gaming, and Barstool Sports
🏈 ESPN has cut a massive 10-year deal with Penn Gaming to launch ESPN Bet. As a result, Penn is giving Barstool Sports back to their founder Dave Portnoy in exchange for a noncompete and a 50% interest in a future sale.
More VC Funds for Sports and Gaming
💸 A16Z commits $75MM to their Speedrun gaming accelerator program. Titletown Tech, a partnership between the GB Packers and Microsoft, announced a second fund with $70MM. Valhalla Ventures adds $66MM for deeptech and gaming.
Beyond The Game Portfolio Companies in the News
👏🏼 Eight Sleep releases sleep research study, and their CEO joins the Pomp Pod. Artie launches games on Threads app. Future on SI’s list of best habit trackers, and Oura on CNET’s list of best sleep trackers.
Tech news, capital raises, and more
🧊 Hyperice finds $100MM growth capital read
🎮 Inworld AI announces $50MM funding for gaming NPCs details
📺 Veloce Media adds $50MM for web3 gaming and media here
🏎️ Drive to Survive producer grabs $30MM more
💰 Super7 closes $25MM funding for collectibles read
⚒️ Game dev tool startup Embrace nets $20MM details
🕹️ GGWP raises $10MM for video game moderation more
👾 SKYPLAY adds $10MM for web3 gaming here
🛌🏼 Ozlo Sleep comes out of stealth with $10MM funding details
🎙️ My newsletter on the best biz and tech podcasts read
Athletes in the News
🏀 D Wade invests in WNBA’s Chicago Sky read
🛥️ Tom Brady buys into an electric boat racing team read
Portfolio Company Job Postings
Eight Sleep (Fitness): Engineer and Design roles here
Oura (Fitness): Engineer and Product roles here
Artie (Gaming): Product role here