After previously appearing as a special guest moderator on CSE’s Esports in the Capital Markets program, Esports executive Ben Feferman returns to the Exchange for Entrepreneurs podcast to talk about the current state of the Esports industry.
After riding a wave of growth driven by public markets speculation prior to the pandemic, the industry finds itself re-calibrating after several shakeups in the industry. Ben highlights some the challenges that have faced the Esports category but also shares where he sees growth prospects in the sector and where it will ultimately find wins as business models mature in this still-nascent business.
Host: James Black Producer: James Black Guest: Ben Feferman
CSE’s James Black chats with Kevin Wright, President of GameSquare Esports Inc. (CSE:GSQ) to discuss the company’s unique focus on the agency vertical in esports and how they are bridging the gap between global brands and growing gaming communities.
Here’s an overview of what James and Kevin cover in this edition of the #HashtagFinance podcast:
0:00 – Introducing Kevin Wright and GameSquare
1:50 – The state of esports in 2021
4:55 – The role of physical infrastructure in esports
8:30 – The GameSquare business model – backed by Code Red and GCN
12:45 – Describing “brand safety”
13:55 – Why non-endemic brands are getting involved in esports 17:45 – Following the playbook from “traditional” professional sports
22:15 – Ninja and Apex Legends
23:30 – Kevin’s background in programming and banking
27:30 – The wrap
About GameSquare Esports
GameSquare Esports Inc. is an international gaming and esports company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The Company is seeking to acquire additional assets and entities serving the gaming and esports markets and, more broadly, in sports and entertainment.
The acquisition of Code Red Esports Ltd. (“Code Red”), an esports talent agency, provided an initial foothold in Europe through its UK operations. Code Red represents leading on-screen talent, players and influencers and works with leading global brands to develop influencer campaigns and esports marketing strategies. GameSquare’s second acquisition of Reciprocity Corp. provides access to Asia, Latin America and North America.
Its gaming and esports assets include: a CrossFire franchise in China that it owns with its partner LGD Gaming, a 40% interest in a League of Legends team that competes in Latin America, and, its wholly owned subsidiary corporation, GCN, a digital media company focusing on the gaming and esports audience based in Los Angeles, USA.
CSE’s Anil Mall chats with Darius Eghdami, President of FansUnite Entertainment Inc. (CSE:FANS) to discuss the company’s recent oversubscribed financing and plans for continued global growth supporting the regulated gaming industry with technological innovation.
Here’s an overview of what Anil and Darius cover in this edition of the #HashtagFinance podcast:
0:00 – Introducing FansUnite (CSE:FANS)
3:02 – Their recent financing and focus on growth
5:15 – The synergies between FansUnite and Askott Entertainment
7:25 – Competing with the giants in the US
9:00 – Plans for 2021 and the three pillars of the business
11:15 – Darius’ favourite game he is working on
12:35 – Bill C-13’s impact on betting in Canada
16:05 – Trends in the gambling sector
18:30 – A message from Darius
About FansUnite Entertainment Inc.
FansUnite is a Sports and Entertainment company, focusing on technology related to regulated and lawful online sports betting and other related products. Our mission is to be the iGaming industry leader by providing our partners and players the industry’s most versatile and vertically integrated platforms with a portfolio of unique products and a focus on esports, sports betting, casino and the next generation of bettors.
The CSE had an extraordinary time at the Extraordinary Future conference on September 22nd and 23rd in Vancouver. We are proud to have been a Gold sponsor of this Cambridge House International event, gaining insights into projects and ideas at the forefront of Canadian technological innovation.
The question at the heart of the Extraordinary Future Conference has always been “what’s next?” And with the third iteration of the conference now complete, it’s exciting to reflect upon what emerged from bringing together a community of innovators, investors, and intellects to spark conversations about the next big thing.
At the Exchange for Entrepreneurs, we’ve had the unique advantage of seeing how technology in the hands of capable, motivated, growth-seeking innovators can rapidly scale or disrupt existing industies, or create entirely new ones. This was evident at XFuture 2019, as individuals covered groundbreaking topics such as cannabis technology, eSports, biohacking, psilocybin, sustainability, augmented reality (AR), and much more. It was fantastic to learn more about how these future-focused entrepreneurs are harnessing the incredible, transformative power of technology to create extraordinary futures.
At the event, we also had the opportunity to sit down with many leaders at the helm of CSE-listed companies, and to find out what’s on the horizon for these entrepreneurs. To watch these exclusive interviews, visit the CSE TV channel on YouTube here.
For even more future-focused content, we encourage you to explore the recently-released Technology Issue of Public Entrepreneur Magazine. In the spirit of XFuture, this edition moves the magazine experience into a whole new digital medium by enabling readers to access dynamic featured content on their smartphones through the power of augmented reality (AR) technology. Read it here.
Thank you to everyone who joined us, and we can’t wait to see what’s next at Extraordinary Future 2020!
Could today’s trash be the solution to ending global poverty? Can centennial lifespans become the norm? Will the substances considered criminal today be able to treat and resolve health concerns we see on the rise? The 2019 Extraordinary Future Conference offers attendees the chance to explore the ideas that are shaping the world of tomorrow, and to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to entrepreneurial innovation.
Now in its third year, the Canadian Securities Exchange is proud to once again sponsor the Extraordinary Future conference, which takes place in Vancouver on September 22nd and 23rd. Hosted by Cambridge House International, and featuring talks from thought leaders across a wide spectrum of industries in addition to a diverse lineup of exhibitors, XFuture will help distil the efforts of innovative imaginations and creative changemakers into a cohesive vision of the future.
With over 100 leading public and private technology companies and startups and more than 2,500 attendees expected, this event will be an amazing chance to meet entrepreneurs, business leaders, and investors. And a quick look back at XFuture 2018 proves that there are a lot of reasons to get extraordinarily excited about this year’s event.
Highlights from Extraordinary Future 2018
The speakers at Extraordinary Future 2018 took on some of the most daring topics of the day, including an exploration of the fine line between illegal substances and medical marvels, the explosive growth of eSports, and trailblazing distributed ledger technology that has the potential to evolve the fundamentals of investing.
Richard Carleton presenting on investment and tokenized securities
In a controversial presentation on psychedelics, Hamilton Morris explained the potential applications of psilocybin. Leading a panel discussion on an equally hot topic, Genevieve Roch-Decter of Grit Capital guided a group of entrepreneurs in deconstructing one of the fastest-growing and most talked about market segments: eSports. Exemplifying the entrepreneurial, forward-looking spirit of the conference, CSE CEO Richard Carleton provided insights into the future of finance via tokenized securities, and this was just the beginning of a long list of insightful, eye-opening sessions that happened last year.
Life on the bleeding edge of innovation is familiar territory for the Exchange for Entrepreneurs. As with previous shows, this year’s conference will spark discussions about the changes that will revolutionize technology, society, and the economy. From biohacking, to psychedelics to sustainability, here’s a preview of some of the fascinating topics and personalities at this year’s show.
Future-Forward Speakers
Fitness and health expert, and host of his own podcast, Ben Greenfield will explore the topic of well-being in a high-tech world in his presentation on “The Future of Health: Biohacking and Beyond.” The presentation will explore forward-thinking concepts related to boosting mental and physical performance and extending life.
American ethnopharmacologist, research pharmacognosist, lecturer and author, Dennis McKenna will discuss “From the Plant Medicine Frontier – How Psychedelics like Psilocybin Could Upturn the Mental Health Industry.” This presentation will look into new ways of applying known psychoactive substances that have been controlled, instead of being utilized in the pharmaceutical industry.
Known for the innovative and revolutionary Plastic Bank solution that tackles poverty and ocean pollution simultaneously, David Katz is a dynamic, inspirational speaker described by many as “the best in the sustainability industry.” In an unprecedented move of ingenuity, Katz connected both the need of clean oceans and economic support in impoverished areas into a business that now produces recycled plastic pellets for commercial use. Katz ranks fourth in The World’s Top 100 Compassionate Business Leaders according to Salt Magazine for his entrepreneurial and inventive undertakings, and will be discussing sustainability and innovation in his presentation at the conference.
Looking into the future and constructing his vision of it through active entrepreneurship, Gerard Barron has a record of building globally-focused companies in technology, media and sustainable resource development. As the Chairman and CEO of DeepGreen Metals Inc., Barron is focused on making less-environmentally-disruptive nodule-derived base metals the norm for future automotive construction.
Entrepreneurial Exhibitors
Photo via Facebook: @cambridgehouseconferences
A glimpse of tomorrow can also be caught on the conference floor. With over 50 exhibitors displaying ideas, and products on the leading edge of innovation, this is a great opportunity to see what is driving growth in industries like canntech, eSports, agriculture, digital advertising, and much more. In addition to sponsoring and speaking at this year’s show, the CSE will also be visible on the show floor. Not only will the CSE have its own booth but several CSE-listed firms will also be exhibiting, including BevCanna Enterprises, Lexaria, Rubicon Organics and Bee Vectoring Technology.
New Edition of the Public Entrepreneur Magazine
Another reason to look forward to this year’s show will be the launch of the special Extraordinary Future issue of the CSE’s magazine, Public Entrepreneur. The theme of this issue is also forward-looking and extends the conversation about disruption and innovation by profiling entrepreneurs who are actively doing both in their respective industries. There is also an extra special reason to pick up this next issue as it will feature access to exclusive and groundbreaking content. The #XF2019 edition of Public Entrepreneur magazine will provide a new dimension on digital storytelling that will bring the exciting work of trailblazing entrepreneurs into a whole new light. Be sure to register here to receive your copy when it goes live or pick up an exclusive physical copy at the show itself.
See You in the Future!
Step into the future by joining the CSE, Cambridge House and an exceptional lineup of speakers and entrepreneurs at XFuture 2019. This show offers a unique opportunity to access the ideas, trends and technological innovations that have the potential to shape our future into something extraordinary.
Click here to register to attend the 2019 Extraordinary Future Conference today.
