Following a $1.5m (GBP1.13m) seed round led by esports venture capital fund BITKRAFT Ventures, female-led gaming lifestyle company Queens Gaming Collective (QGC) has officially announced its launch.
Poised to help “level the playing field” in a male-dominated industry, the organisation will provide female competitors, content creators, and streamers with the tools they need to build sustainable careers in gaming and esports.
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Other investors in the seed round included the likes of Maker Studios, Amazon, TikTok, Twitch, and Sugarfina. According to the release, the firms will be looking to provide its expertise in order to help establish opportunities within the industry for women. Moreover, NBA All-Star Baron Davis has been revealed as an ambassador for Queens as has Karen Civil. They are the first to join what has been called the Queens Court, an ambassador network ‘committed to introducing the collective to broader audiences across their areas of expertise’.
Other individuals involved include Rosie O’Neill, Sugarfina co-founder, Amy Finnerty, former MTV, Sony Music, and Maker Studios executive), and Dre Hayes, President of Kappa USA.
Alisa Jacobs, co-Founder and CEO of Queens Gaming Collective, spoke on the launch: “Queens is changing the game. Gaming is a lifestyle, and Queens is a global movement built for and led by diverse women dedicated to radical representation, economic inclusion, and collaboration over competition. Beyond a lifestyle brand, we’re building a community that celebrates the successes and advancement of our creators.”
Partner and Head of Talent Taylor Heitzig-Rhodes has also joined Queens from talent agency Evolved. As an agent, Heitzig-Rhodes worked closely with teams, players, influencers, and brands including Chica, Alexandra Botez, and Athena. Now she’s identifying, signing, and managing rising talent for the Queens.
At launch, a total of 18 content creators, players, and streamers were hand-picked to represent the organisation. The list includes 2017 WNBA champion Alexis Jones, gamer and recording artist bunnymightgameeu, cosplayer and content creator Kiera Please, and DJs Coco and Breezy, influencer Ava.gg, and singer Cray among others.
It has also been confirmed that gaming peripherals manufacturer Razer will be the official peripheral and equipment partner of Queens.
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Queens has been confirmed to make a public appearance online at ESI Digital Winter, on November 18th, with the company set to discuss the importance of women empowerment in the industry, whilst also outlining the firm’s goals and ambitions.
Ahead of the event, Jacobs told Esports Insider: “We’re proud to introduce Queens to the community and partner further with like-minded brands and diverse talent to help change the culture of gaming and empower the women within it.”
Jacobs will be joined by bunnymightgameeu and Kiera Please for the “Queens Assemble: This is What Empowerment Looks Like” panel moderated by The Story Mob Co-Founder Nicola Piggot, on the first day of ESI Digital Winter tomorrow 18th November. You can see the agenda here and find out more about how to access the event here.
Regarding the launch of the company, Justin J. Giangrande, co-Founder and Chairman of Queens Gaming Collective, added: “Queens is driving innovation and empowerment for women worldwide. The Queens leadership team brings incomparable expertise in gaming and entertainment to empower women with long-overdue resources, access, and opportunities to a previously neglected group that makes up nearly half of the total market.”
Esports Insider says: The launch of Queens has the potential to improve diversity in what is a male-dominated industry. Armed with solid financial backing and some extremely talented women behind it, the organisation has built itself strong foundations on which to grow and work towards the goal of levelling the playing field.