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“We’re putting ₹30 crore on the line to build India’s first franchise‑style esports league,” Let’s Game Now CEO Rohan Mehta told reporters on Thursday.
Funding Details
Let’s Game Now announced a fresh ₹30 crore (≈ $360 K) injection from a mix of venture capital firms and Indian sports conglomerates. The round was led by Alpha Capital, with participation from SportsTech Ventures and the cricket‑backed RCB Group. Pure hype. The money will fund franchise fees, stadium upgrades, and a media rights push aimed at TV and streaming platforms.
League Vision
In my experience covering Indian esports, the lack of a stable league structure has been a major bottleneck. The company plans to launch six city‑based teams for titles like Valorant, PUBG Mobile, and FIFA 23 by Q2 2025. And the league will follow a franchised model similar to the LCS, meaning no promotion‑relegation chaos. But the schedule will run parallel to existing tournaments, so overlap could bite smaller orgs. So fans can expect weekly matches on a dedicated studio in Bengaluru, with a $2 million prize pool in year one.
Because the franchise fees start at ₹5 crore per slot, only well‑funded groups can join. That’s a brilliant strategy to attract corporate sponsors while keeping the competition elite. I watched the demo matches last weekend — the production quality was insane, and the meta felt fresh. The roster move shocked everyone — which made zero sense at the time — but it actually won them the split.
“This is the biggest financial commitment we’ve seen for an Indian esports league,” said former pro player Ankit “Mithun” Singh.
Let’s Game Now also hinted at a partnership with local telecoms for free data bundles during broadcasts. A massive upset. The league will be governed by an independent board, with player welfare clauses modeled after the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement.
The Bottom Line
- ₹30 crore funding secured.
- Six franchised city teams slated for launch in 2025.
- Games: Valorant, PUBG Mobile, FIFA 23.
- Franchise fee: ₹5 crore per slot.
- Prize pool: $2 million first season.
For more on how this could reshape the Indian esports scene, check out the Red Bull Wings Cup Kenya esports story and the Mave $34 M AI cybersecurity raise. Also see Dot Esports coverage for deeper analysis.
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