Press Start: Create your own Career in eSports
Every so often a user appears on the eSports subreddit, wondering where to begin in order to achieve a dream related to a career in eSports. These questions range from eSports journalism, to starting a competitive team, to becoming a professional player. Recently someone wanted to write articles about Super Smash Bros. tournaments, and was searching for advice about how they could pursue this as a career.
The answer, in my opinion, was a fairly simple one: start writing!
I have stressed before that growth in the eSports space is going to be rapid. Newzoo’s most recent report has raised expectations for the 2016 eSports economy to $463 million, representing 43% growth from 2015’s numbers. This increased revenue will also draw increased interest and funding. More funding will translate into investment in new ideas, new personalities, growth within existing companies, and the emergence of new aspects of the industry. The conclusion I am trying to lead you to is that things are going to be big, and they are going to happen quickly.
There is a very simple beauty surrounding the grassroots nature of the eSports scene. Take a moment to reflect on the recognizable names are in eSports today. People who are making a living in eSports outside of the various professional teams, like Duncan Shields and Bryce Blum, have done so because they successfully executed an idea and have been lifted up by the community. The grassroots nature of eSports has allowed people to carve out their own path in non-traditional manners. They have been able to build a reputation for themselves by applying their traditional skills to eSports in a way that was fresh. Their status has come from hard work, motivation, and the idea that they could fill an existing gap in the scene.
At this stage in the lifeline of eSports, the only necessary approval comes from the supporters who created the scene in the first place.
Words from the Wise
I am a big fan of Gary Vaynerchuk, and I have frequently heard him assert that this is a great time to become an entrepreneur. Right now, according to Vaynerchuk, “there is massive disruption, … the big companies are so fucking slow and stupid its almost unbearable, … and the cost of entry is easy.” I highly recommend watching Vaynerchuk’s keynote delivered at the University of Southern California in early 2015. The link is embedded below. Vaynerchuk is incredibly insightful, and I’d be shocked if a viewer was not inspired to go out and start hustling after watching him speak.
Vaynerchuck was talking about entrepreneurship in general, but for our purposes, let’s think about his comments within the confines of the eSports industry. Regardless of the massive disruption that may be occurring in the larger economy, there is certainly a level of disorder within the eSports environment as well. This is not caused by any major change or upheaval, but by the fact that eSports as an industry has never truly been settled. The business of eSports is the Wild West right now, in a manner comparable to the Internet in the 90s and social media throughout the past decade. Do not mistakenly believe that I am suggesting eSports has the same valuation potential as those industries, but also do not ignore the similarities between how these industries emerged.
eSports is still comprised of small businesses, but over the next five to ten years some of those small businesses will become the staples of the space. Already you can see certain teams emerging as more than just organizations competing in games. Look no further than Fnatic trying to leverage their brand to sell gaming peripherals. Further, the unsettled state of the industry means that there is still space for new companies to elbow their way into the scene and make a name for themselves. Facebook launched in 2004, Twitter did not appear until 2006, and Instagram did not receive its initial seed funding until 2010. Industries take time to take shape. Just because you were not the first does not mean you cannot improve upon the scene and grow to become a major player. What is needed is drive, a good idea, and vision.
What about Vaynerchuk’s second point? Are big companies really unbearably slow and stupid when it comes to entry into eSports? Think back to the grassroots nature of the industry mentioned earlier. eSports is not currently a space that revolves around mega-corporations. Big companies are not just slow and stupid within the space, they are virtually non-existent. That means that new ventures are not competing against billion-dollar institutions; they are simply competing against other new ventures. Sure, Coca-Cola may be expanding its presence, but the organization has thus far taken on the role of a sponsor as opposed to a competitor. The frontier is virtually void of massive organizations that can stifle competition or monopolize a product or service. What’s better than big money that’s slow and stupid? Big money that is not bothering you at all. Or better yet, big money that is looking to be thrown at the next great idea instead of coming up with it on their own.
Which brings us to our last concept: the cost of entry is low. I am sure many readers may be taken aback by this comment given how expensive some modern-day startups have proven to be, but Vaynerchuk clarifies what he means. After referencing the success that has occurred in the past ten years for many new technology and social media companies, Gary goes on to explain the allure of finding the next “kid in a hoodie with an idea”. This is a massive point that only becomes stronger when thinking about its relevance to eSports. Competitive video gaming is not a concept that is thoroughly understood by “older” generations. Millennials make up a significant portion of the eSports demographic, and they are a generation that companies are desperate to reach now that they have begun to outspend the Baby Boomers.
Older generations do not need to understand the intrigue around watching eSports, nor do they need to understand how the games are played or who the players are. All that is needed to grab their attention is a quick summary of the revenue potential. With major names such as Rick Fox and Mark Cuban beginning to involve themselves with the scene, the potential of eSports is no longer debated among venture capitalists and investors. Many of them do not have the time or desire to navigate the space themselves, but they will happily invest in an idea that makes good business sense while also grabbing themselves a piece of the growing eSports pie. What these investors need to see is professionalism. While an entrepreneur may be a “kid in a hoodie with an idea,” that idea needs to be backed with a solid business plan, a path to monetization, and a dedication to the vision.
So how can an eSports entrepreneur prove that they are passionate about their idea? Not all investment will be monetary. Time is perhaps the most valuable asset an entrepreneur has at their disposal, and also a component of Vaynerchuk’s observation about an easy cost of entry. Everyone has time, and everyone can choose how to spend theirs. If someone truly wants a career in eSports, their time will be spent building their business, not playing the games. No one will pay for an idea alone, because we all have them. What is missing from many proposals is proof of the ability to execute.
The stage is set for eSports to explode. Rapid growth is attracting investors to a scene that many do not fully grasp. The current massive valuations of social media and technology startups has led to a desire to invest in Millennials with big ideas. These same Millennials comprise a significant portion of the eSports fan base and want to get involved. The problem? They do not know where begin. Let’s conclude by bringing this article full circle. If you want to be an eSports entrepreneur, the first thing you need to do is start. After you begin, you can work to refine your approach, learn more about the industry and build upon your plans.
The key step is the first one. The only wasted time is time not used. There truly is no better moment to begin.
Ready?
Go.
