Esports specialist Veloce lands broadcast big-hitter as investor and chairman

A London start-up which represents esports gamers and streams races online has snared a former boss of Liberty Global as an investor and its first chairman.

Maida Vale-based Veloce Esports has landed Eric Tveter, who ran the cable giant’s eastern Europe arm, as part of an early-stage funding round before a wider drive. The size of his stake was not disclosed.

Launched last year, Veloce has three strands to its business – acting as an agent to esports stars; hosting streams of esports races and adding commentary, and managing the organisation of esports teams for brands. Veloce handles esports operations for F1’s Alfa Romeo Racing and former world champion Fernando Alonso’s team FA Racing.

Veloce has decided to focus on specialising in racing games, over other areas including Fortnite, the mega-hit which currently dominates the industry.

Veloce was founded by Formula E Champion and former-F1 driver Jean-Eric Vergne alongside racing drivers Rupert Svendsen-Cook and Jack Clarke, and sports agent Jamie MacLaurin.

Tveter said: “My investment into Veloce underscores the strong operating and strategic fundamentals Veloce has demonstrated in forging an enviable and focused market position for growth and value creation in the exploding $1.1 billion esports arena. Veloce’s management team have proven themselves to be capable, agile, and insightful.