William Hill crowns BetGame as WHLabs Accelerator winner
eSports start-up scooped ?150,000 of investment from William Hill at last night's event in Shoreditch
William Hill last night crowned eSports firm BetGame as the winner of its first start-up accelerator programme, receiving ?150,000 of investment from the operator.
The start-up was presented with the award by the jockey legend Sir AP McCoy at the event in Shoreditch, receiving praise from the judges for its “unique gaming innovation” and the experience it brought to gamers.
BetGame’s IP overlays a betting app on to popular console and PC games such as FIFA and enables players to bet on the outcome of the game with their friends and other gamers.
Doug Ward of BetGame said he was delighted to win the backing of William Hill as the company prepares to officially launch the product during Q1 2016 for FIFA 2016.
“Our product is looking to heighten gaming’s competitive element but with a fun and simple way to prove yourself against your friends,” Ward said.
“It was fantastic that the William Hill team fully embraced this vision and helped develop our ideas over the course of the accelerator programme,” he added.
BetGame saw off fierce competition on the night from four other finalists which had all participated in a 12-week programme with the operator’s WHLabs in London and Tel Aviv office.
“The programme has been very rewarding and provided a great opportunity to work with engaged, enthusiastic and innovative start-ups,” Crispin Nieboer, interim MD of William Hill Online, said.
“BetGame is a worthy winner of our first accelerator programme, providing a unique opportunity to disrupt the booming eSports market, and we are looking forward to working together,” Nieboer added.
The start-up accelerator programme was set up last year in partnership with innovation consultancy company LMarks and saw over 250 applications from gaming start-ups.