Nations Ventures, the VC fund majority-owned by the world’s largest esportswear company, We Are Nations, has invested in social platform Smerf. 

Smerf is a startup social platform aimed at gamers, and the undisclosed investment will be used to enhance its technological capabilities and add support for more games – Smerf is initially supporting Modern Warfare, CS:GO, and League of Legends.

Discussing the investment CEO of We Are Nations, Patrick Mahoney, said:

“We Are Nations started as and continues to operate as a merchandise company, and the actual sale of merchandise is a reflection of the community and the story that the merchandise represents. Investing in Smerf – a company that is helping create these communities – is exactly where we want the fund to operate.”

While Founder and CEO of Smerf, Zachary DeFord, added:

“We are so excited to receive our first investment from Nations Ventures. They are the perfect fit for us. Beyond Dan Cardell and the rest of the team having deep relationships in the esports space, we all share the same vision: to change the landscape of multiplayer gaming by forming the close-knit and respectful communities that we’ve all wanted.”

Nations Ventures launched in May, as a fund for early-stage companies not competing with We Are Nations’ merchandising and retail business. Earlier this month, Nations Ventures launched brand activation company Nations Leap, to provide direct engagement into the esports and gaming entertainment space. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Will Smerf be able to offer something compelling enough to thrive in the crowded social space? There’s no denying that there’s a huge gaming and esports market out there, but all social platforms face the daunting challenge of reaching the critical mass needed to evolve from a curiosity to a sustainable community. Getting the backing of Nations Ventures will undoubtedly boost its chances, but it’s still going to be a challenge. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

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