Multiplayer Entertainment Platform SharedPlay Raises £1.65M to Make Gaming Social

SharedPlay, the home for multiplayer entertainment experiences for the online gaming community, has raised £1.65M in a pre seed round. The proprietary tech platform is being built out by a world class tech team based in both London and Warsaw, Poland.   

With Forbes calling video games the “the new social media” and Netflix stating that it competes more with Fortnite than it does HBO, the broader tech and entertainment industries are quickly adapting to the opportunities around the next wave of gaming unicorns.

As a thought leader in both tech and gaming, Karolina Pelc, SharedPlay’s Founder and CEO, figured out early that a community connection between players is what creates engagement in video games. Having observed first-hand the changing needs of new demographics and definitive shifts in  consumer patterns within online gaming, Pelc has raised funding to build out SharedPlay as an interactive solution that revolutionises the market. With her new venture she has decided to transform solitary game sessions into multiplayer experiences, meaning that users will be able to join a social community, sharing their experiences digitally with other players.

And it’s the right game to be in. The numbers and scope of online gaming are considerable: with 2.2 billion active players globally, behaviours and expectations from all other game industries will largely be shaped by what they have experienced with video games. With  500,000 concurrent users at any given time playing Fortnite and Twitch scoring an average viewership at any given moment of 2 million people, the trend of playing and spectating together is growing in strength by day. Netflix  and BT Sports among many others have launched their “Watch Together” type of features and Pelc aims to find a solution for the industry of Igaming.

SharedPlay’s team is set to be on the frontier of redefining the sector.  With market insight suggesting that community dynamics significantly increase time spent and retention, the company will be combining a custom-built platform with streaming technology and AI.  The venture is ideally positioned to create an interactive, multiplayer proposition for operators and their players.

From a value add perspective and as an industry thought leader, Pelc states that “sustainability and responsible gaming are infused within SharedPlay’s DNA.” She says,

“We care about our players and want to create a safe gaming experience with higher and longer-lasting entertainment value.Building a diverse and inclusive team is also key, and we are excited to be working with some of the best women in the tech industry.”

LeoVentures, a investment subsidiary of a key market player who has invested £940,00 in the venture, is committed to the company’s growth and future prospects.

“We see a new behaviour in the gaming market as well as in many other digital consumer segments – it’s about sharing your fun and excitement with your friends, but also with others who have the same interest,” LeoVegas group chief executive Gustaf Hagman said. “The team we are investing in is world-class, and SharedPlay has a unique position.” 

SharedPlay CEO Pelc is also an active figure on Clubhouse and a podcast host for Igaming Next where she interviewed some of the most prominent industry executives including Rafi Askkenazi, the former CEO of The Stars Group (Pokerstars and more). She has been featured in Facebook’s #Shetalksgames campaign in 2019, voted Top 10 Most Influential Women in Gaming by IGB in 2018 and this year, she received a nomination for the Entrepreneur of Excellence award in the prestigious National Diversity Awards.
To learn more about SharedPlay and stay updated about the launch: https://www.sharedplay.io/