Fantasy Football Startups To Look Out For In 2021

Fantasy sports is one of the growing sectors in the Indian gaming market. Boosted by the abundance of smartphones and data internet, it has seen a tremendous uptick in popularity. Platforms like Dream11, KhelPlay,

MyTeam11 have seen an increase in user base over the years with Dream11 being at the top. Just two years back, India saw the fantasy sports market boom as many startups began cropping up one after the other. However, during the 2020 pandemic lockdown many of these startups have either shut down or become inactive. Even so, the industry has continued to grow and there are many startups that players can look out for in the new year.

While a majority of Indian fantasy sport players are invested in cricket, fantasy football is another sport that has begun to see a

WORDS BY DONNA AMO

rising fanbase in the country. Football is popular in states like Goa, Kerala, West Bengal, and the sister states in north eastern India. With the launch of Indian Super League (ISL), the football scene in the country has grown significantly. Many fantasy sports start ups are now including this sport and many others to their platforms. Here are some start ups to watch out for in the new year.

LivePools

LivePools is an Indian company with its headquarters in Mumbai. This company is one of the fastest growing startups in fantasy sports. It was launched in 2017 by Gaurav and Vickram Assomull but only went live in 2018. Both the founders have a passion for sports and entrepreneurship. Within just two and a half years, the company reported a user base of more than a million and has continued to grow ever since. Powering through the pandemic, it is one among the few startups that have managed to survive 2020 and pull through. Currently, the company offers games like cricket, football, and kabaddi, but users can expect more sports like basketball and rummy to be added in the coming months. Offering their users exciting prizes and rewards, LivePools is one start-up every fantasy

sports fan must look out for.

My11Circle

Launched in January 2019 by PlayGames 24x7, My11Circle is one of the more recent fantasy platforms in the country. Founded by Trivikraman Thampy and Bhavin Pandya, the fantasy

startup is on its way to becoming one of the leading brands in the sector. While My11Circle predominantly offer its users cricket, they have also added football to their growing list of sports. Due to its relatively new status, the space is welcoming more players who are looking for less competition. Fewer competitions would mean more rewards for the players. With the tagline ‘Play With Champions,’ My11Circle challenges its users to use their analytical skills to come out on top of every game.

For fantasy football fanatics, My11Circle is one of the best platforms to get their fantasy fix. With its smooth gameplay and tutorials for those who are just getting started, My11Circle is easily one of the best start-ups fans simply can’t get enough of.

Twelfth Man

Twelfth Man is the first fantasy sports platform solely dedicated to football. Launched in April 2020, the platform is owned by NxGn Interactive and has Indian pro footballer Sunil Chhetri as its brand ambassador. The name of the fantasy football platform comes from the term given to supporters of football clubs who are called the twelfth man due to their enthusiasm and dedication for the club. Being India’s first ‘only football’ fantasy sports platform has set ‘Twelfth Man’ apart from its competitors.

It offers users a range of contests like Live and Offline Trivia, H2H League, DFS, and many more. Users can also expect amazing in-app and cash rewards from this platform. The app is available on Android and iOS in freemium mode. Since its launch in April, Twelfth Man has already amassed a user base of over 600,000 players and is steadily growing.

With so many new startups to watch out for in the coming year, the fantasy sports industry has an exciting year ahead. Fans of fantasy football, cricket, etc., will have a lot to look forward to in 2021.