GRID

Esports platform GRID aims to improve esports data

Moritz Maurer GRID esports GmbH CEO & FOUNDER

RID esports launched in September 2018, partnering with FACEIT for the London CS:GO Major, showcasing and distributing both product and data across the tournament. The launch was a success, with GRID extracting and distributing data to multiple clients, whilst also launching their innovative “Live Insights” service – the harvesting of live data to create statistical insights in real time to drive viewer engagement across the tournament. G

Data in esports has always been a quandary, with the masses of data available weighed against its quality, in comparison to traditional sports, having yet to reach either it’s analytical or commercial potential. Moritz and his team, based out of Berlin, Germany, intend to disrupt this by making in-game data accessible and engaging. Within months GRID has already partnered with several Tier 1 rights holders in the space, whilst also extending their service from CS:GO to Dota2.

After kicking off with one of CSGO’s two flagship events, GRID partnered with RFRSH to collect and distribute data for BLAST Pro Copenhagen, Istanbul, and Lisbon. In addition, GRID partnered with Unikrn and their uniquely placed league based tournament, the United Masters League spanning 10 weeks with coverage of over 400 maps. For the UML, GRID developed a custom Map Draft tool that serves data to players and production simultaneously.

To close an incredibly exciting launch period through the back end of 2018, GRID landed the data rights to the WESG 2018/19 season hosted by Alisports. A massive multi-game tournament which spans across multiple months and features national competitions to participate in regional qualifiers culminated by Global Grand Finals in March 2019. GRID provided insights and a social stats service for CSGO in English and Mandarin.

GRID’s drive and understanding of the current data landscape has driven this early success. GRID specialises in technological innovation that bridges the gap between esports rights holders and the commercial sphere. Through the consolidation of data assets in all relevant esports titles, GRID is well positioned to serve as one-stop-shop for esports data solutions. Since the aggregation of content occurs on the proprietary platform, GRID solves challenges around consistency of data formats in a heavily fragmented space through the following pillars: Data Extraction Technology, Data Organisation & Externalisation, Data Processing, Modelling & Contextualisation, and Product Development & Design.

Strategically, the platform is positioned to function as conduit between data rights holders, e.g. game publishers and league operators, and commercial stakeholders in esports across media, sponsorship and betting verticals. The GRID refers to the underlying data framework and collection of technological components which it then services. These white-label products can be skinned and manipulated by the client to produce brand specific look and feel.

Moritz Maurer has more than seven years of experience working in the esports space, more specifically in esports better, building GGwins - the first UK-licenced betting operator. He sold the company to Genius sports in 2015, launching the industry’s first in-play betting product which is now recognized as a market-leading solution in the regulating sports betting industry. Having left his position as Head of Esports at Genius, Moritz is now embracing new challenges at the intersection of data and esports.

About GRID

GRID consists of a group of experienced individuals with a successful track record in esports and other technology verticals. Chris King, CTO, left his role at eBay in conjunction with the Major launch, to ensure product stability and flexibility throughout the tournament. King has a wealth of experience in software development and is gracefully combining it with his passion for esports. Tom Warburton, COO, joined from Genius Sports to reconcile with Maurer where both had met and worked together to launch the first B2C esports betting service at Genius. Warburton headed the delivery of the successful launch of Genius’ sportsbook platform before making the move from London to Berlin in November.

Both the Berlin and Polandbased development teams have grown rapidly in addition to producing the Rapid product set. Rapid products focus on accurate, reliable data serviced via numerous data visualisations and direct data integrations to the client. 2019 has seen the development and integration of their agnostic API across both CSGO and Dota2.

The modular, API-driven commercial approach is designed to seamlessly expand the service range as the data portfolio grows without requiring additional integrations. This is critical in enabling adaptation to the ever-changing nature of specific esports titles and the continuous evolution of the ecosystem. Maurer and his team have made big strides in little time, and are enjoying a data rich 2019.

Esports data is on the GRID.