Sequoia-backed mobile gaming platform, Mobile Premier League acquires e-sports platform GamingMonk

Indian mobile gaming startup Mobile Premier League or MPL has recently acquired e-sports streaming platform GamingMonk as it looks to widen its e-sports portfolio. Mobile Premier League with more than 70 games on its platform is Asia’s biggest mobile gaming and e-sports platform. Besides Bengaluru and Pune in India, MPL also has its offices in Singapore and Jakarta.

MPL has not yet disclosed the financial terms of the deal.

GamingMonk a New Delhi-based startup hosts e-sports tournaments across various platforms including console, PC, and mobile phones. The company also serves as a launchpad for the gamers and publishers community, creating an integrated ecosystem across live streaming, content discovery, and e-sports.

The acquisition has come just two months after Mobile Premier League which is planning to expand in international markets had raised $95 million in funding from Moore Strategic Ventures and Composite Capital taking its valuation to $945 million, falling short of entering the unicorn category.

According to the company, this acquisition will help them to fast-track the launch of its new tournament IPs and develop a complete suite of broadcasting capabilities and e-sports. As part of this deal, MPL has absorbed the entire team of GamingMonk.

MPL has also launched ‘Esports Arena’, under this platform the company will host e-sports tournaments fortnightly in marquee games such as Chess, Pool, and WCC etc. All these tournaments will have free entry and will carry a cash prize of INR 10 lakh. The startup will also stream the games on its social media platforms for its viewers. According to the company, live stream views crossed 5 million in four such tournaments and more than 70,000 participants registered for these tournaments.

With this new venture, MPL aims to take e-sports to a wider audience in India, with gaming titles that can be played on a range of smartphones.

About MPL

Founded in 2018 by Sai Srinivas Kiran G and Shubham Malhotra, MPL is a skill-based e-sports platform where users can play mobile games and win real cash. The platform offers sports, adventure games, and an arcade that enable gaming enthusiasts to enjoy a game with their friends, win prizes, and showcase their talent.

The company is headquartered in Bengaluru and has more than 70 million users in India & 3.5 billion in Indonesia. MPL is backed by many investors including BEENEXT, Pegasus Tech Ventures, RTP Global, and Telstra Ventures among others.

About GamingMonk

Founded in 2014 by Abhay Sharma and Ashwin Haryani, GamingMonk offers an e-sports and competitive gaming tournament platform to its users. The company has a registered user base of more than 1.3 million users.

The platform allows its users to participate in tournaments across e-sports titles such as Counter Strike, FIFA, and Call of Duty. It also streams these tournaments across web platforms and enables users to engage with other gamers.