By: Annie Pei
The Video Game Entertainment and New Network, or VENN, has raised $17 million in seed round funding to launch a network that will focus on gaming and esports entertainment.
VENN will launch in 2020 with two live studios, one in New York and one in Los Angeles. It will broadcast content on streaming platforms including Twitch and YouTube, which have become the most popular platforms for video game streaming, as well as on social media platforms. The network also has target distribution deals with all “skinny bundles,” including Pluto TV, YouTube TV and Sling, to stream programming.
Founders Ariel Horn and Ben Kusin created VENN to fill in the gaps in esports and gaming content that they believe came about as publishers focused on keeping up with industry demands.