FTBpro, the largest fan-generated media platform in online football, has closed a USD18m investment, bringing its total funding since inception to USD24m.
The company plans to use proceeds to further boost its global expansion, enhance strategic partnerships and enrich its mobile and video product offerings.
The fundraising round involved FTBpro’s existing investors, Battery Ventures and Gemini Israel Ventures, as well as new investment from London-based Dawn Capital and a major Asia-based media investor.
FTBpro, founded in 2011, is headquartered in London with offices in Tel Aviv. Following the investment round, the company will open offices in South East Asia and launch its platform across the region.
FTBpro serves over 100 million page views and millions of active users every month across web, mobile and social networks, growing by 50 per cent on a quarterly basis. The company’s media platform is driven by thousands of regular contributors providing hundreds of daily articles in seven different languages.
FTBpro has already secured commercial deals in England with the League Managers’ Association (the LMA), as well as the Professional Footballers’ Association (the PFA). Last year FTBpro secured the naming rights for the PFA Fan Player of the Month and Year Awards, and has been hosting the vote throughout the 2013/14 season.
Founder and CEO Asaf Peled says: “We are excited to have secured this new investment which will enable us to continue to enhance our offering and expand our global presence. We are proud to be considered the only truly global media platform in online football, and this investment, coupled with the planned expansion into new markets, will further cement that position.”
