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[Translation from English to Japanese ] Ashton Kutcher invests in esports startup Unikrn as it launches a global plat...
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Ashton Kutcher invests in esports startup Unikrn as it launches a global platform
First, billionaire investor and Shark Tank television celebrity Mark Cuban invested in Unikrn. Now Ashton Kutcher and Guy Oseary are investing in the esports gaming startup through their Sound Ventures investment firm. Unikrn is also launching its global platform today.
Following on a $7 million investment that included Cuban, the deal is another sign that esports is maturing and that entrepreneurs are figuring out ways to make money from the tens of millions of people who regularly watch esports matches for fun. Seattle-based Unikrn has created a website where you can bet on matches with your favorite esports athletes in games such as League of Legends, Counter-Strike Global Offensive, Dota 2, and others.
Rahul Sood founded the company in September with Karl Flores, another gaming entrepreneur. He’s a former Microsoft executive and founder of gaming PC maker Voodoo PC.
The previous investment round was led by Jonathan Teo and Justin Caldbeck of Binary Capital, who are known for early investing in companies such as Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, Whisper, and Taskrabbit. Besides Cuban, other investors include Advancit Capital, Freelands Group, 500 Startups, Indicator Ventures, and Tabcorp.
To date, Unikrn has raised $10 million in its short life. But the company is moving fast to take advantage of the growth of esports. According to ESPN, 27 million people tuned in to watch the 2014 finals of the League of Legends World Championship. That is more than watched the final game of the World Series (23.5 million) or the NBA Finals (18 million). The global audience on Twitch is more than 100 million monthly active users.
The company launched its Unikrn Arena Global around the world. It’s a virtual arena where users can earn “Unikoins” by participating in various activities and then use the virtual currency to increase their chances of winning prizes. Unikrn is also launching its Unikrn Vault companion app, which will be available soon on Android and iOS.
Unikrn works on either mobile or desktop, and it operates only in jurisdictions where betting on esports is legal.
Sood was recently general manager of Microsoft Ventures, but he quit that job to start Unikrn with Flores, the former CEO of online gaming advertising firm Pinion.
“I’ve had the pleasure of investing and being involved in a number of outstanding startups, and Unikrn stood out because they are completely changing how people engage with esports,” said Kutcher in a statement. “Esports are mainstreaming, and Unikrn Arena provides fans with an additional level of excitement not found elsewhere.”
Kutcher and Oseary are active tech investors, and they have taken stakes in Airbnb, Foursquare, Skype, SoundCloud, Square, Zenefits, and Uber.
“I’m thrilled to be launching Unikrn Arena to the world, and releasing the Unikrn Vault App to allow our users to generate Unikoins is something we’re all really excited about,” said Rahul Sood, CEO Unikrn, in a statement. “At the same time, bringing Ashton Kutcher and Guy Oseary on was a big deal for me. They are well known for picking winning consumer technology companies and are incredibly connected. We’re looking forward to working with their team to help make Unikrn Arena a big success.”
Unikrn is now offering daily “quests” that provide the chance to earn Unikoins, which can be used to win prizes from companies such as: Alienware, Caseking, Funko, Gunnar, HP, HyperX, and Logitech. Types of quests include “Betting Quests,” which reward users for placing bets on Unikrn; “Social Quests,” which reward users for engaging with their friends and/or social networks; and “Trivia Questions,” where users can answer questions about the games being played on Unikrn.
First, billionaire investor and Shark Tank television celebrity Mark Cuban invested in Unikrn. Now Ashton Kutcher and Guy Oseary are investing in the esports gaming startup through their Sound Ventures investment firm. Unikrn is also launching its global platform today.
Following on a $7 million investment that included Cuban, the deal is another sign that esports is maturing and that entrepreneurs are figuring out ways to make money from the tens of millions of people who regularly watch esports matches for fun. Seattle-based Unikrn has created a website where you can bet on matches with your favorite esports athletes in games such as League of Legends, Counter-Strike Global Offensive, Dota 2, and others.
Rahul Sood founded the company in September with Karl Flores, another gaming entrepreneur. He’s a former Microsoft executive and founder of gaming PC maker Voodoo PC.
The previous investment round was led by Jonathan Teo and Justin Caldbeck of Binary Capital, who are known for early investing in companies such as Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, Whisper, and Taskrabbit. Besides Cuban, other investors include Advancit Capital, Freelands Group, 500 Startups, Indicator Ventures, and Tabcorp.
To date, Unikrn has raised $10 million in its short life. But the company is moving fast to take advantage of the growth of esports. According to ESPN, 27 million people tuned in to watch the 2014 finals of the League of Legends World Championship. That is more than watched the final game of the World Series (23.5 million) or the NBA Finals (18 million). The global audience on Twitch is more than 100 million monthly active users.
The company launched its Unikrn Arena Global around the world. It’s a virtual arena where users can earn “Unikoins” by participating in various activities and then use the virtual currency to increase their chances of winning prizes. Unikrn is also launching its Unikrn Vault companion app, which will be available soon on Android and iOS.
Unikrn works on either mobile or desktop, and it operates only in jurisdictions where betting on esports is legal.
Sood was recently general manager of Microsoft Ventures, but he quit that job to start Unikrn with Flores, the former CEO of online gaming advertising firm Pinion.
“I’ve had the pleasure of investing and being involved in a number of outstanding startups, and Unikrn stood out because they are completely changing how people engage with esports,” said Kutcher in a statement. “Esports are mainstreaming, and Unikrn Arena provides fans with an additional level of excitement not found elsewhere.”
Kutcher and Oseary are active tech investors, and they have taken stakes in Airbnb, Foursquare, Skype, SoundCloud, Square, Zenefits, and Uber.
“I’m thrilled to be launching Unikrn Arena to the world, and releasing the Unikrn Vault App to allow our users to generate Unikoins is something we’re all really excited about,” said Rahul Sood, CEO Unikrn, in a statement. “At the same time, bringing Ashton Kutcher and Guy Oseary on was a big deal for me. They are well known for picking winning consumer technology companies and are incredibly connected. We’re looking forward to working with their team to help make Unikrn Arena a big success.”
Unikrn is now offering daily “quests” that provide the chance to earn Unikoins, which can be used to win prizes from companies such as: Alienware, Caseking, Funko, Gunnar, HP, HyperX, and Logitech. Types of quests include “Betting Quests,” which reward users for placing bets on Unikrn; “Social Quests,” which reward users for engaging with their friends and/or social networks; and “Trivia Questions,” where users can answer questions about the games being played on Unikrn.
Ashton Kutcher氏はグローバルプラットフォームをローンチするともにeスポーツのスタートアップUnikrnに投資
まず、億万長者の投資家でShark Tankテレビの有名人であるMark Cuban氏はUnikrnに投資した。そしてAshton Kutcher氏と Guy Oseary氏はSound Ventures投資企業を通じてeスポーツのゲーミングスタートアップに投資した。Unikrnは本日、グローバルなプラットフォームもローンチしている。
まず、億万長者の投資家でShark Tankテレビの有名人であるMark Cuban氏はUnikrnに投資した。そしてAshton Kutcher氏と Guy Oseary氏はSound Ventures投資企業を通じてeスポーツのゲーミングスタートアップに投資した。Unikrnは本日、グローバルなプラットフォームもローンチしている。
Cubanを含め700万米ドルの投資に続く今回の取引には、eスポーツが成熟しつつあり、何千万もの人が娯楽でeスポーツを定期的に観戦するところから稼ぐ方法を起業家が見つけようとしているという兆候が表れている。シアトルを拠点とするUnikrnはウェブサイトを設けているが、ここではLeague of Legends、Counter-Strike Global Offensive、Dota 2などのゲームでお気に入りのeスポーツ選手を使って試合の賭けをすることもできる。
Rahul Sood氏はKarl Flores氏という別のゲーミング起業家とともに9月にこの会社を設立した。彼は元Microsoft役員でゲーミングPCメーカーのVoodoo PC設立者でもある。
前回の投資ラウンドはJonathan Teo氏とJustin Caldbeck氏（Binary Capital）によって主導された。両者はTwitter、Snapchat、Instagram、Whisper、Taskrabbitなどに初期の投資をしたことで知られる。Cuban氏以外の投資家にはAdvancit Capital、Freelands Group、500 Startups、Indicator Ventures、Tabcorpなどがある。
前回の投資ラウンドはJonathan Teo氏とJustin Caldbeck氏（Binary Capital）によって主導された。両者はTwitter、Snapchat、Instagram、Whisper、Taskrabbitなどに初期の投資をしたことで知られる。Cuban氏以外の投資家にはAdvancit Capital、Freelands Group、500 Startups、Indicator Ventures、Tabcorpなどがある。
これまでにUnikrnはごく短期間で1,000万米ドルを調達した。しかし同社はeスポーツの成長機会を最大限生かそうと前進を続けている。ESPNによると、League of Legendsワールドカップチャンピョンシップの2014年決勝戦を視聴した人は2,700万人にのぼるという。これはワールドシリーズ（2,350万人）やNBAファイナル（1,800万人）の視聴者を上回る。Twitchの視聴者は世界で1億の月間アクティブユーザを数える。
同社は世界でUnikrn Arena Globalをローンチした。これはバーチャルなアリーナであり、ユーザは様々なアクティビティに参加して「ユニコイン」を稼ぎ、このバーチャル通貨を使って賞を獲得するチャンスを増やせる。UnikrnはUnikrn Vaultコンパニオンアプリもローンチしており、 まもなくAndroidとiOSで利用できる。
Unikrnはモバイルとデスクトップパソコンで動作する。運営できるのはeスポーツの賭けが合法である地域のみである。
Sood氏は最近までMicrosoft Venturesのジェネラルマネージャーであったが、UnikrnをFlores氏（オンラインゲーミング広告企業Pinionの前CEO）と一緒に始めるために退職した。
Unikrnはモバイルとデスクトップパソコンで動作する。運営できるのはeスポーツの賭けが合法である地域のみである。
Sood氏は最近までMicrosoft Venturesのジェネラルマネージャーであったが、UnikrnをFlores氏（オンラインゲーミング広告企業Pinionの前CEO）と一緒に始めるために退職した。
「私は多くの優れたスタートアップに投資し、これに関わるのに喜びを感じていましたが、Unikrnは際立っていました。この会社は利用者とeスポーツの関係を根本的に変えたからです。eスポーツは主流となっています。そしてUnikrn Arenaはファンに他のどこにもない新たな興奮を与えてくれます」と、Kutcher氏はコメントした。
Kutcher氏とOseary氏はアクティブなテック投資家で、Airbnb、Foursquare、Skype、SoundCloud、Square、Zenefits、Uberの株式を保有している。
Kutcher氏とOseary氏はアクティブなテック投資家で、Airbnb、Foursquare、Skype、SoundCloud、Square、Zenefits、Uberの株式を保有している。
「世界に向けてUnikrn Arenaをローンチするのに喜びを感じています。またUnikrn Vault Appをリリースしてユーザの方がUnikoinsを生み出せるというのは実にわくわくする話です。同時にAshton Kutcher氏とGuy Oseary氏を連れてくるのは私にとって大きな取引でした。2人はコンシューマーテクノロジー企業をうまく取り上げたことで知られ、信じられないレベルでつながっています。このチームと一緒に仕事をしてUnikrn Arenaを大成功に導けるのを楽しみにしています」と、UnikrnのCEOであるRahul Sood氏はコメントの中で述べている。
Unikrnは現在、Unikoinを稼げるチャンスを提供する「クエスト」を日々提供している。この通貨はAlienware、Caseking、Funko、Gunnar、HP、HyperX、Logitechなどの企業から賞を勝ち取るのに使えるものだ。クエストの種類には、Unikrnに賭けをするユーザに報いる「ベッティングクエスト」、友人やソーシャルネットワークに関わったユーザに報いる「ソーシャルクエスト」、Unikrn上でプレイされるゲームに関する質問にユーザが答えられる「トリビアクエスト」などがある。
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