With another school year starting amid a global pandemic, schools are seeking new ways to keep students engaged in all or partially virtual learning environments. Enter a growing local startup that combines video gaming with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, and is ready to scale its business with $1.5 million in new funding.
This first round of funding for EliteGamingLIVE was led by the American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact, with participation from the TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good and Baltimore-based RareBreed Ventures. The money will support new hires, a marketing push and further enhancements to the company's tech platform, which allows students in grades three through 12 to participate in competitive e-sports gaming programs that also promote STEM learning.
Kerwin Rent, CEO and founder of EliteGamingLIVE, said his company aims to increase educational engagement among young people across all demographic groups, and to help increase interest and open doors to careers in STEM.
Previously, EliteGamingLIVE primarily focused on in-person programming in partnership with schools, community centers and other organizations that work with groups of young students. Amid the pandemic, schools had to pivot to mostly virtual learning models. The company has spent the past year adapting its business model and testing its new all virtual platform, and is now ready to expand its reach across the country using the new investment funds, Rent said.
"We saw even before the pandemic, schools were struggling to implement STEM programs that could engage kids on a consistent basis," Rent said, noting that the concept for EliteGamingLIVE was born out of that need. "Then during Covid, schools saw keeping youth engaged in a virtual environment was even harder. But gaming is one of those engagement methods we know is really effective."
Rent said his growth plans for EliteGamingLIVE include several new hires, including a new curriculum developer, and an aggressive marketing push. Currently, he said EliteGamingLIVE works mostly with schools and youth organizations on the East Coast and in the Midwest — he did not disclose how many customers the firm currently works with — but it is working to quickly expand into other states and regions, from Florida to Texas to California. EliteGamingLIVE’s 2021-2022 school year programming kicks off Sept. 13.
"We know there is a huge need right now and I think if more schools and organizations knew we existed, a lot of them would see the potential value and impact of our services," Rent said.
Rent said the new funding infusion shows investor support and buy-in for EliteGamingLIVE's efforts "to bridge educational divides and bring fun, valuable learning experiences to youth through technology.”
“EliteGamingLIVE improves engagement and access for students in all demographics and income levels, as well as helping kids see career paths in STEM fields,” Rob Kornblum, principal and fund Manager at AmFam Institute, said in a statement. “We are excited to help the EGL team grow and impact millions of kids.”
