Semper Fortis Esports PLC, an emerging esports business based in Sheffield, UK, has Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell (pictured) on board as a non-executive director.
The company said it will create and manage pro teams, work on projects with orgs, players and celebrities, offer consultancy services, run an accelerator programme for esports and gaming entrepreneurs, as well as bolster the industry through technologies including AR, VR, machine learning, blockchain and data analytics.
It has already signed its first esports team, UK Rocket League focused side Top Blokes, who announced the investment last month but did not name Semper Fortis as the backers.
Semper Fortis Esports PLC announced its intention to float on the Aquis Stock Exchange in London to raise £2.5m, Morningstar/Alliance News reports, and plans to start trading on April 26th.
Nolan Bushnell co-founded early home video game console manufacturer Atari with the late Ted Dabney back in the early ’70s. He was partly responsible for bringing classic retro game Pong into players’ homes, after being inspired by a similar ping pong game on the old Magnavox Odyssey console.
“We see a significant opportunity to become a leading force in esports and associated technology development and consultancy services.”
Kevin Soltani, Semper Fortis
Other managers at Semper Fortis include COO Jassem Osseiran, CFO Max Deeley, chairman Keith Harris, the former chair of the Football League and former Everton FC deputy chairman, and CEO Kevin Soltani, who has experience as global manager of Turkish League of Legends team Royal Youth, who played at Worlds 2019.
Semper Fortis will also look to partner with footballers and influencers.
Semper Fortis CEO Kevin Soltani said: “We see a significant opportunity to become a leading force in esports and associated technology development and consultancy services, as we develop our business into the multiple vertical markets that serve esports and the wider gaming industry.”
The company added in a statement on the Semper Fortis website: “Semper Fortis Esports is a multi-operational esports organisation focusing on gaming technology solutions, brand enhancement and high growth team infrastructures.
“Semper Fortis translates in Latin to ‘Always Strong’, with the purpose to strengthen, innovate and add value to the esports ecosystem in the United Kingdon and globally.”
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
