The Preston-based independent studio behind the online multiplayer football management game SoccerManager.com has received a £300,000 investment from a leading tech investor.
Mercia Fund Management announced that it ‘is kicking off the new football season’ with the investment in the platform which was formed in 2006.
Soccer Manager CEO Andrew Gore said: “We are excited to be working with Mercia Fund Management due to their significant industry experience and strong network of contacts.”
The company was founded by Andrew and Christopher and Steven Gore plus Peter Adams. Soccer Manager allows players to manage their favourite football team and compete against other sides across the world. It is popular in South America, Indonesia and southern European countries, including Italy, Spain and Turkey.
Soccer Manager will now use the investment to finalise production of new sports related titles, grow existing development capacity and gain third party support and expertise. Industry expert and former director of brand marketing at SEGA, Matt Eyre, has now become involved to help grow the Soccer Manager brand.
It is the second six-figure investment it has secured in the past year having won a six-figure finance package from the Lancashire Rosebud Fund in December 2013 to assist with development and translation costs to make the game available to other platforms.
The business is just one of Mercia Fund Management’s growing portfolio of gaming companies which benefit from both investment and also sector expertise from former SEGA CEO Mike Hayes (Mercia Investment Director) and ex-Codemasters MD Nick Wheelwright (Mercia Investment Panel member).
Head of Mercia Fund Management’s digital division Mike Hayes said: “With over nine million people registered on SoccerManager.com since its launch and over 600,000 app downloads since December 2014, this is already proving to be a popular game.
“The vision behind the project and proven success to date makes Soccer Manager an ideal addition to our diversified portfolio of innovative gaming companies with disruptive technologies.”
West Midlands-based Mercia recently launched the Mercia Digital Fund uses the hybrid structure for tax-efficient investing via the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS). Mercia invests in a diversified portfolio of innovative digital companies with high growth potential.
