Women-first social networking and dating platform Bumble is getting into the esports industry by partnering with Gen.G in a deal which will create the global esports franchise’s first all-women team, Gen.G Empowered by Bumble (Team Bumble).
Team Bumble will consist of professional Fortnite players competing in the biggest tournaments worldwide, along with a select group of gaming influencers.
As part of a three-year deal, Gen.G and Bumble will partner on programming, events, and merchandise collaborations. Bumble will also add a “gaming” badge in Bumble BFF, its friendship finder app, that will allow users to find other gamers to connect with in their communities.
Additionally, Bumble will become an official partner for Kristen “KittyPlays” Valnicek, Gen.G’s head of new gaming initiatives and a popular Fortnite streamer on Twitch. Team Bumble will also have a dedicated streaming room at the Gen.G training facility in Los Angeles, which opened in July.
Gen.G, which was founded in 2017, has teams which compete in Overwatch, League of Legends, Fortnite, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Clash Royale, Call of Duty and Apex Legends. Earlier this year, the franchise completed a $46m funding round that included actor Will Smith as an investor.
Bumble also has a jersey patch sponsorship deal with the National Basketball Association’s Los Angeles Clippers. The company’s app has more than 26 million users and connects people across dating, friendship, and professional networking. Bumble is a proponent of gender equality, with women always making the first move on its app.