Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy

Blake Robbins – Investing in Gaming - [Invest Like the Best, EP.180]

6 snips

Jun 30, 2020

Blake Robbins, a partner at Ludlow Ventures, specializes in gaming investments and the creator economy. He discusses the evolution of game monetization, transitioning from traditional models to innovative free-to-play formats. Robbins shares insights on the budding esports industry and the significant role of influencers in shaping the gaming landscape. He highlights opportunities for investors in this fast-growing sector and emphasizes the importance of infrastructure for supporting gaming startups. Get ready for a deep dive into the future of gaming!

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ANECDOTE

Counter-Strike Skin Economy

Counter-Strike skins once had inflated values due to gambling sites using them.
Lawsuits in 2016 forced Valve to shut down these sites.

INSIGHT

Esports as a Diverse Ecosystem

Esports isn't one game, but like traditional sports, with various titles.
Franchising models are emerging, mirroring traditional sports leagues.

ANECDOTE

Nadeshot and 100 Thieves

Nadeshot, a former Call of Duty champion and YouTuber, leveraged his brand into a successful business around 100 Thieves.
He realized the untapped potential in his audience and brand recognition.

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My guest today is Blake Robbins, a partner at Ludlow Ventures. We talk about all things video games, including the major companies in the industry, how games monetize, how in-game economies work, how e-sports has evolved, and much more. This is a fast-growing segment of consumer attention and interest, I believe we are in the very early days of gaming going mainstream.

I also have a favor to ask. My team and I have built a small survey for Invest Like the Best listeners and if you’ve enjoyed the podcast, I’d deeply appreciate it if you took 5 minutes to fill it out at investorfieldguide.com/survey. It will help shape the future direction of the show, which I intend to keep improving in the years to come. Thank you, and now please enjoy my conversation with Blake Robbins.

For more episodes go to InvestorFieldGuide.com/podcast.

Follow Patrick on Twitter at @patrick_oshag

Show Notes

(1:35) – (First question) – Overview of the gaming industry and how folks may get involved as an investor

(3:46) – Some of the biggest players in the space

(5:30) – The monetization methods of these gams

(9:22) – How do these games respond to real currencies

(14:49) – The landscape of e-sports/e-gaming as a whole

(19:57) – His involvement with 100 Thieves

(25:52) – The media landscape and the role of influencers

(29:05) – When he invests and what the opportunities are out there

(33:07) – The engines behind a lot of this; Unity and Unreal

(34:58) – Other investors that get this trend

(37:43) – Other interesting areas of investment for him, including the creator economy

(41:25) – Opportunities to build out and invest in the infrastructure of the creator economy

(45:37) – Infrastructure opportunities that need to be built

(48:08) – Advice for younger professionals

(49:04) – Investment allocation he is most proud of

(50:08) – A unique skill he couldn’t teach or train in others

(52:27) – Something in gaming he doesn’t understand or wants to learn more about

(54:08) – The kindest thing anyone has done for Blake

Learn More

For more episodes go to InvestorFieldGuide.com/podcast.

Follow Patrick on Twitter at @patrick_oshag