Fantasy football platform on Telegram raises $1M in seed funding

Telegram is becoming the go-to platform for onboarding traditional gamers into the world of Web3.

Fanton Fantasy Football, a blockchain-integrated fantasy sports platform, recently secured $1 million in seed funding to expand its reach and refine its user experience.

Fantasy football, a popular subset of the broader fantasy sports market, has become a significant driver of fan engagement, transforming casual spectators into dedicated followers. Within the expansive $32.75 billion fantasy sports industry, fans find an unparalleled opportunity to strengthen their bond with the game.

As users create and manage teams composed of players from various teams across the league, they are motivated to follow a broader range of matches, often including games they wouldn’t have watched otherwise.

This increased involvement brings new importance to less prominent games, as fantasy players often have a stake in the success of athletes from smaller clubs or lesser-known leagues.

As a result, fantasy football makes every match more thrilling and provides a platform for smaller teams to shine. Moreover, it cultivates a habit of regularly keeping up with soccer news and statistics, further embedding the sport into the daily lives of its participants.

$1 million boost for blockchain fantasy football

Building on this vibrant intersection of sports and fan engagement, Fanton Fantasy Football is a fantasy sports platform integrated into Telegram with the blockchain technology of The Open Network (TON). Users can create virtual soccer teams using non-fungible token (NFT) collectible player cards, which are scored based on real-life performances.

🏆⚽️ EURO 2024 @FantasyFanton Football Tournament ⚽️🏆

Phase 3 is here, featuring 4 national teams that have advanced to the semifinals.

Register by July 9th, 19:00 UTC, pick your team, earn points, and win! ➡️https://t.co/de3x4kM9ka

Details: https://t.co/bxyMy1R1Bi pic.twitter.com/NmzGgVrzMd

— TON 💎 (@ton_blockchain) July 8, 2024

Recently, Fanton secured a seed investment of $1 million, a pivotal moment in the platform’s journey. The funding round was led by prominent blockchain investors, including Animoca Brands, Delphi Ventures and Kenetic Capital, with additional support from Hashkey x TON Accelerator, PAKA Fund and Sign VC.

“We are thrilled to support Fanton in their journey, bringing Fantasy Football to Telegram’s 950 million users,” said Delphi Ventures founding partner Tommy Shaughnessy and highlighted that “Fanton is tapping into the massive global appetite for fantasy soccer with the reach of Telegram and the incentives of crypto to offer fans a more engaging connection to a sport they love.”

Aligning the investment with their broader vision, Animoca Brands co-founder and executive chairman Yat Siu echoed this sentiment, stating they are “excited to support Fanton Fantasy Football and its innovative approach to integrating fantasy sports with blockchain technology within the TON ecosystem.”

Telegram CEO backs fantasy platform with 3 million users

Cointelegraph Accelerator participant Fanton’s growth trajectory is gaining attention, with the platform boasting over 3 million users and more than 300,000 connected wallets.

⚡️@durov is a holder of @FantasyFanton SBT @ton_society

On Durov’s TON wallet address was found a Fanton x TON Society SBT Airdrop. Notably, this is the only SBT on Pavel’s wallet: https://t.co/oWgD1uAyIX

Main criterion for receiving the SBT in drop was having wallet… pic.twitter.com/Kh7Z88ajDF

— Fanton Fantasy Football (@FantasyFanton) July 23, 2024

Looking ahead, Fanton aims to become the “second game” for every football fan while continuing to refine its platform to be among the most accessible and user-friendly in the fantasy football space.

Future of NFTs at @FantasyFanton

🟦In Season 24/25, players will see many changes regarding the NFT part of the game. We want to convey the main point: changes are coming, but not immediately.

Right now, we are working on launching the $FTON token — soon, we will have key… pic.twitter.com/hIwgLKr8XC

— Fanton Fantasy Football (@FantasyFanton) August 1, 2024

Expressing this ambition, Fanton CEO Eldar Khayretdinov said:

“This funding is not just financial; it’s a strategic alliance that positions us to capitalize on the explosive growth of GameFi and the TON ecosystem. We’re excited to leverage our investors’ expertise and networks to accelerate our path to becoming the first unicorn in the TON ecosystem.”

Platforms like Fanton are not just enhancing how fans engage with their favorite sport; they are pioneering new ways to blend entertainment, community and financial incentives. As the Web3 space continues to evolve, Fanton’s approach could set the standard for the next generation of fantasy sports, where every fan, regardless of their team or league, has a stake in the game.