Iloilo-based startup AcadArena recently secured 3.5M USD (roughly around PHP176M) in funding which will be used to grow campus gaming communities across Southeast Asia and equip students with core skills to become global citizens in an ever-changing world. 

The funding is led by the likes of 1KX, Hashed, and the founders of Twitch and Crunchyroll, making founders Ariane Lim, Kevin Hoang, and Justin Banusing among the youngest founders in the country to succeed in such a massive seed round.

AcadArena was launched back in 2019 and is focused on building student gaming communities across the Philippines and Southeast Asia and educating the youth about web3 and the metaverse. It also provides financial aid and play-to-earn scholarships for exemplary student gamers to help them graduate.

“We’re honestly just building what we wish we had when we were students. Growing up, gaming was thought to be a waste of time, but now we’re able to provide students with opportunities to connect, earn and succeed through gaming. I am confident that we will be able to reach out to millions more students and validate their passion for games,” says Kevin Hoang.

To learn about how to become a gaming and esports scholar, you may check out the AcadArena website.