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Jens Hilgers is the Founding General Partner at BITKRAFT Ventures and the Co-Founder and Chairman of G2 Esports, based in Berlin, Germany. He previously founded Turtle Entertainment in 2000, serving as the Chief Executive Officer of its subsidiary Electronic Sports League (ESL) for a decade before the company was eventually acquired by Savvy Games Group for $1.05 billion in 2022. In 2014, Hilgers co-founded the gaming data startup Bayes Esports, formerly known as DOJO Madness, which raised $12.75 million in 2017. Through BITKRAFT Ventures, he oversees a global venture capital platform that manages over $1 billion in assets and recently closed a $275 million fund in April 2024. Drawing on more than twenty-five years of operational experience, his current investment focus centers on early-stage startups operating across the video game, artificial intelligence, Web3, and interactive media sectors.
Jens Hilgers stands as a pivotal figure in the global gaming and esports investment landscape, serving as a General Partner at BITKRAFT Ventures. BITKRAFT Ventures is renowned as a premier early-stage investment firm dedicated to the expansive world of gaming, esports, and interactive entertainment. In his role, Hilgers is instrumental in shaping the firm's strategic direction, identifying groundbreaking investment opportunities, and providing invaluable mentorship to portfolio companies. His deep industry insights and extensive network are crucial in fostering the growth of the next generation of digital entertainment leaders.
Hilgers' career trajectory is marked by a series of pioneering achievements that have profoundly influenced the esports industry. He is widely recognized as a co-founder of the Electronic Sports League (ESL), a company that grew to become one of the largest and most influential esports organizations globally. Under his leadership, ESL played a critical role in professionalizing competitive gaming, establishing major tournaments, and building a robust ecosystem for players, teams, and fans. His vision helped transform esports from a niche hobby into a mainstream entertainment phenomenon. Following ESL's successful acquisition by Modern Times Group (MTG), Hilgers continued to innovate.
Further cementing his legacy, Hilgers also co-founded G2 Esports, another powerhouse in the competitive gaming world. G2 Esports quickly rose to prominence, fielding top-tier teams across various game titles and building a strong brand presence. These entrepreneurial ventures provided Hilgers with an unparalleled understanding of the operational challenges, market dynamics, and growth potential within the interactive entertainment sector. This firsthand experience as a founder and executive is a cornerstone of his investment philosophy at BITKRAFT Ventures.
At BITKRAFT Ventures, Jens Hilgers focuses on identifying companies that are pushing the boundaries of gaming, virtual worlds, and the broader creator economy. His investment interests span a wide array of areas, including innovative game development studios, esports infrastructure, Web3 gaming technologies, interactive media platforms, and tools that empower creators. He actively seeks out teams with strong vision, disruptive technologies, and scalable business models that can capitalize on the ever-evolving digital entertainment landscape. His involvement extends beyond capital, offering strategic guidance on product development, market entry, and team building.
Through BITKRAFT Ventures, Hilgers contributes to a portfolio that includes some of the most exciting and impactful companies in the interactive entertainment space. While specific individual investments are part of the firm's collective strategy, his influence is evident in the firm's commitment to supporting transformative technologies and visionary entrepreneurs. Jens Hilgers continues to be a driving force in shaping the future of gaming and interactive media, leveraging his unique blend of entrepreneurial spirit and investment acumen to back the innovators of tomorrow.
Jens Hilgers is a General Partner at BITKRAFT Ventures, a leading investment firm focused on gaming and esports. He is also a renowned pioneer in the esports industry, having co-founded ESL and G2 Esports.
Jens Hilgers primarily invests in companies within the gaming, esports, and interactive entertainment sectors through BITKRAFT Ventures. His focus includes innovative game development, esports infrastructure, virtual worlds, Web3 gaming, and the creator economy.
Jens Hilgers works as a General Partner at BITKRAFT Ventures, an early-stage investment firm specializing in the global gaming, esports, and interactive media industry.
