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FaZe Clan is an esports organization and content creator collective based in Los Angeles, California, that manages competitive gaming teams and produces lifestyle media. The company generates revenue through brand sponsorships, apparel and merchandise sales, and digital content creation across major streaming platforms like YouTube and Twitch. Originally gaining traction through Call of Duty gameplay videos, the collective reached over one million YouTube subscribers by 2012 and achieved an early estimated corporate valuation of $16 million. After operating as a publicly traded entity starting in 2022, the organization was acquired by GameSquare Holdings in late 2023 and subsequently underwent a major restructuring in April 2024 to refocus on its core creator business model. The competitive gaming enterprise was originally founded in 2010 by Eric “CLipZ” Rivera, Jeff “House Cat” Emann, and Ben “Resistance” Christensen.
Faze has raised $117.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at Faze.
Faze was founded in 2010 by Yousef Abdelfattah (Co-Founder).
Faze has raised $117.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at Faze.
FaZe Clan (often stylized as FaZe) is a prominent esports organization and entertainment brand, not a traditional technology company, though it leverages digital platforms, gaming tech, and content creation tools.[1] Founded in 2010 as a YouTube sniping group, it has evolved into a global entity with professional players, content creators across multiple games like Call of Duty and Counter-Strike, and a focus on esports competitions and lifestyle content.[1] In recent years, FaZe underwent a major restructuring: acquired by GameSquare Holdings in October 2023, it spun off into FaZe Esports (100% owned by GameSquare for competitions) and FaZe Media (a creator-led internet media company backed by $11 million from DraftKings co-founder Matt Kalish, who holds 49%).[1] This positions FaZe to serve gamers, creators, fans, and brands in the esports and digital entertainment space, solving for engaging content, competitive gaming, and monetization in a fragmented online ecosystem.[1]
FaZe Clan traces its roots to May 30, 2010, when it launched as FaZe Sniping, a YouTube channel focused on montage-style sniping videos in Call of Duty, founded by a group of young gamers including original CEO Thomas "Temperrr" Oliveira, who joined at age 16.[1] Key early figures like COO Richard “Banks” Bengtson helped scale it; by 2012, the channel hit one million subscribers, prompting a pivot to esports with teams competing in major events like the Call of Duty Championship and Counter-Strike Majors.[1] Pivotal moments included establishing the first FaZe shared home in 2014 for collaborative content creation and the 2023 GameSquare acquisition, which appointed Oliveira as CEO, Bengtson as president, and Yousef Abdelfattah (FaZe Apex) as COO of the restructured entity.[1] The 2024 FaZe Media spin-off marked a new chapter, blending esports legacy with media innovation.[1]
FaZe stands out in the esports and gaming content landscape through these key strengths:
FaZe rides the explosive growth of esports and creator economies, where gaming revenue, live streaming, and digital media converge amid trends like Web3, metaverses, and AI-enhanced content tools—projected to surpass traditional sports viewership.[1] Timing is ideal post-2023 acquisition and 2024 spin-off, capitalizing on maturing esports infrastructure (e.g., standardized leagues) and investor interest from figures like DraftKings' Kalish, amid market forces like streaming platform dominance (Twitch, YouTube) and brand sponsorships.[1] FaZe influences the ecosystem by humanizing esports through relatable creators, bridging gaming with entertainment, and enabling spin-offs that model scalable media diversification for peers like 100 Thieves or TSM.[1]
FaZe is poised for hybrid expansion: FaZe Esports will chase tournament dominance and GameSquare synergies, while FaZe Media leverages creator networks for ad revenue, NFTs, or AI content tools amid rising demand for authentic digital entertainment.[1] Trends like mobile esports growth, VR integration, and global fan engagement (especially in emerging markets) will shape its path, potentially amplifying influence through media acquisitions or tech partnerships.[1] As esports blurs with mainstream tech and entertainment, FaZe's founder-rooted adaptability positions it to redefine gaming brands beyond competitions.
Faze has raised $117.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $100.0M Series A in March 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2022 | $100M Series A | — | Andreessen Horowitz, Anfa, B Capital Group, Jenny Fielding, Scott Hartley, General Catalyst, Global Founders Capital, Great Oaks Venture Capital, Insight Partners, Kearny Jackson, Hans Tung, Outrun Ventures, RTP Global, Tribe Capital, Akshay Kothari, Balaji Srinivasan, BRE Pettis, Gokul Rajaram, Kevin Weil, Kunal Shah | Announced |
| Nov 1, 2021 | $17M Seed | — | Andreessen Horowitz, Angel Investor, Archetype, Blisce, Bond, BOW Capital, Caffeinated Capital, Chapter ONE Ventures, Coatue, CoinFund, Compound, Craft Ventures, Dispersion Capital, Dreamers VC, Electric Capital, Graph Ventures, Griffin Gaming Partners, Helium 3 Ventures, North Island Ventures, Paradigm, Reform Ventures, Roosh Ventures, Sound Ventures, The HIT Forge, Thirty Five Ventures, Union Square Ventures, YES VC, Andre Iguodala, Balaji Srinivasan, Bill TAI, Jeff Morris, Mark Pincus, Matt Bellamy, Rashaun Williams, William Mougayar | Announced |
Faze was founded in 2010 by Yousef Abdelfattah (Co-Founder).
Faze has raised $117.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Faze's investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Anfa, B Capital Group, Jenny Fielding, Scott Hartley, General Catalyst, Global Founders Capital, Great Oaks Venture Capital, Insight Partners, Kearny Jackson, Hans Tung, Outrun Ventures.
