Fungiball, a French fantasy tennis platform which claims to be the world’s first large-scale, officially licensed fantasy tennis platform has secured €2.2 million in pre-seed funding to support its expansion and improve its user experience.
The funding round included contributions from private business angels such as Adrien Dassault and Stephan Altmuller, as well as support from Cliff Capital and BPI France. But that’s not all—Fungiball is also welcoming tennis icons Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev as official ambassadors. The Paris-based startup plans to use the funds to grow its tech team, expand internationally starting with North America, and introduce new features like free-to-play modes and fiat payment options.
Medvedev said, “I’m really excited to endorse Fungiball. I love the concept behind the platform, which brings a fresh energy and innovation to tennis and also offers young tennis players an opportunity to earn additional revenues with this model.”
For tennis fans dreaming of a more immersive experience, Fungiball is making this a reality. Launched in January 2024, Fungiball allows users to participate in fantasy tennis games while providing professional tennis players with an additional revenue stream. The platform has already attracted more than 5,000 registered users and features over 300 professional tennis players.
Co-founder and CEO Jean Matias stated, “Our vision is to become the leading digital tennis platform, offering everything from gameplay and fan engagement to content consumption, and a new revenue stream for professional tennis players. Today’s round will help us sustain our growth and accelerate our geographic expansion as well as build out the team.”
The perfect match: Fantasy tennis platform blends real-life tennis with tech
The global tennis market, currently valued at over $6B, offers significant growth potential, with the tennis equipment sector set to reach $7.5B by 2025. Fungiball’s business model revolves around the sale of player cards via auctions and a secondary trading market, offering tennis pros an additional revenue stream and fans a unique way to engage. With more than three hundred professional players already featured, including both men and women, Fungiball offers a chance to blend fandom with financial investment.
A grand slam future for Fungiball
With the backing of tennis icons and fresh funding, Fungiball is poised for further success. Led by CTO Romain Boudré, the platform is in advanced talks with major tennis organisations and is planning to launch larger competitions with more substantial prize pools. New features like Stripe integration and free-to-play modes will simplify the user experience and widen the platform’s appeal.
The company is also working to create an even more immersive experience for fans, with plans to blend the digital and physical worlds through initiatives such as VIP tournament seats and opportunities to meet tennis idols in person.
Fungiball’s multi-year partnership with Winners Alliance, the commercial arm of the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), grants it the rights to feature the names, images, and likenesses of over three hundred top players. In return, the athletes enjoy increased visibility and the chance to generate additional revenue from their presence on the platform. Fungiball further expanded its market presence with a partnership with the iconic French sports retailer Le Coq Sportif earlier this year.
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