Esports Foundry™ & NJCAAE Join Forces in a Transformative Partnership
September 21st, 2023
September 21st, 2023
Columbus, OH – A strategic collaboration redefines the landscape of collegiate esports for 2-year programs. Esports Foundry, a driving force in esports innovation, is thrilled to announce a strategic partnership with the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association of Esports (NJCAAE). This dynamic alliance empowers students, schools, and the broader esports community through unrivaled access to services, equipment, merchandise, and expertise.
Uniting Forces for Unparalleled Access
Esports Foundry and NJCAAE leverage the strengths of both organizations through a multi-year partnership. Services from Esports Foundry's subsidiaries: EsportsGear, Metactix, Pixovate, and Vanguard will fulfill the crucial needs of NJCAAE’s vast membership by offering a one-stop-shop value proposition.
"This partnership marks a significant stride in our shared mission to empower students, programs, and organizations in the gaming and esports domains," stated Anthony Scala, CEO of Esports Foundry. "We're forging an ecosystem that enhances the collegiate esports journey in unprecedented ways by fostering a clear roadmap for program initiation, growth, and sustained success within the 2-year university landscape."
Powering NJCAAE's Unique Programs
Central to this collaboration is the integration of NJCAAE's cutting-edge esports competitions and its network of 2-year programs. Through this partnership, participating schools will gain exclusive access to tailored NJCAAE bundles, lease-to-own options, and industry-leading expertise provided by Esports Foundry's suite of companies.
"We are thrilled to embark on this journey with Esports Foundry," remarked Matt King, Director of Esports for NJCAAE. "Our partnership is a large step in the NJCAAE offering a total esports solution that provides NJCAAE members with an unprecedented level of support, equipping them with the tools they need to excel in the fast-paced world of esports."
Unveiling a New Chapter for Collegiate Esports
The collaboration between Esports Foundry and NJCAAE marks a significant milestone in the evolution of collegiate esports. By pooling their resources and know-how, both organizations are setting the stage for an era of growth, innovation, and accessibility within the esports community.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Cali Chiu
Director of Content and Media
cchiu@esportsfoundry.com
Esports Foundry is a trailblazing organization dedicated to growing esports organizations through investment and innovation. With a focus on empowering the next generation of gaming and esports entrepreneurs, Esports Foundry offers a range of programs, services, and resources designed to shape the future of the industry.
The National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association of Esports (NJCAAE) is a trailblazer in the world of collegiate esports. As the only association that serves exclusively 2-year programs, the NJCAAE has focused on breaking down barriers to participation and education. With a network of 2-year programs and a unique esports league, NJCAAE provides students with exceptional opportunities to engage in competitive gaming. This partnership with Esports Foundry further underscores NJCAAE's commitment to equipping schools with the resources they need to thrive.
September 6th, 2023
Columbus, Ohio – Esports Foundry and the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC), are excited to announce a strategic partnership aimed at providing students and schools with industry leading opportunities. This dynamic collaboration is set to enhance the access and experience for students, schools, and the esports community at large.
Investing in Education and Excellence
Esports Foundry, a leading force in nurturing gaming and esports organizations through investment and innovation, is stepping up to empower the next generation of industry enthusiasts. As part of this transformative partnership, Esports Foundry will provide essential funding to select schools and programs, ensuring that competitive esports remains accessible to aspiring athletes. Additionally, several coveted scholarships will be awarded to outstanding students who demonstrate exceptional promise in the world of esports industry operations.
"We believe in the potential of every enthusiast, and our partnership with the NECC underscores our commitment to fostering access and opportunity in this dynamic industry," said Anthony Scala, CEO of Esports Foundry. "By supporting schools and students through scholarships and funding, we're fueling the growth of esports as a legitimate and promising career path."
Leading the Charge with EsportsGear
One of the cornerstones of this partnership is EsportsGear, the premier apparel and merchandise brand under Esports Foundry that serves hundreds of schools. The NECC will shine a spotlight on EsportsGear, making it the go-to destination for high-quality esports apparel and accessories.
As part of this exciting endeavor, NECC will integrate EsportsGear into its framework, offering NECC-affiliated schools and players access to the School Impact Program. This program will provide hundreds of schools with invaluable resources to elevate the overall esports experience. EsportsGear will also offer a player of the month jersey and other promotional giveaways throughout this partnership.
"We’re thrilled to partner with Esports Foundry and leverage their innovative EsportsGear brand," stated Jacob VanRyn , Commissioner / CEO of the NECC. "This collaboration will undoubtedly enrich our participants' experiences, offering them top-notch merchandise and a range of resources to help grow and develop their programs and passion for esports."
As part of this partnership, the NECC will be naming a player of the month which will be awarded a customized jersey provided by EsportsGear.
A Bright Future for Collegiate Esports
The partnership between Esports Foundry and NECC represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of collegiate esports. With a shared vision of empowering students and institutions, this collaboration will ignite new levels of excitement, engagement, and excellence within the esports community.
Stay tuned for more updates as Esports Foundry and NECC work together to elevate the college esports through providing students and schools with unparalleled opportunities and resources.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Cali Chiu
Director of Content and Media
cchiu@esportsfoundry.com
Jacob VanRyn
CEO of the NECC
jacob@neccathletics.com
Esports Foundry is a trailblazing organization dedicated to growing esports organizations through investment and innovation. With a focus on empowering the next generation of gaming and esports entrepreneurs, Esports Foundry offers a range of programs, services, and resources designed to shape the future of the industry.
The NECC has sponsored both regular season competition and championships across a wide variety of popular titles since 2020. With more than 300 colleges and universities currently competing, the NECC strives to be a positive home for the collegiate gaming community.
The NECC fosters innovative competition experiences, provides quality broadcasting services, and works to support an inclusive community within collegiate esports. The NECC was started as a way to provide the collegiate gaming community with the respect it warranted and deserved. The conference prides itself on responding to the needs of its schools, directors, coaches, and most importantly - its players.
March 2nd, 2022
Columbus, Ohio – The Marion Giants Esports Team and Metactix™ are pleased to announce a unique education-focused collaboration that will improve the school’s gaming system and also offer industry connections and STEM learning opportunities for local students.
The Metactix™ esports center management solution will provide additional data security for Marion Community Schools’ K-12 esports program, and will also provide more speed and reliability through Metactix™ SaaS platform.
“We are thrilled to partner with Metactix™ and bring this technology to our esports program,” said Travis Hueston, director of Marion Community Schools’ esports program. “This technology continues to allow us to bring an array of games to our players in a supportive and safe environment, while at the same time increasing efficiency and management of the arena.”
But beyond the typical service, this collaboration will also offer opportunities for students to learn from Metactix™ leaders directly as it relates to cyber security, IT, gaming, and esports.
“We are excited to partner with Marion Giants Esports, who recognize the need for a secure esports solution which prioritizes the user experience for their students. We built Metactix™ to provide peace of mind for institutions so their esports centers, infrastructure and data are protected,” stated Michael Theis, co-founder and Director of Infrastructure for Metactix™. “We further look forward to the opportunity to work with the next generation of minds that will be the leaders of tomorrow.”
Developed by game center owners who saw a need for a secure, easy-to-use management solution, Metactix™ is committed to providing the security and efficiency esports centers require. Metactix™ is a member of the Esports Foundry portfolio, which provides solutions across apparel, broadcasting, gaming centers, events, and more.
Giants Esports is a student organization dedicated to the growth and development of the gaming culture and community at Marion Community Schools. Through regular programs and events hosted on- and off-campus, Giants Esports aims to encourage students to create connections with other students and organizations, to promote healthy competition, to create scholarship, STEM opportunities, and paths to college, and to create new experiences for our members, especially in video game development and appreciation.
February 14th, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – The National Junior College Athletic Association Esports (NJCAAE) and Metactix™ LLC are pleased to announce the very first education-focused esports center management collaboration for the patented Metactix™ SaaS esports center management solution. Through this partnership, the 125+ NJCAAE programs will have access to Metactix™ at a preferred rate. Metactix™, which requires no on-premises hardware and features industry leading security, dramatically improves protection of student and institutional data while reducing costs and improving efficiency. The average esports center is expected to save ~15% of their staff hours just by utilizing the Metactix™ patented game auto-updater alone.
“IT security is of critical importance in every aspect of our daily lives, and esports is certainly no different. We are thrilled to provide our members with access to a tool that not only provides the highest level of security, but also but also reduces expenses and increases center efficiency.” stated Jeff White, Executive Director of the NJCAAE.
“We are excited to partner with the NJCAAE, who recognize the need for a secure esports solution which prioritizes the user experience for their schools and students. We built Metactix™ to provide peace of mind for institutions so their esports centers, infrastructure and data are protected.” said Michael Theis, Co-Founder and Director of Infrastructure for Metactix™.
Developed by game center owners who saw a need for a secure, easy-to-use management solution, Metactix™ is committed to providing the security and efficiency esports centers require. Metactix™ is a member of the Esports Foundry portfolio, which provides solutions across apparel, broadcasting, gaming centers, events, and more.
NJCAA Esports (NJCAAE), the national governing body for two-year college esports in the United States, is proud to provide two-year college esports teams with governance, competition and official national championships. The governing body also provides guidance and positive development for two-year colleges to build and operate esports programs. Established in the Fall of 2019, the association continues to establish new partner relationships that assist in the growth of esports programs, add new titles for increased participation, and dedicate resources to the recruitment of new members.
The NJCAAE is committed to removing barriers to entry for all participants, including students and member institutions. Through the bring your own device and play from anywhere model, even campuses that are strictly online can offer an opportunity to engage their students for just $1,500. While student engagement is always a priority, it has perhaps never been more important than right now. No one disputes that an engaged student is a student that completes!
The association has experienced phenomenal growth as we enter our fourth competitive semester. Beginning with only 12 teams, the following semesters grew to 28 teams (Spring ’20), 69 teams (Fall ’20), 81 teams (Spring ’21) and a projection of 115 teams and 2,000+ student-athletes in the Fall of 2021. With the ultimate goal of providing a unique and engaging environment for student-athletes nationwide, the NJCAAE is where worlds of opportunity await.