FTBpro, the Largest Fan-Generated Media Platform in Global Football, Announces an $18 Million Investment Round for Further Global Expansion

LONDON, March 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --



FTBpro, the largest fan-generated media platform in online football, has today announced the closing of an $18m investment, bringing its total funding since inception to $24m. The company plans to use proceeds to further boost its rapid global expansion, enhance strategic partnerships and enrich its mobile and video product offerings.

The fundraising round involved FTBpro's existing investors, Battery Ventures and Gemini Israel Ventures, as well as new investment from London-based Dawn Capital and a major Asia-based media investor.

FTBpro, founded in 2011, is headquartered in London with offices in Tel Aviv. Following the investment round, the company will open offices in South East Asia and launch its platform across the region.

FTBpro serves over 100m page views and millions of active users every month across web, mobile and social networks, growing by 50% on a quarterly basis. The company's media platform is driven by thousands of regular contributors providing hundreds of daily articles in seven different languages. After establishing itself over the last two years as a leader in its field across the European, North and South American football markets, FTBpro is now in the process of expanding into Asia to cater to the region's 1 billion football fans.

FTBpro intends to further develop consumer awareness through strategic partnerships in the world of football. The platform has already secured commercial deals in England with the League Managers' Association (the LMA), as well as the Professional Footballers' Association (the PFA). Last year FTBpro secured the naming rights for the PFA Fan Player of the Month and Year Awards, and has been hosting the vote throughout the 2013/14 season. The company's content features regularly on leading sites including MSN, Huffington Post, GQ, London 24 and Manchester Evening News.

Founder and CEO, Asaf Peled, said; "We are excited to have secured this new investment which will enable us to continue to enhance our offering and expand our global presence. We are proud to be considered the only truly global media platform in online football, and this investment, coupled with the planned expansion into new markets, will further cement that position."

FTBpro is available on all digital platforms including the ftbpro.com website and the FTBpro dedicated apps on iPhone and Android devices.

For more information go to http://www.ftbpro.com, or @FTBpro

For media enquiries, please contact Katie Matthews at PHA Media on +44(0)207-025-1355 or Katie@pha-media.com