MATTHEW BERRY'S FANTASY LIFE CLOSES $7 MILLION SEED ROUND LED BY LRMR VENTURES AND SC HOLDINGS; UNVEILS NEW PLATFORM AND GUILLOTINE LEAGUES
Investments by High-Profile Group of Athletes, Media Moguls, and Business Leaders Usher in the Company's Next Phase
NEW YORK, July 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Fantasy Life – the award-winning fantasy sports and gaming company spanning media and tech, founded by Matthew Berry, the legendary fantasy football personality featured on NBC Sports' Football Night in America and host of Fantasy Football Happy Hour on Peacock – today announced a $7 million seed round to support the launch of its new platform and the acquisition of Guillotine Leagues. As the official tools partner of NBC Sports, the company delivers premium content and insights to millions of fans.
The funding has fueled the creation of a new fantasy ecosystem featuring improved technology, expanded tools, new content offerings, and a mobile-first experience designed for scale – reinforcing Fantasy Life as a premier destination for fans and marking the beginning of a transformative new phase, driving growth and innovation in fantasy sports.
The round is spearheaded by LeBron James' and Maverick Carter's LRMR Ventures and SC Holdings, led by Jason Stein. Other notable investors include:
- Eberg Capital LLC, a private equity firm founded by Roger Ehrenberg, co-owner of the Miami Marlins and Alpine Formula One Racing
- Bolt Ventures, the family office of David Blitzer, co-founder of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and owner of stakes in teams across all five major North American sports leagues, as well as several international soccer clubs
- Gerry Cardinale, Founder and Managing Partner of RedBird Capital
- Jeff Shell, Partner and Chairman of Sports and Entertainment, RedBird Capital Partners
- Chad Hurley, Co-Founder of YouTube
- Wasserman Ventures, the investment arm of global sports, music, entertainment, and culture company Wasserman
- Tony Khan, Owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Fulham Football Club, All Elite Wrestling, and TruMedia Networks
- SUM Ventures, founded by Garrett Gilbertson, includes NFL star George Kittle and retired Eagles Super Bowl Champion Brent Celek.
- John Legend, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT) Award Winning Artist
- Larry Fitzgerald Jr., Co-Founder of Trenches Capital and former NFL wide receiver
- Donald Mustard, Co-Creator of Fortnite and former Chief Creative Officer at Epic Games
They join a roster of existing investors that includes NFL stars Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Austin Ekeler. That support has helped spark major momentum, with Fantasy Life increasing revenue by 737% since launching in 2022, including a 230% jump from 2024 to the first half of 2025.
"My entire adult life has been about helping fantasy players and sports gamers win, have more fun, and make this industry better," said Berry. "Fantasy Life is the culmination of my decades of experience — a destination for every kind of player, from beginner to sharp. With smart, personalized tools, entertaining content, and the best damn fantasy game ever in Guillotine Leagues, we're building a platform as obsessed with fantasy as we are. I'm incredibly honored that so many people I've long admired believe in what we're doing and want to be part of the journey. I can't wait for everyone to check out the new features and win more titles."
"We're always looking for opportunities to invest in smart, creative people and businesses that share our values. What Matthew, Eliot and the team are building with Fantasy Life hits on everything we look for," said Maverick Carter, CEO of LRMR Ventures. "Their strong brand, incredible growth and the market size of sports gaming make for a compelling opportunity. As an avid fantasy football and Guillotine League player myself, this is a tech-forward play that we believe will be a game changer for fantasy sports and we're proud to co-lead this round with our partners at SC Holdings."
Central to the new Fantasy Life is a revamped version of Guillotine Leagues – a high-stakes, week-to-week survival format now featured in a fresh, next-gen experience that sets it apart in the fantasy space.
Key upgrades include:
- A fully redesigned app and web experience, now faster, more scalable, and engineered for deeper engagement. The new Guillotine League app is now available on iOS, with Android availability later this summer.
- Integrated Fantasy Life content and premium tools for a one-of-a-kind, personalized user experience
"This next chapter of Fantasy Life is about delivering a truly player-first experience. That starts with Guillotine Leagues – a bold, survivor-style game that is fantasy for the fearless," said Eliot Crist, CEO of Fantasy Life. "We're excited to elevate the format for fantasy players who crave intensity and innovation."
To power the new Fantasy Life platform, the company is also rolling out an industry-altering platform, FantasyHQ™ presented by Mike's Hard Lemonade. FantasyHQ™ is a personalized hub for daily player insights, real-time data, and league tools, with key features including the ability to:
- Sync your leagues, across all providers, for a fully personalized experience
- Get custom trade, waiver, and start/sit advice tailored specifically to your team, needs, and matchup
- Mike's Fantasy Scoreboard™ – your fantasy football command center with side-by-side views of all your matchups
- All of your fantasy games in one place, for the ultimate second-screen experience on gameday
For more information on Fantasy Life and to sign up for the newsletter, visit the redesigned FantasyLife.com. Follow @MBFantasyLife on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for updates and premier fantasy and gaming content.
ABOUT FANTASY LIFE
Founded by the godfather of fantasy football – Matthew Berry – Fantasy Life is the official tools partner of NBC Sports, delivering the highest-quality fantasy football content and tools for casual fans and experts alike. The company also partners with LG, SiriusXM, Roku, Fubo, iHeart, a360, and many others, reaching millions of fantasy players across multiple platforms. Fantasy Life has won Best Places to Work in Sports awards from Sports Business Journal and Front Office Sports and has been the most awarded company at the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association (FSGA) Awards over the past three years, including taking home four awards in 2025.
From written content to video, from audio to a vibrant community experience and including a brand-new suite of premium tools at Fantasy Life+, we embrace the company's mission of "fantasy football for all" on a 365-day basis at FantasyLife.com.
CONTACT
Fantasy Life: fantasylife@hstrategies.com
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SOURCE Fantasy Life