Esports had its very own Dragons’ Den in September when we hosted ESI London at Twickenham Stadium. Our new feature, The Clutch, brought nine promising esports startups to pitch in front of an esteemed panel of investors but only one could win – and that company was G-Science.
We caught up with Ryan Scollan, Founder and CEO of G-Science after his company’s victory to see exactly what it has to offer and its future plans.
Esports Insider: What does G-Science do and where did the idea come for the company from?
Ryan Scollan: G-Science is an esports performance company. We provide high performance esports coaching for professional teams, and are currently building an athlete monitoring system using the framework of sports science and cognitive technology. The idea was conceived after graduating from Loughborough University with a degree in Sport and Exercise Science.
I came back to my hometown of Belfast and felt underwhelmed by all of the job opportunities available to me. I had always wanted to start my own business and I knew one day I would – that day came when I decided to combine my two passions: traditional sport science and esports. I identified a huge opportunity to take my knowledge and skills, and solve some of the issues I was hearing about in esports.
“I have a competitive nature, so although it was a challenging experience, it was a welcomed one.”
ESI: What made you want to apply for The Clutch?
RS: I just think it was a fantastic platform to not only market my brand, but meet other incredible people within the industry. Geographically, we are a bit isolated in Belfast when it comes to esports so I knew it would be the best opportunity for me to connect with everyone in the industry, from other startups to experts who have years of experience.
ESI: How did you find the format? Pitching to investors in front of a live audience can’t be easy!
RS: I’m lucky enough to have done a few pitches in the last year, but that didn’t stop me from feeling the nerves! It is naturally always going to be something that makes you feel anxious, stepping on stage in front of people who are at the top of their game.
In saying that, I truly loved every minute and just felt really lucky to be in the presence of such knowledgeable people. Getting their feedback and advice has helped propel G-Science to the next level. I have a competitive nature, so although it was a challenging experience, it was a welcomed one.
ESI: What were you looking to take away from The Clutch when you entered? Investment? Advice? A platform to advertise your company?
RS: To be honest, it was just the time of day from investors who I may not get to meet again in person for a long time. I think you have a small amount of time to make an impact, and I knew mine would be far greater face to face than through sending a pitch deck.
Additionally, having the opportunity to get their feedback and insight into the industry was very helpful, it has enabled us to tweak the necessary aspects of our business and opened up the channels of communication regarding investment. Ultimately, winning The Clutch has provided the recognition and validation for what our mission is. It has just been great to get our brand out there.
“I want G-Science to become the global kitemark for health in esports.”
ESI: Why do you think G-Science won The Clutch?
RS: At the end of the day, I think we were honest and authentic. It’s important to stay true to yourself, your values, and your overall mission. This is something that is really important to me. I think that was demonstrated in our pitch. Not to mention, we are solving real problems within the esports industry. The health of esports athletes needs to be put first and we’re championing this.
ESI: What are the long-term goals for the company?
RS: This is hard to say succinctly. I have big dreams and I will work hard to attain them. I want G-Science to become the global kitemark for health in esports.