Omnic Data Inc., a Brunswick startup building an artificial intelligence-enabled platform for the esports industry, has raised $750,000 in venture capital to add employees and cover operational expenses.
The company has already used some of the funding, announced Tuesday, to double the number of employees to four. The team consists of two people on the technical side and two in business development.
There's also an offer to another technical team member that co-founder and CEO Shaun Meredith, a former U.S. Navy submarine officer, said he hopes will be accepted shortly. He said the company is also advertising for four internships, two in software development and data science and two in marketing and communications.
Rich Miner, co-founder of Android Inc. and a former partner at Google Ventures, led the $750,000 pre-seed funding round.
Other investors include Steven Koltai, a serial tech entrepreneur who served as former President Barack Obama's senior advisor for entrepreneurship; and Sam Brin, one of the first five employees at Robinhood Markets Inc., a financial services company headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif.
"This capital will allow us to continue building the esports industry's first AI-enabled platform to improve player performance — right here in Maine," Meredith said in Tuesday's announcement. "Our goal is to help the world's 1.8 billion aspiring esports players to activate their superpowers."
Location, location, location
Omnic's capital raise comes as the company prepares to move into Brunswick Station, where the Amtrak Downeaster line ends. Meredith told Mainebiz the location is perfect for several reasons, including easy access into and out of Boston by train and proximity to the Brunswick Executive Airport.
In addition, current team members all live in the midcoast region, he said. Omnic Data was part of the inaugural cohort in the 12-week Roux Techstars Accelerator program that finished in December.
Asked why Maine is an attractive place to grow the company, Meredith said, "My co-founder, Chuck Goldman, and I are both deeply committed to growing a technology company in Maine."
While a machine learning and software development company can be based anywhere, Meredith said, "we both realized how vital it was to have 21st-century technology skills in today's world ,and are committed to making sure the new generation of Maine students can remain in Maine instead of leaving and returning later in life."
"Maine has the schools and the talent," he added. "We just need to make sure the high technology jobs are available. Our company and employees can take advantage of all Maine has to offer and grow a phenomenal technology company right here."
To date, Omnic has signed two professional esports teams, one collegiate team and one club team. The startup also recently partnered with Boston-based Uptime Esports, which operates esports gaming lounges in New England and sponsors competitive club exports teams, to explore bringing a competitive team to Maine.
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February 03, 2022 at 09:16PM
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Brunswick esports tech startup raises $750K - Mainebiz
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