Friendly Fire has closed a $4.7 million Series A funding round as the Croatia-based gaming café and esports franchise prepares for further international expansion.
AYMO Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Zagreb, Croatia, participated in the funding round. Friendly Fire said the new capital will support expansion into additional markets, continued development of its proprietary technology platform and improvements to its franchisee support systems.The investment comes as Friendly Fire builds its franchise pipeline in Europe and explores expansion opportunities in the United States.
Friendly Fire Builds International Franchise Pipeline
Founded in Zagreb in 2017, Friendly Fire operates gaming cafés designed to serve both casual gamers and competitive esports players. Its locations combine gaming equipment, social spaces, and organized tournaments and esports events.
The company currently has 22 company-owned and franchised locations across six countries. Friendly Fire reports that more than 220,000 gamers have joined its platform and that its locations have hosted more than 1,000 amateur esports tournaments.
Friendly Fire has also signed 31 franchise agreements that could result in 178 additional locations across 11 countries, according to the company. The funding gives Friendly Fire additional capital as it works to convert portions of that development pipeline into operating locations.
New Friendly Fire Locations Expand European Presence
Friendly Fire’s European expansion includes several new market and regional openings.
The company said it planned to open three locations on September 4th, including its first location in Limassol, Cyprus; its first location in Rijeka, Croatia; and its third location in Vienna, Austria. Those openings add to Friendly Fire’s existing footprint and illustrate the company’s strategy of developing locations across a mix of major cities and regional markets.
Friendly Fire is also scheduled to attend the European Franchise Awards in Brussels on September 17th. The company was named as Croatia’s representative in the International Brand of the Year category, which recognizes franchise brands operating across international markets.
Friendly Fire Targets Florida and Texas for U.S. Expansion
Friendly Fire is also preparing to enter the U.S. market, with Florida and Texas identified as its initial areas of focus. The company plans to pursue multiple locations in major metropolitan areas across the two states over the next several years. The U.S. expansion would bring Friendly Fire’s gaming café and esports concept into a market with a sizable gaming audience while requiring the company to adapt its model to local customer preferences and gaming communities.
The planned U.S. development forms part of Friendly Fire’s broader international franchise strategy as the company seeks to expand beyond its existing European operations.
With the Series A funding completed, Friendly Fire is positioning its technology, franchisee support infrastructure, and development pipeline as central components of its next stage of growth.
