Astralis Owner RFRSH Raises $10.5 Million in Funding

RFRSH Entertainment, owners of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive team Astralis and the BLAST Pro Series, announced it raised over $10.5 million in funding.

Over $10.5 million was raised in a new round of funding for RFRSH Entertainment, it announced. With lead investors from the Danish Growth Fund, RFRSH Entertainment raised a considerable amount that will help the company with its global and esports endeavors -- like the CS:GO tournament BLAST Pro Series and its team Astralis.

"RFRSH Entertainment has positioned itself as a frontrunner in the development of live esport entertainment formats for the core esport fans as well as a wider mainstream audience. Through the capital injection, the company seeks to develop the current and introduce new live, digital and content formats around the tournament and live events," the news release said.

RFRSH Entertainment CEO Nikolaj Nyholm said, "We are creating the most interesting live tournament in esports and our ultimate ambition is to establish BLAST Pro Series as part of the mainstream scene of world class competitive entertainment on level with NBA, UFC, football, movies and online entertainment in general. Already now we have taken a pioneering role in creating the esports brand for the mainstream audience, and it is this position we seek to strengthen further."

BLAST Pro Series Istanbul ended with Astralis winning the event, while Natus Vincere took Copenhagen. Its next event and spring calendar were also revealed.