Undisclosed · Other round · Gaming, Sports · Paris, France
Paris-based fantasy sports company Sorare has closed an undisclosed funding round backed by existing investors Benchmark, Accel and Partech, with Kibo Ventures joining and co-founders Nicolas Julia and Adrien Montfort investing alongside them. Julia said the capital will support new game modes and card products as Sorare works towards returning to profitability by the end of 2027.
Sorare operates a fantasy sports game and digital marketplace built around officially licensed player cards. Users collect and trade cards, build teams and compete based on real-world performances across football, basketball and baseball. The company’s press page says it has more than 3 million users in 180 countries and partnerships with more than 300 teams, leagues and sporting organisations.
Financing details remain partly private. Sorare did not publish a round size or series. Spanish sports-business outlet 2Playbook, citing Dealroom, reported that the operation was worth more than €10m and that one tranche had completed with another expected in the following months. Sorare’s announcement describes the round as closed, so the company’s undisclosed amount is the primary presentation here and the reported tranche structure remains attributed context.
Free-to-play broadens the funnel
Julia said Sorare’s net revenue grew 85% year on year in the first half of 2026 and that more than 100,000 Managers bought cards, above the level seen during the company’s 2021 growth wave. He also said more than 1 million users joined over the previous 18 months. Those are company figures, but they matter because Sorare is trying to widen its audience without abandoning the card economy that generates revenue.
The bridge is Arcade, a faster free-to-play game mode launched earlier in 2026. A free entry point can lower the commitment required from a sports fan before they understand cards, team construction and competition rewards. Sorare can then introduce paid or scarce cards to players who have already developed a playing habit. That makes product engagement, rather than a speculative collectibles cycle, the route into the marketplace.
The new round follows a significant operating reset. 2Playbook reported that Sorare reduced its workforce by 35% and closed its New York office in November 2025. Fresh backing from long-standing investors gives the company more time to test whether Arcade, the Sorare 27 card launch and the return of NBA products can turn user growth into durable revenue. The execution question is whether Sorare can keep the free experience compelling while converting enough engaged fans to support its profitability target.
Sources checked:
Nicolas Julia announcement · Sorare press page · Dealroom News · 2Playbook · Tech.eu Funding Explorer
