GreenPark Sports Raises $8.5 Million

GreenPark Sports, a startup that connects fans with sports teams, has completed an $8.5 million seed funding round. The Calabasas company received the funding from lead investors Sapphire Sports, in Palo Alto; Founders Fund and SignalFire, both in San Francisco; and other investment firms. The money will go toward hiring new employees, including creative arts professionals, engineering and development talent, as well as market and gaming industry strategists. GreenPark was founded last year to create digital experiences and mobile games for sports fans. It was started by Chad Hurley, a co-founder and former chief executive of YouTube; Nick Swinmurn, a founder and former chief executive of online shoe and clothing retailer Zappos; and Ken Martin, a co-founder of Blitz, a digital creative agency. “We want to breathe new life into what made people fall in love with sports and competition in the first place,” Hurley said in a statement. “Whether you enjoy traditional, eSports, or like most of us are a fan of both, GreenPark Sports is the place to connect and compete with other fans like you.”