Swedish golf technology company Golf GameBook has raised €3 million from a range of private and corporate investors to fund its future global growth.
The Golf GameBook mobile app, which encompasses digital scoring solutions, virtual event technology and social network capabilities, currently has more than a million registered users, including 500,000 in Sweden alone, and the company is now looking to further expand its presence.
Mikko Manerus, CEO and co-founder of Golf GameBook, said: “The continued digitalization of golf has had a positive impact on the overall golf industry, especially with the game’s recent surge in interest. We’ve not only witnessed a strong uptake of digital scoring solutions, but also the formation of social networks around the game of golf.
“The Golf GameBook community has been growing significantly and we’re excited about our next chapter as we expand our horizons on delivering top-quality digital experience for golfers through our industry-leading technology.”
Among the company’s new investors are Carl Manneh, founder of Minecraft; Fredrik Osterberg, co-founder of Evolution; Rustan Panday, investor of Storytel; Martti Aarnio-Wihuri, board member of Wihuri Group; and Pii Ketvel, founder investor in Wolt and CEO of MARCOL Capital Europe.
New investor Carl Manneh commented: “As an active golfer, I’ve enjoyed using Golf GameBook for several years and understand first hand its global potential in the overall digitalization movement in golf. Passion-driven communities like Golf GameBook will continue to play a strategic role in our experience-driven economy, which is fundamentally built upon this next evolution of social networks.”
Fredrik Osterberg added: “As with any tech company, the ability to first prove a business model in a concentrated market is a vital step before successfully scaling across multiple markets. With Golf GameBook’s widespread usage across Scandinavia as the digital standard for more than a half million golfers, the platform has laid the foundation for wider international expansion.”
Golf GameBook has also announced the appointment of several new staff to help the company grow in established and expanding markets.
Manerus said: “As we continue to build this virtual clubhouse, we understand that it’s all about having the right people in the right places at Golf GameBook. We’re a platform by golfers for golfers, but we’re also a team of seasoned professionals across tech, product, marketing and sales. I’m incredibly proud of the team we have and excited about welcoming new talent to join us on our journey to elevate the overall golf experience through technology, ultimately making it more enjoyable.”