Competitive eSports can feel like a male-dominated industry, but the GIRLGAMER eSports Festival is working to make the scene more universal and inclusive. Since its debut in 2017, the festival has maintained an emphasis on celebrating, supporting and pushing for women's inclusion in eSports and competitive gaming. The GIRLGAMER eSports Festival currently includes an esports business conference as well as several competitions in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and League of Legends.
The upcoming second iteration of the GIRLGAMER eSports Festival will take place in Lisbon, Portugal, and is organized by GrowuP eSports in partnership with The Rainbow, Kaisun Energy Group, Evoloop, and Metta Sport. The festival will also be sponsored by Sephora, marking the first time the cosmetic retailer has participated in esports.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Inclusive Esports
- Opportunity for businesses to disrupt the male-dominated esports industry by creating inclusive spaces and events.
- Women Empowerment in Gaming
- Businesses have the chance to empower women in gaming by supporting initiatives and creating opportunities for them in the esports industry.
- Partnerships Between Esports and Retail
- Retailers, like Sephora, can disrupt their industry by leveraging the growing popularity of esports and sponsoring events to reach a wider audience.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Esports
- There is an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the esports industry by actively promoting and supporting inclusivity.
- Gaming
- Businesses in the gaming industry can disrupt the norm by focusing on empowering women and creating a more inclusive gaming community.
- Retail
- Retailers have an opportunity to disrupt their industry by partnering with esports events to expand their reach and engage with a new demographic.
