# **Where Ideas Come From: Starting Your Own Esports Venture**

  



Every big Esports organisation — from *Fnatic* to *100 Thieves*, *NUEL* to *British Esports* — started with a **simple idea**.

That idea may have come from passion, frustration, a market gap, or even a casual conversation.

This page is all about helping **you** spark, shape, and develop your own Esports venture idea. Whether you want to start a team, design merchandise, build an app, or run events, this is your space to get inspired — with **real techniques** and **practical tools** to turn thoughts into action.

  

## Where Do Great Ideas Come From?

Creativity isn’t magic. Most successful ideas start when someone notices **a need**, **a gap**, or **a passion** — and thinks, “what if I could build something around that?”

Here are some of the most common sources of Esports business ideas:

  

### 1. Hobbies and Personal Interests

Many entrepreneurs build businesses around what they already love.

**Example:**
A college gamer who loved editing highlight reels started a freelance business creating TikToks for local Esports teams — and now runs a video agency.

Ask yourself:

* What games, events, or tech do I already enjoy?
* What problems or improvements have I noticed?
* What would I *pay for* that doesn’t exist yet?

  

### 2. Spotting Problems or Frustrations

Great business ideas often come from **pain points**:

* Can’t find a local tournament?
* Tired of laggy scrim lobbies?
* Hate managing team comms across 5 apps?

If you’ve been annoyed by something in gaming or Esports, chances are others have too.

  

### 3. Following New Trends

The Esports industry moves fast. Keeping an eye on trends can spark smart, timely ideas.

Emerging trends include:

* College/School-level Esports
* Mobile gaming tournaments
* Women and non-binary inclusion
* Short-form content (YouTube Shorts, TikTok)
* AI in gameplay coaching
* Esports health and wellbeing services

**Follow sources like:**

* [Esports Insider](https://esportsinsider.com)
* [British Esports](https://britishesports.org)
* [NSE & NUEL](https://nse.gg)
* Reddit subs like r/esports or r/Entrepreneur

  

### 4. Niche Passions

A “small” community can still have a **big impact** if you serve it well.

**Example:**
A UK entrepreneur started a Discord community just for fighting game fans in northern England. It now runs local LANs, has sponsor support, and connects players to regional qualifiers.

Look around:

* Are there under-served players in a certain genre or region?
* Could you support a marginalised group in gaming?
* What niche could you become the **go-to expert** in?

  

## Creative Thinking Techniques

If you're stuck or unsure where to start, use these proven techniques to generate and organise ideas.

  

### 1. Mind Mapping

A mind map helps you **visually explore** ideas by branching off from a central concept.

**Example:**

**Esports Business**
├── Team
│ ├── Local focus
│ ├── Women-only
│ └── Amateur league
├── Content
│ ├── TikTok
│ ├── Match recaps
│ └── Live shows
└── Product
├── Merch store
├── Esports fashion
└── Eco-friendly packaging

Use free tools like [Miro](https://miro.com), [MindMeister](https://www.mindmeister.com), or paper and pen.

  

### 2. The Journalistic 6

Ask these 6 questions about a potential idea:

| Question | Purpose |
| ------------------------------------ | --------------------- |
| **Who** is it for? | Target audience |
| **What** does it do? | Purpose/value |
| **Where** will it happen or be sold? | Online, local, hybrid |
| **When** will people use it? | Timing, scheduling |
| **Why** would they choose it? | Unique benefit |
| **How** will it work? | Delivery or platform |

This helps you turn a fuzzy idea into a structured plan.

  

### 3. TGROW Coaching Model

A simple but powerful framework for self-guided thinking:

| Step | Description | Prompt Example |
| --------------- | ---------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| **T** – Topic | What do I want to explore? | "I want to create a content series." |
| **G** – Goal | What does success look like? | "100K views in 6 months." |
| **R** – Reality | Where am I now? | "I post once a week with 500 views." |
| **O** – Options | What could I do? | "Try Shorts, partner with players, increase quality." |
| **W** – Will | What will I commit to? | "Post 3x/week and review monthly." |

Use TGROW to challenge your assumptions and commit to small actions.

  

### 4. SWOT Analysis

Test your idea's strength using this simple grid:

| Strengths (Internal) | Weaknesses (Internal) |
| --------------------- | ---------------------- |
| Passionate about idea | No funding experience |
| Unique concept | Small initial audience |

| Opportunities (External) | Threats (External) |
| ------------------------ | -------------------------- |
| Local event interest | Competition from big teams |
| Esports trend growth | Game could lose popularity |

A SWOT analysis helps you **see risks and possibilities** clearly before you go all-in.

  

## Refining an Idea

Once you’ve brainstormed and explored possibilities, it’s time to **refine** your idea into something realistic, exciting, and launchable.

  

### 1. Is It Realistic?

Ask yourself:

* Can I build a simple version of this idea soon?
* What do I already have? (skills, access, audience)
* What help or tools would I need?

Start small. Great businesses often begin with **simple tests**, like:

* Posting a teaser on social media
* Hosting a one-off event
* Asking a Discord server what they’d pay for

  

### 2. Does It Meet a Real Need?

Even a passion project needs **some kind of market**.

* Who are your potential users?
* What problem are you solving?
* Will they care enough to support you?

Use surveys, polls, and interviews to check interest before committing resources.

  

### 3. Can It Grow Over Time?

Sustainable ideas grow in some way — more players, content, revenue, or reach.

Look for potential in:

* New audiences
* Scalable products (like digital downloads)
* Brand extensions (merch, collabs, spin-offs)
* Recurring revenue (subscriptions, memberships)

  

## Final Thoughts

Every successful Esports venture began with one small question: **“What if?”**

By following your curiosity, tapping into your passions, and using creative thinking tools, you can come up with ideas that are:

* Relevant
* Exciting
* Realistic
* Valuable to others

Don't wait for the “perfect idea.” Start with what you know, explore it deeply, and let it evolve.

  

## Useful Tools and Resources

* [Miro – Mind Mapping](https://miro.com)
* [MindMeister – Free Mapping Tool](https://www.mindmeister.com)
* [British Esports – Startups & Education](https://britishesports.org)
* [Esports Insider – Market Trends](https://esportsinsider.com)
* [Notion – Organise Ideas](https://www.notion.so/)
* [TGROW explained (Coaching Toolkit)](https://www.performanceconsultants.com/tgrow-model)