Challonge will be the first tenant in Butler’s new Esports Park when it opens next month. Founded in 2009, Challonge was acquired by Logitech in 2019 and operates under the gaming division, Logitech G. Challonge is led by Matt McIntyre, a 2006 Butler University graduate who joined the company in 2018.
Challonge is a software-as-a-service company (SaaS) that allows gamers to run their own tournaments online—streamlining registration, progression, and record keeping—and an application programming interface (API) that can be integrated into websites, games, bots, and other software applications.
“Being located in Butler’s new Esports Park is going to create a number of partnership opportunities that will benefit not only Challonge, but also Butler students, faculty, and the Indianapolis community,” McIntyre said. “Butler students will gain real-world experience in the sports technology industry through internships with Challonge. The opportunity to trial our software with students and faculty, as well as through events that are open to the community, is extremely valuable to our company.”
Challonge has been operating in a temporary space on Butler’s campus for the past year with the intention of relocating to the Esports Park as soon as it opened. Challonge currently has 13 employees.
“Indianapolis is quickly becoming a hub for the sportstech industry with the collaboration of the city’s sports franchises, government agencies, education, and technology sectors, as well as the growth of venture capital investment,” Eric Kammeyer, Butler University’s Director of Esports and Gaming Technology, said. “The Esports and Gaming market alone is expected to be a $4.75 billion industry by 2030. Through strategic partnerships, our state-of-the-art facility, and curricular and co-curricular programs, Butler University is positioning itself to be a leader in preparing students for careers related to sports technology. Challonge and Logitech bring a lot of resources to the table, and the Butler community will directly benefit from their presence on our campus.”
Last month, Butler announced that it had received a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor to be used toward the construction of its Esports Park. The facility is expected to open to the Butler community in August 2022 as students return for fall classes. A grand opening ceremony for the broader community is being planned for later in the fall.