RightBridge Ventures AB (“RBV”) and The Non-Violence Project Foundation (“NVPF”) join forces to make e-sport and gaming a safer place through the KNOT OK initiative.

Stockholm, March 1^st 2021 - 67% of players have experienced severe harassment while playing games online, which includes physical threats, stalking and sustained harassment, while 81% of online multiplayer gamers have experienced some form of harassment, according to a survey released by ADL’s (the Anti-Defamation League) Centre for Technology and Society.

NVPF has worked for more than 27 years, in 30 countries, inspiring, motivating and engaging youth to understand how to solve conflicts peacefully. NVPF has educated and trained more than 9 million young people, students, teachers and sports coaches in topics such as conflict management, harassment, racism and bullying, often involving sports such as football or basket. Its famous Knotted Gun symbol, placed outside the UN headquarters in New York and at 30 other strategic places around the world, is the most well-known symbol for non-violence.

“Gaming and E-sport is the next frontier! Some of the toxic behaviours that NVPF has encountered during the past 27 years groom under the anonymity that digital tools offer. NVPF sees the KNOT OK initiative against toxicity in esport and gaming as a natural progression to empower young people. Leveraging RBV network and company assets in the e-sport and gaming industry, RBV is a key partner to develop KNOT OK and make it available to young people worldwide” says Claes Kalborg, Head and global responsible for the initiative.

KNOT OK initiative intends to provide young people with references, tools and discussion spaces that empower them against toxic behaviours. The goal of the partnership is to empower young people, with special focus on female gamers and esport fans, to manage toxic behaviour in esport and gaming platforms.

“It is with great confidence that NVPF welcomes RightBridge Ventures to this important collaboration. E-sport is a fantastic opportunity and platform for young people to meet online and with this partnership we can hopefully curb the increase in harassment, bullying and discrimination that today is seen in e-sports”. Jan Hellman, NVPF President and Co-founder.

KNOT OK turns RBV into a company with a mission! "We are proud to have KNOT OK as part of RBV investment portfolio. With KNOT OK, we invest in eliminating barriers to unlocking gamer’s full potential to go from ZERO to HERO.” says Magnus Leppäniemi, RBV board member and seasoned e-sport executive.

“We are thrilled to contribute with our network, competence and portfolio companies to build, develop and distribute the work of NVPF and KNOT OK. Our portfolio companies (e.g. ESPL Nordics) should act as hosts, distribution channel and ambassadors to the KNOT OK initiative. In addition, KNOT OK opens up to new exciting investments opportunities such as AI toxicity analytics technologies to identify and ban toxic behaviours. RBV is the first esport impact investment company, and we hope that others follow” says Carlos Barrios, RBV CEO.

The partnership between RBV and NVPF is part of RBV wider initiative oriented to serve as catalyst of the e-sport and gaming grassroot and start-up community. For that purpose, RBV invests in assets that act as catalyst, data generator and testbed for gamers and entrepreneurs to interact, show their gaming and business skills under the values of fair-play, innovation and non - toxicity.

About RightBridge Ventures

RightBridge Ventures is an investment company based in Stockholm (Sweden) dedicated to investing in companies that shape the future of esports and gaming as part of the digital entertainment industry. The intention of RBV board of directors is to present a motion for public listing of RBV during 2021. For more information visit www.rightbridge.se or get updates on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Contact: jointhejourney@rightbridge.se