Fnatic has closed a monumental $7 million dollar funding round with investors including the Raptor Group, which owns soccer team AS Roma and the Boston Celtics, as well as the Hersh Interactive Group, which co-owns the Houston Astros, according to an announcement on the team’s website. “There has been strong growth in esports, which has accelerated in recent years, but the major shift has been in the acceptance and inclusion by sports franchises, media companies and high profile individuals who have entered and advanced the industry rapidly,” Fnatic founder Sam Mathews said in a statement. “We’re incredibly excited by the opportunities available within esports, and having world class investors and advisors only enhances our ability to address these opportunities and continue to innovate.” The venerable esports brand has an existing relationship with AS Roma, entering into a partnership with them in February to manage the Italian team’s new FIFA team. cArn spoke about the partnership in a recent interview with theScore esports, saying “we’re open minded, we’re working closely with Roma now and it’s super exciting and it’s super rewarding to also tap into their audience and the sports industry itself.” Fnatic’s funding round comes on the heels of Cloud9’s March announcement that they had acquired “Series A” financing from investors including former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. In November, the NA organization completed a $2.8 million funding round with unnamed investors. According to Raptor Group investment officer and Fnatic director Chris Pallotta, the company is well-poised to lead the rising tide of esports. “Fnatic is at the forefront of advancing esports, constantly deploying innovative forms of engagement and monetization that we believe will transform the overall sports and entertainment industry over time,” he said in a statement.