?? 2024: A Year of Growth, Gratitude, and Community ??

As we wrap up 2024 with Affinity Esports , we’re filled with gratitude for the incredible support and community that has propelled us forward. This year has been a journey of growth, gratitude, and community, made possible by our extended Affinity family—families, board of directors, team members, partners, advisors, and supporters. Whether you’ve been with us for years or joined recently, your contributions have made a meaningful impact, and we deeply appreciate all you do. We'd like to take a moment to acknowledge the strides taken, pay tribute to those who made this possible, and look forward to what’s ahead.

Accomplishments of a Monumental Year

2024 has been a year of remarkable achievements that underscore the growth, innovation, and impact of Affinity Esports. These milestones highlight the collective efforts of our team, partners, and community, reflecting our commitment to setting new standards in the esports industry.

• Revenue Growth: Increased revenue sevenfold since the end of our first year of operation (2022), showcasing the growing impact of our programs and community reach.
• Launched Second Studio: Opened our second studio in Milford, CT, and significantly expanded our Mobile Solution to serve more than 20 partners and 15 locations in the state.
• Appointed Board of Directors: Established a dedicated board to guide strategic decision-making and support the long-term growth of the business.
• Landed Key Hires: Focused on leadership roles and the development of skilled facilitators to enhance program delivery and organizational capacity.
• Summer Camp Success: Closed our eleven-week summer with 155 camp registrations that spanned our two dedicated studios and two mobile locations, increasing our all-time numbers to more than 300 summer camp registrations.
• Studio Program Expansion: Delivered over 4,500 in-studio program hours with 7,400+ individual program bookings.
• Youth Club Championships: Secured two championships in Minecraft Bedwars and Valorant, reflecting the exceptional talent, teamwork, and competitive spirit thriving within our community.
• Young Adult Program Growth: Engaged 120 total registrations across 10 sites that delivered?16 impactful sessions. These initiatives emphasized balance, mental well-being, and meaningful social connections, creating a supportive environment for growth and community building.
• Recognition and Demand: Established ourselves as a “go-to” partner for workforce development initiatives and esports program implementation for school districts while supporting events with partners like Milford Public Schools, Girl Scouts of Connecticut, Junior Achievement, and Post University.
• Fundraising Achievement: Closed a pivotal financing round that has expedited our impact on our existing communities and positioned the business for significant growth in 2025.
• Strengthened Partnerships: Grew partnerships with recreation departments, schools, libraries, mental health groups, and many other community-based organizations, creating expanded opportunities and building a pipeline for future collaborations in 2025.
• Laid the Groundwork for Connecticut Esports: Launched Connecticut Esports to progress unifying the state’s gaming and esports communities, providing resources, events, and recognition platforms.

Boundless Gratitude

As we reflect on the year, there are individuals whose extraordinary contributions deserve special recognition:

• Kate Petersen , whose unwavering dedication and mentorship have been instrumental in our success. Her compassion, understanding, and commitment to Affinity Esports and the two of us have been nothing short of remarkable, as she delivers on every challenge without fail.
• Kaohom Boonyalai , who brings endless energy and hustle, engaging our community with a clear understanding of our mission. Her flexibility and steadfast support have been vital to our success.
• Roger Caramanica, Ph.D. , who has supported us since the beginning, dedicated to fostering our growth. During our toughest times, he has been a sounding board and a voice of reason, offering invaluable support without ever asking for anything in return.
• Justin Morin , who has gone above and beyond to support our community and develop engaging programs. Justin's involvement and work with our community as well as his commitment to creating engaging programming will have a lifetime impact on our organization and those we serve.

Above all, these four people have stood by Emily and me with strength and consistency. They believe in the mission of Affinity Esports to their core. And they give... and give... and give... We wouldn’t be where we are today without them.

With this, our strategic pathway has been shaped by our newly appointed Board of Directors, comprised of Connecticut leaders, industry titans, and impeccable professionals. Most importantly, these are good, strong people that Emily and I can rely on personally and professionally. We carefully selected individuals aligned with our mission at Affinity Esports. A big thanks to Roger Caramanica, Ph.D. , Julie Mavrogeorge , Clint Kennedy , Rebecca Dixon , Joshua Cyr , and Matthew Turner .

A special thanks to our team for their hustle, hard work, and commitment to growing Affinity Esports: Kate Petersen , Kaohom Boonyalai , Maxwell McGee, M.Ed. , Justin Morin , Brayden Bisson, Bryant Recker , Kelvin Mizhquiri , Connor Lincavicks , Andrew Goodrich , Veronica Tardif , Ethan Hobbs , Nolan Picco, Jonathan Martin , Christopher Serreti , Jacob Tashjian, Katheryn Windhorst, Brandon Brigeman, Jacob Manchester , John Pelletier, Brandon Johnson, our interns, and temporary seasonal support.

To our amazing advisors and supporters, Mary Kay Della Camera and Nancy Fredine , your special effort and endless support this year have been invaluable. You’ve kept us focused, secure, and aligned with our goals.

As our circle of advisors, partners, supporters, and friends continues to grow, I’d like to highlight a few individuals who have made this year especially memorable: Amy Marracino, Jennifer Abbatemarco , Aurelio Muraca , Lance Cortez, Kris Krohn, Hector Navarro , Sebastian Fortuna , Duane P. Pierre , Walter Padilla , Matthew Worsman , Bronwyn Stuckey , Victor Lu , Meghan Friedland , Meghan Salonia , Nate W. , Alex Naon, Eugene Beattie , Prerna Rao , Steven Lickstein , Steve Eychner , Michael D'Amico , Christine Sullivan , Geoff Knapp, MBA, CLCS, CRIS , Taia Lionetti , Bob Murdock , Julie Nash , Simon McDonald , Anna Cutaia , Rachel Mele , Tracy Bonosconi, Lillian Teng , Eli Crossman (and Deborah), Konrad Winkowski , April Winkowski , Chris DeLaurentis (and Natalie), Stephani Harpin, Mike Dooling, Joshua Summers , Scott Zakos , Joe Dimyan , Pinchas Taub , Juan Torres, Annie G. , Valerie Stolfi Collins , Connor Negri , Amy Mangold , Dan Gagne, Laura Murphy, Jennifer Balbes , Christopher Baarstad , Emanuela Palmares , Wendy Taylor (and Bob), John Fracker , Carson Duffy, Amy R Knorr , Noreen Wilpiszeski , Richard Durkee, Tom Cavaliere , Delith Jackson , Ivelisse Soto , ADAM COHEN , Ramirez Luz , Emily Albarran, Karen Andrews , Janice Madera , Jared Arter, LMSW , Adrienne Allen, amanda truppi-eckert , Sudha Veeraraghav , Elizabeth Hughes , Jerrel Cummings, LMSW , Paula Zepke, Paul Dalessio , Ashley Albanese, Laurie Bartholic, Justin Violette , and Jeffrey Spencer .

To our Founding Members and Investors, you know who you are. Thank you for continuing to power what we do!

To our many partners including Post University , 联想 , HyperX , Milford Public Schools , Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce , Connecticut Innovations , Capital Workforce Partners , Milford Public Schools , Sweet’N Up Podcast with Jeff Spencer, Newtown Bee , Reverie Brewing Company , Emerge , Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services , Connecticut Recreation and Parks Association , Girl Scouts of Connecticut , Boys & Girls Club of Redding-Easton , Valhallan Esports League, Junior Achievement of Southwest New England , Variation Visuals , and so many more. Thank you for enabling us to do what we love!

Finally, a heartfelt thanks to our parents: Your belief in our vision and unwavering support have been instrumental in our journey. We couldn’t do this without you.

There are many more who deserve acknowledgement for their contributions. To all of you who have been engaged and supportive: know that your involvement is deeply valued and appreciated.

Vision for The Year Ahead

Led by strategic planning sessions this December, Affinity Esports is preparing for a transformative year ahead.

• Growth and Sustainability: Affinity Esports is not just about family—it’s about creating something lasting. We’re building a sustainable business that sets the standard for community-based esports, offering long-term opportunities for those seeking a foothold in this exciting industry.
• Newtown Expansion: Expanding our Newtown Studio to 3,200 square feet downstairs while retaining 800 square feet upstairs for back-office operations, co-working spaces, and mobile camp launches.
• Milford Growth: Enhancing our Milford Studio to 4,000 square feet to mirror Newtown’s size and scope, further increasing our program capacity.
• Trumbull Studio: Exploring the addition of a new studio in Trumbull to expand our reach and community impact.
• Innovative Programs and Technology: Launching new offerings such as homeschool programs and incorporating cutting-edge technologies like VR/AR to enrich participant experiences.
• Connecticut Esports Expansion: Developing Connecticut Esports into a core offering, with a focus on building a stronger community, fostering collaboration, and delivering impactful statewide events.

As we close out 2024, we’re energized by the progress we’ve made and excited about the opportunities that lie ahead in 2025. This year has been about defining who we are, stabilizing our foundation, and proving the potential for lasting impact within the esports industry. To everyone who has been part of this journey—thank you for your unwavering support, belief, and contributions. Together, we’re building something extraordinary, and we can’t wait to see what we achieve next.

With much gratitude,

Emily Kilpatrick (pocoloco) and Mark Kilpatrick (subhuman)

Founders of Affinity Esports