Kirk Lacob had always been a gamer, but he always wondered why gaming wasn't more professionalized.
Looking into the business opportunity for the first time two years ago, the 29-year-old assistant general manager of the Golden State Warriors discovered it actually was more organized than he thought.
Following the investment by Warriors co-owner Peter Guber in Team Liquid, an investment other Warriors owners including Lacob got a small piece of, Kirk delved deeper into the space. When Riot Games opened up the opportunity to apply for a space in the North American League of Legends Championship Series -- at a $13 million cost -- Lacob, on behalf of the Warriors ownership venture capital firm GSW Ventures, jumped at the opportunity.