Youtube streamer, professional gamer and Internet personality Rachell “Valkyrae” Hofstetter, 29, who is half-German and half-Filipina, can now add business executive to her list of titles as one of six new co-owners to e-sports and lifestyle brand 100 Thieves, The New York Times reports.
Valkyrae announced her new position earlier this week, writing that she was “proud to be one of the first women co-owners in esports and beyond excited for our future together!”
Not only is Valkyrae the first female owner of 100 Thieves, she was also the first female creator to join the organization in October 2018 after considering multiple other offers.
As a co-owner, Valkyrae will be receiving equity in the company, which Forbes valued at $190 million in 2020. Her responsibilities include signing new talent for the company’s established sectors such as livestreaming personalities and professional gamers and as well as expanding operations into non-gaming industries like clothing lines, film, television and podcasts.
Since she first began streaming at 23 on live streaming service Twitch, which now commands 72% of online gaming viewership, Valkyrae has experienced an exponential rise to becoming the most-viewed female streamer in the world in the first quarter of 2021, according to GameRant.
Along the way, she has experienced many bumps in the road, including a risky platform switch from Twitch to Youtube which required her to rebuild her entire subscribership base and a doxing from a delusional stalker. However, throughout all her struggles, she has stayed open with her audience.
“Everyone thinks the people they see online everyday live perfect lives,” Valkyrae told The New York Times. “I hope I can help people see that things are difficult for everyone.”
As the most prominent woman in a male-dominated industry (despite the fact that almost over 41% of consumers of games are women) that is often full of toxic, misogynist and racist behavior, Valkyrae is optimistic about the role of female gamers.
“My girlfriends and I have been playing video games since we were 6 years old,” she said. “It’s not that women gamers are new. What is new is that we are more visible now.”
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[…] Valkyrae is a big name in gaming and streaming. She’s known for her amazing skills and fun content on Valkyrae YouTube and gaming platforms1. With a net worth of about $2 million1, she inspires many who want to stream. She’s also a co-owner of 100 Thieves, a gaming group worth $190 million in 2020, according to Forbes2. […]