What started as a hub for student gaming communities across the Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asia has evolved to a fully-fledged esports startup, hosting scholarships and college tournaments. Since its inception in 2019, AcadArena, co-founded by Ariane Lim, has partnered with more than 500 colleges, encompassing 150,000 students. The company also teaches college-level students Web3 technology, while monetising crypto games to build financial independence.