João Cício Carvalho

As someone who has always been interested in strategy from a young age, I was drawn to chess and video games. My interest in gaming led me to the world of online gaming in 1999, which soon became one of my greatest passions and eventually inspired me to pursue a Bachelor's degree in computer science.

After completing my degree, I worked in the field of IT from 2004 to 2009, with a particular interest in computer networking. I also taught computer networking for a year during this time. In 2010, I was introduced to marketing through Red Bull, which ignited a new passion and led me to establish my own company, Inygon, in 2013.

With the difficulties of launching Inygon, my growing interest for marketing and strategy led me to pursue a Master's degree in the field, culminating in my thesis on business models in professional electronic sports teams. Seeking to expand my knowledge on how to run and grow a business, I enrolled in a PhD in Business Administration, which is currently unfinished due to work commitments.

At Inygon, we made significant strides for the Portuguese gaming community, including launching the first professional esports championship in Portugal, the Portuguese League of Legends (LPLOL), in 2015. Riot Games recognized the LPLOL as an official European Regional League in 2018. In 2021, we launched the first VALORANT professional competitions, which led to the creation of the VALORANT Challengers Portugal: Tempest (VCL PT) in 2023, the official VALORANT Challenger League for Portugal. In developing these competitions, we also created broadcasting solutions that turned us into a reference in the market. Additionally, we developed several software tools and applications, such as the Inygon Play web app, which rewarded stream spectators and allowed them to engage with broadcasts through options like predictions, or our software to fetch game and match information and use it on live broadcasts.

Throughout my professional career, competition has been an essential part of my life. As a former StarCraft 2 national champion and Karting university champion, I have learned valuable lessons that I bring to the workplace. Beyond my professional endeavors, I am an avid fan of cinema, philosophy, coding, and motorsports. I am also a former kendoka, paraglider, tennis, and indoor football player.