Lucra, an esports-focused gamification and loyalty startup, raises $20 million from ARK Invest, according to TechCrunch. The report frames the funding as notable because venture capital has increasingly favored companies marketed as “AI,” with many founders using AI as a prominent pitch-deck theme. TechCrunch says Lucra did not emphasize AI in its pitch, contrasting with the current market dynamic and highlighting that founders are sometimes still able to attract large funding without leading with AI. The article also notes that ARK Invest has previously been “burned” by another company operating in a similar space, implying scrutiny around the sector’s risk profile. TechCrunch discusses the funding through its Equity podcast, featuring coverage of how the deal came together and why an esports play can still draw institutional interest amid AI-centric competition for capital. Overall, the sources present Lucra’s financing as an example of continued investor interest in esports-related engagement and loyalty products despite the broader AI fundraising preference.