In 2023, mobile gaming platform Skillz made a bold bet, relocating its corporate headquarters from San Francisco to Las Vegas. It wasn’t just luck – it was a strategic move by a company that saw alignment between its mission and the city’s entrepreneurial energy.
“Relocating to las Vegas was a major milestone. The culture here fits us. the fast pace, innovative, and entrepreneurial spirit of the city really aligns with who we are at our core. Las Vegas is rooted in entertainment, competition, and innovation – all things that define Skillz.”
Andrew Paradise, Founder and CEO of Skillz
Founded in 2012, Skillz set out to disrupt the traditional mobile gaming revenue model by eliminating intrusive ads and in-app purchases in favor of a player-versus-player competition model.
“As a lifelong gamer, I saw an possibility to build something better,” said Paradise. “We set out to build a platform that enables developers to monetize competition so that game developers coudl focus on what they do best, make games.”
Today, the Skillz platform hosts billions of casual esports tournaments for millions of mobile players worldwide and collaborates with thousands of mobile game developers.
Why Las Vegas?
Skillz now operates out of a 36,000-square foot global headquarters in Southwest Las Vegas. The decision to relocate was driven by a combination of business advantages and cultural alignment.
“Southern Nevada offers meaningful cost advantages, proximity to West Coast markets, and a growing tech workforce,” said Paradise. “Las Vegas also offered the lifestyle our team was looking for. Even well-compensated employees in San Francisco were sharing bunk beds. Here, our employees – whom we call Skillzians – enjoy a better work-life balance and are still just a short flight from the West Coast.”
One standout element of Skillz’s talent pipeline strategy is its co-op program, which draws top students from prestigious universities. Some roles have received more than 500 applications within a couple of days,a clear indicator of Las Vegas’ growing appeal to tech professionals.
“Co-ops bring remarkable energy into the office, and there’s tons of room for them to grow,” Singleton said. “It’s been a very successful program for hiring full-time employees.”
Skillz is also building relationships with local universities, with plans to increase engagement in 2026 through career fairs, hosted events, and deeper collaboration.
“We’re focused on growing talent and also keeping talent here,” Singleton added. “We’ve already hired people who were planning to leave Las Vegas but stayed because of the opportunities we offer.”
LVGEA and GOED: Relocation Partners
Skillz’s move