Yomi Headquarters

My name is Giancarlo Moreno and I am the founder and CEO of Yomi Gaming. I know there are many questions regarding my professional background. In sort, I am an entrepreneur with diverse experience. While my roots are in the restaurant and bar industry, I also recently owned a successful tattoo parlor in San Francisco called Miss Phoenix Rose Tattoo and Gallery. Since moving back to Atlanta I used a portion of the money from the sale of my tattoo shop to partner into a company called S&B Glass. I worked for this company many years growing up and although it's not my passion, it provides the income I need until Yomi starts earning enough to survive.

 As far as the comparisons between Yomi and EMP go, there is much that can be said.  There are two main differences between Yomi and EMP.  The first has to do with me, the second with my business plan and team.  

 Despite whatever false accusations and rumors fly around this site and some others, I am a dedicated father of two, health nut, and hardworking tax payer with outstanding credit due to a determined and responsible work ethic. I've opened businesses and failed. I've made mistakes and learned from them. I know what it's like to lose my financial stability due to my own misjudgments and oversights and I strive constantly to never let that happen again.

  I do not sell drugs, embezzle, or any of the other ridiculous claims that have been made about me, whether joking or serious.  Anyone that knows me will tell you I'm a good man, a great friend, and respectable, no nonsense business person with integrity and the desire to do positive things on this earth. As far as I know, Triforce was a person with no entrepreneurial background that many knew to be a deceptive salesmen who made false promises.  As for my own reputation, the many years I have spent building strong relationships and running successful businesses has provided me with literally thousands of people who know me to be the person I say I am. 

 The second difference between Yomi and EMP is that unlike EMP, there is actually a solid business plan behind the team you see competing at tournaments. Yomi is an event space that is setup to host all sorts of video game related events such as birthday parties, private parties, and tournaments of all genres. It’s primary source of income comes through memberships similar to a gym or health club. At 30-50 dollars per month (no contract), members gain unlimited access to the facility 11am-6am 7 days a week. My overhead is covered when we reach 400 members.  On my desk right now is a stack of 368 people ready to buy memberships the moment the website is completed and we do our grand opening. My very realistic goal is to have 1000 members by the end of the fiscal year.  I have many events and marketing plans that will be bring people through my doors and if only a small fraction sign up, we will reach that goal.  The best part is that the direct beneficiary of our success will be the FGC. 

 Most of the negative feelings towards Yomi stem from the misunderstanding of what our pro team's purpose is. I didn't move King, Slayer, Mike, Denzell, Malik, REO, Zyphox and recently Dieminion to Atlanta for the sole purpose of doing well at majors. I hand picked them specifically for a much more important plan; namely, my mission to expand the FGC, beginning at the local level.  While I don't take any portion of money from their earnings, there is a catch. Each of the players owe me 12 hours a month of their time that will be used to teach newcomers how to play fighting games 100% FOR FREE.  While its true I want the best players, its not just so Yomi can win, but its so Yomi can have the best teachers.  

 I knew when I started this that if I ever wanted to truly succeed in this venture I would need to improve the way we attract and keep community members. So along with a few others, I began writing the material and curriculum that will be used to effectively teach newcomers.   My end goal then is to establish a FGC learning facility that will be called the Yomi Academy. The details of how and what will be taught I'll save for another time, but for now you should get the idea. 

The last thing I'll address is the title of this thread, Yomi Headquarters. Nearly two years ago when I started looking for a building to call home I began looking at vacant grocery stores, large retail spaces, and even old churches. I really wanted a space big enough to comfortably accommodate a few hundred people and be large enough to feel captivating on the inside. I knew if I was going to convince Atlanta that competitive gaming was cool, the venue would have to be very impressive. However what I quickly learned is that all of the places I looked at were 10-25k per month! I was a little disheartened to be honest. There was no way I could afford something like that. There simply wasn't enough money in the FGC yet. So I thought of all the cool dance clubs and music venues I had entered in really big cities like NY and SF. I remembered walking up to doors with little to no signage, escorted in by doorman, only to be blown away by how nice, luxurious, or cool the place was. It didn't really matter what the outside looked like. So began searching again, this time at warehouses and industrial spaces that potentially needed work. Eventually I stumbled upon a giant raw space in a historical complex known as the Metropolitan Arts district. The large complex was originally the hub for all merchant traffic flowing through Atlanta in the early 1900’s. Then in the 1960’s the area became a farmer's and flea market. Over the last 20 years it has transformed from an antiquated warehouse complex into an arts community and center for commercial, performing, and visual arts focusing on art studios, galleries, and workshops. My space is one of only three business that is actually on the outside of the complex. Although it looks a lot crappier on my side, I am allowed to do something none of the inside residents are allowed to do: host giant events. Due to the fact that the space was completely bare and needed a lot of work, I locked in an extremely low rent that would make my dream possible. I poured my heart, soul, and nearly thirty thousand dollars into this place. I was the designer and worked side by side with every amazing person that helped me create this concrete rose. It's true that about a month after I signed the lease, I invited my Injustice and MK friends over to check the place out and two cars were broken into. I felt horrible. Had I made the wrong decision? Would this work? It took a while for me to recover, but I eventually did. In Atlanta there is plenty of crime and ignorance to go around, but still people of all walks of life venture out and enjoy the city. How do they do so without fear? Police and security. So now every tournament night there is very competent security watching over the door as well as the parking lot until every last person leaves. Upon website launch and grand opening, security will be on watch every night. One day my goal is to obviously move to better location; a place with 40 ft tall ceilings, a giant parking lot, and in a nice area. However, for now, this is the only way this can begin. Many amazing companies you see today came from humble beginnings. Apple and Microsoft started in home garages. Starbucks was just a small quaint coffee shop before they dominated their industry. I could go on and on. Haters will always hate and most people love to watch you fail. The funny thing is the haters are hating on someone in their own community that I think has the potential to change our culture for the better. I hope I answered all of your questions and if there is anything you want know just ask me.

/r/Kappa Thread