other

Updated:

Chess.com

Chess.com is an online platform founded in 2005 in Orem, Utah. It offers access to chess games, lessons, puzzles, tournaments, and live events.

Chess.com

Chess.com is an online platform founded in 2005 in Orem, Utah. It offers access to chess games, lessons, puzzles, tournaments, and live events. The platform serves individuals seeking to improve their chess skills and connect with a global community.

General information

Firm type

other

Year founded

2005

Location

Region

North America

Country

United States

City

New York

Corporate office

New York, NY, United States

Additional offices

Orem, UT, United States · London, United Kingdom

Principals

Erik Allebest

CEO

Jay Severson

Co-Founder

Daniel Rensch

Chief Chess Officer

Imbal Ber

Chief Product Officer

Sector focus

Media & EntertainmentGamingEdTech

Frequently asked questions

Who runs investment decisions at Chess.com?

CEO Erik Allebest leads strategic direction. The board includes venture capital partners from Balderton Capital, which led a $2.5M Series A in 2015. No separate family office investment committee has been disclosed.

How does Chess.com source proprietary deal flow?

Chess.com primarily grows through acquisitions of complementary chess platforms and content sites, such as Chess24.com and an earlier purchase of ChessCube. Its deal flow comes from network relationships with grandmasters, streamers, and chess media operators.

What investment stages does Chess.com typically target?

Targets are mostly mature online chess properties, often content platforms or tournament infrastructure. Recent acquisitions indicate a preference for established user bases rather than early-stage startups.

Which sectors does Chess.com explicitly avoid?

Chess.com has no known public policy on sector avoidance, but its strategy has consistently focused solely on chess-related digital products. It does not invest outside the chess ecosystem.

Profile maintained by using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.

Need institutional-grade insight on investors?

Altss delivers:

Principals with verified direct contactsAllocation history by asset classOSINT-derived deal signals
Book a demo

Prefer a guided tour?

We’ll walk you through:

Interactive funding timelinesCustom mandate & allocation filters
Book a demo

More New York other profiles