| |
Online chess Business ChessCube Receives US $1.25m VC Funding
Written by content team 27 August 2009
ChessCube has concluded a US$1.25m funding
agreement with Venture Capital fund, InVenFin (Pty) Ltd. InVenFin, the
VC-focused subsidiary of VenFin Limited, invests in intellectual property-based
start-ups with global potential. This transaction brings ChessCube’s total
funding to date to US$1.8m. The partnership between ChessCube.com and InVenfin
will allow ChessCube.com to become the most recognized and loved online brand
for chess enthusiasts.
ChessCube is an online chess site, which allows players of all skill levels to
compete and learn chess, while socializing with others. With a potential market
of over fifty million active chess players in the world, ChessCube.com has
already attracted over 650,000 registered users across 207 countries – making it
one of the leaders in the growing online chess market.
Mark Levitt, CEO and founder of ChessCube says, “We are delighted to have
InVenFin on board as our partner. Over and above the valuable capital injection,
InVenFin gives us access to an international business network, and their team of
experts in branding, product strategy, intellectual property management and
corporate structuring. This investment allows ChessCube to focus on establishing
itself as the world leader in online chess.”
InVenFin’s Stuart Gast says, “ChessCube’s innovative product offering has
impressed us, along with the strong team led by Mark. The social gaming space is
growing rapidly worldwide, and we believe ChessCube represents an excellent
entrance for us into this world. We look forward to assisting ChessCube achieve
its aspirations.”
Vinny Lingham, CEO of San Francisco-based Yola.com, was an early investor in
ChessCube. “As a keen chess player myself, it is particularly exciting to be
part of an innovative chess venture,” said Lingham. “This investment by InVenFin
further highlights the potential of Cape Town as the technology hub of Africa -
which I like to dub Silicon Cape. ChessCube has enormous potential to dominate
the massive global chess players’ market.”
ChessCube enables all levels of chess players to play live chess against other
like-minded players, in various forms of the game. The focus at ChessCube.com is
enjoying the game of chess in a positive and fun environment.
ChessCube.com also offers interactive chess videos written by international
grandmasters. Unlike DVDs, these videos interact with each user, offering them
personalised instruction – an outstanding innovation that earned ChessCube a
Semi-final placing in the 2008 Adobe Max Awards in San Francisco.
World history was recently made by ChessCube when, during its recent sponsorship
of the 2009 South African Open, along with the 400 participants at a Cape Town
venue, for the first time in history three grandmasters and masters participated
from a second venue in Melbourne, Australia. FIDE, the world chess federation,
worked with ChessCube to ensure that the games, which were played across the
Internet, were officially rated, setting a new precedent that could see
tournaments using this technology in the future.
ChessCube continues to innovate and build on its award-winning chess playing
platform from its Cape Town headquarters.
|
 |
|
Mark Levitt
CEO of ChessCube
at ChessCube center |
About ChessCube
ChessCube (www.chesscube.com) was launched in May 2007 from its Cape Town
headquarters. It has since grown into a community of over 650,000 avid chess
players, and continues to grow at a rapid pace. ChessCube is an innovative, live
chess platform, allowing competition and education within a social community.
Mark Levitt, founder and CEO of ChessCube, is four times South African Chess
Champion. ChessCube’s investors include InVenfin, Vinny Lingham and Michael
Leeman.
For more information or images, please contact Mark Levitt (mark@chesscube.com)
or Sarah Blake (sarah@chesscube.com).
Related:
--
Interview with Mark Levitt, CEO of ChessCube
--
First
online FIDE rated chess tournament started
|
|
