Erik Allebest

Erik Allebest, CEO of Chess.com, discusses how Chess.com leverages AI to revolutionize the game while confronting challenges like cheating. The podcast explores the intersection of technology, human behavior, and ethics in online chess, providing insights into innovation, user engagement, and growth strategy.

Erik Allebest, CEO of Chess.com, shares his journey from being unemployable to leading the largest online chess platform with over 150 million members and $100 million in revenue—all without venture funding. He reflects on the challenges of scaling a startup without external investment and reveals creative strategies for user acquisition, including leveraging trends like COVID and popular media. Erik also delves into personal themes of parenting and marriage, highlighting how his values have shifted beyond money and capitalism.

In this engaging discussion, Erik Allebest, the founder of Chess.com, shares how he grew the platform to $150M in ARR without external funding. He reveals three pivotal marketing strategies that transformed Chess.com, emphasizing community engagement and content creation. Erik also highlights the importance of enhancing the user experience and hosting prize events to attract players. The conversation dives into chess's rise through streaming and the evolution of influencer marketing, showcasing the balance between authenticity and strategic growth.

Erik Allebest, CEO of Chess.com, discusses the growth of chess, top player earnings, spectator sport potential, qualities of great players, chess in virtual reality, and building community. The podcast explores chess.com's evolution, domain acquisition, business valuation, revenue models, ads in chess, commercialization challenges, modernizing chess for mainstream appeal, and the success of top players like Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura.

Erik Allebest shares the Chess.com success story, from 0 to 150 million ARR. They discuss making chess accessible to all, the challenges of scaling, importance of passion in hiring, and balancing CEO responsibilities. Chess.com aims to engage users beyond the chess community, focusing on growth for the game's sake.