17-time world chess champion Magnus Carlsen's start-up "Fantasy Chess" received 2.8 million euros of investment in the first round. In Oslo, Fantasy Chess is an interactive chess platform created by 17-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen.
The investment round was led by SNÖ Venture and Coatue, with companies from Tura Breakthrough Initiatives and Thiel Capital. Funding to support and expand Fantasy Chess' interactive platform for private enthusiasts.
SNÖ- founding member Magne Uppman said on the mission of the event: "We, together with the investors, to create a tool for this investment to create Fancy Chess in adding a new charge to the world of chess."
Peter Thiel, founder of Thiel Capital and co-founder of PayPal, Palantir and Founders: "Great chess players excel at insight and insight." said his words.
Founded in April 2020, Fantasy Chess has to offer useful ways to watch the best chess tournaments.
Founder Magnus Carlsen says: “Interest in chess has really grown in the last 5 years with popular TV shows, movies and documentaries. Using other sports as a model, we see an interesting sport for Chess to become an even wider audience."
In November 2023, Carlsen was appointed CEO of Fantasy Chess to create the Mats André Kristianseni platform.
Kristiansen, known as Scandinavia's largest online grocery retailer and co-founder of Oda, Norway's first startup unicorn, is scaling digital products. He says, “At Fantasy Chess, our vision is to elevate chess to the same level as other major global sports with greater beneficial impact. We see points of growing hope in Norway, where chess is becoming increasingly popular, with the growth of Magnus's success.
And in Oslo, Fantasy Chess intends to assemble a global team to develop, manufacture and market its platform, which is scheduled for an official launch in October.
The company says: “We are moving at a really fast pace and have very exciting plans for the future. We are now seeking and hiring top talent to join us in our mission to make chess a global spectator sport. Experienced CTO, CFO or CPO or just lets hear about development, design or change, we want you to do it!"
