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Eight Times Eight Photograph: (Eight Times Eight)
Kerala resident six International chess players turned their lifelong passion for chess into business, generated ₹1.13 Crore revenue in Last FY. These Childhood Chess-mates started their entreprenerial journey when they dealt with a disappointing experience.
With a ground-breaking idea, they set out to address this gap. The best part of their Startup story is that instead of ignoring the gap, they saw it as a world full of opportunities. With a clear and unwavering vision, the chess players started their journey toward making an Online Global Chess Learning Platform For 5 to 15 aged Kids. They built a thriving business, Eight Times Eight, a company focused on shaping an online Global Chess Learning Platform for next generation leaders.
Friends To Founders
The story of Eight Times Eight began when six childhood chess classmates— Abhijith M, Adesh Joshi, Manu M, Athul Krishna, Arijith M and Chandar Raju — transformed their competitive relationship into a close bond of friendship.
These six met each other during an Under-7 Kerala State Chess Tournament. The journey started as competitors in chess but developed a strong, enduring friendship over 15 years.
Over the years, their initial competition evolved into a heartfelt connection of friendship. Together, they achieved significant milestones, such as representing India in international chess events and becoming state champions. The friends’ shared passion and experiences led them to deep connections and mutual success.
Later, they embarked on friends to founders’ journey when they found a gap in the market, facing a disappointing experience. But the best part of their story is that they saw the problem as an opportunity and turned it into business.
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Inspiration Behind 8X8
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the friends had a disappointing experience. Abhijith, one of the co-founders, was once told by his neighbour that her nine-year-old child was dealing problems of attention span. Additionally, the child lacked patience, focus, memory, and concentration. This experience sparked a thought in his mind, making him question why a small child was facing such challenges and he started thinking whether these issues can be solved!
While brainstorming Abhijith was on a video call with his chess mates (who are now co-founders). He shared this problem with these friends. Furthermore, the friends also discovered the common problem around their relatives, friends and family who had children between 5 and 15 years of age. Most of them told that children were unable to concentrate on anything because of their social media addiction.
They discovered that a large number of parents were dealing with the issue. Later they discussed how chess could help children develop focus and discipline.
Founders’ love for chess and belief for the sports which helps to develop cognitive abilities, led them to the founding of a business as a solution that aims to use the sports to make children bright.
Concept To Creation
The founders didn’t have much experience in business, but they took a leap of faith and used ₹1 lakh from their savings to start this project. Initially, it was just a social project, but because parents appreciated their teaching and saw its positive effects, they turned it into a formal business (LLP) in February 2021. By mid-2021, they were teaching over 50 students while still managing their college studies.
While the hustling, they noticed that the chess market is expected to grow a lot, reaching $3 billion by 2032. Noticing this growing demand, they dcided to build their chess business and officially they turned "Eight Times Eight" into a private company in August 2022.
What do 8x8 does?
Working around the clock, International chess players — Abhijith M, Adesh Joshi, Manu M, Athul Krishna, Arijith M and Chandar Raju — launched the solution Eight Times Eight, Online Chess Academy for kids that nurtures young minds using the strategic brilliance of chess.
At 8X8, the team teach life skills, fostering critical thinking, decision-making, and resilience in children aged 5 to 15. Additionally, the founders also conduct regular Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs), ensuring transparency and trust.
Eight Times Eight has grown quickly, now working in more than 20 countries in less than two years. They onboarded Pramod Krishna, a data scientist, as their Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and chess coach. They also teamed up with grandmaster S L Narayanan, India’s fourth-ranked chess player, to help them achieve big goals.
8X8 has helped over 5,000 students learn chess, with 1,000 active students from India and 30 other countries, like the USA, UK, and Canada.
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Challenges On The path of Entrepreneurship
Turning a concept into reality wasn't a cup of tea—it's a long journey fuelled by the collective determination of all the founders.
Balancing the differing goals of parents—some wanted casual chess learning for their kids, while others aimed for their children to become Grandmasters— was not easy. Additionally, they lacked experience in creating a formal syllabus. But they didn’t allow the challenges to become an obstacle and tried to find out solution.
To overcome these challenges, they collaborated with Grandmaster S.L. Narayanan, who helped them design an international-standard syllabus, now central to their teaching approach.
Growth Story
In March 2022, the company got a big boost when they raised ₹35 lakhs in funding, valuing their business at ₹1.6 crores. This funding came from Artem Art of Consulting, run by two IIM graduates, Shamin Sahar and Zubin Kabeer.
Shamin and Zubin, who are experienced investors and entrepreneurs, helped the founders organize their business better. They taught them how to plan for growth, improve daily operations, and divide tasks and responsibilities among themselves.
Reaching New Heights
By turning their lifelong passion for chess into a thriving business, the founders have not only created a sustainable venture but also contributed to the intellectual growth of thousands of children worldwide.
With their collective efforts, they built a thriving business, generating ₹18 lakh in the first year, rising to ₹44 lakh in the second year, and reaching ₹1.13 crore in the third year.
What’s next-8X8
The founders of 8X8 didn’t bind themselves at a current success. They want to grow 8X8 the biggest chess learning platform in the world.
They plan of creating an AI-based chess trainer for live, interactive lessons, offering chess education for adults, and setting up a branch in the USA to reach more people in North America.
The company is also working on a tech product and a ‘Chess Kit’ while planning to adopt a hybrid work model.
Turning their lifelong passion for chess into a thriving business, the founders have not only built ₹1.6 Cr. worth company but also contributed to the intellectual growth of thousands of children worldwide.
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