Chief Operations Officer
Die Anfänge
Im konstanten Austausch mit Politikern, Wirtschaftsexperten und mehr, haben wir unsere Designs perfektionieret.
Die Weiterentwicklung
Chief Executive Officer
Ein neues Kapitel
Media coverage
blockbaytoys was founded with the aim of bringing chess back into the spotlight of society and making it more attractive to young people and women, as these groups are almost nine times less interested in chess and are severely underrepresented. At a time when attention spans are getting shorter and traditional games like chess are losing importance, we rely on modern technologies and innovative designs to breathe new life into the game. Chess is not just a game, it promotes thinking skills, patience and strategic action in a playful and scientific way - qualities that we want to bring back to the forefront.
One team. One mission.
We are making chess great again and bringing this wonderful game back to the center of the gaming industry.
This is highly professional entrepreneurship. The mindset that we need for innovative strength and a strong future.
— Kerstin Vorberg, Managing Director IW JUNIOR gGmbH
Since 2023 we have been operating as a student company, supported by the German Economic Institute and numerous partners who share our vision. With this support, we were able to create a solid foundation and are currently in the exciting phase of transition to a full-fledged start-up. With our products We are helping to make chess modern and accessible and, in the long term, to get more people – especially young people and women – excited about the game.
Das Team
Giulio Pellino
Die Berater
NRW Ministerin, Mona Neubaur
OB a.D., Uwe Schneidewind
BILD Zeitung, Tim Häberle
3D Experte, Frank McGuire
Sales Experte, Lars Nöckel
Die Entwicklung
The Beginnings.
blockbaytoys was founded in 2023 with a clear mission: to redefine chess and to inspire young people and women in particular to play the traditional game. At a time when chess is losing importance and the average attention span is decreasing, we wanted to bring the game back into focus through modern technologies and fresh designs. Our first goal was to create chess sets that are not only sustainable, but also reflect local identities and cultures. Supported by the German Economic Institute and other partners, we laid the foundation for our work today as a student company.
First successes.
Shortly after our founding, we achieved our first significant successes. Not only were we named the best student company in Germany, but our ReChess collection, inspired by cities like Cologne and Berlin, was also enthusiastically received by customers. This recognition led to blockbaytoys being featured on radio shows, TV shows and podcasts, which further increased our reach. Working with partners like Sparkasse and Ravensburger enabled us to sell our products nationwide and further expand our company.
2025
At an international level, we took a decisive step by participating in the Gen-E Festival , Europe's largest entrepreneurship festival. There we won in the Project Management and Leadership categories and were able to prevail in a Europe-wide competition. These successes showed that our vision of modern chess is not only popular in Germany, but also beyond the country's borders. With a growing international network and the support of renowned partners, we are continuously working to establish blockbaytoys as an innovative pioneer in the field of chess worldwide.
