Zoe Studios has secured an angel investment round as it works toward developing a new mobile chess experience designed specifically for modern, casual audiences. While the size of the round was not disclosed, the funding marks an early milestone as the studio prepares to move directly into a venture capital raise.
The investment brings together a group of experienced industry backers, including John Wright, Phil Mansell, Dilpesh Parmer, Simon Hade, Maxime Demeure, Juha Paananen, and Carolin Krenzer, among others.
“Smart Money,” Not Just Capital
Speaking about the raise, Chen emphasized that the angel round was about more than funding alone.
She described the investment as “smart money,” explaining that Zoe Studios intentionally sought backers who understand the long-term vision and are willing to be actively involved, rather than simply providing capital.
With the angel round now complete, the studio plans to immediately pursue a VC round, signaling ambitious growth plans.
“Our ambition is clear,” Chen said. “We are aiming to become one of the top 25 most played games worldwide.”
Making Chess Feel Welcoming
The core idea behind Zoe Studios’ product came from Chen’s own experience learning chess. She noted that despite chess’s global popularity, she couldn’t find a product that taught the game in an approachable, intuitive way—something Mashid was able to do for her personally.
Mashid has a deep chess background, having played since childhood, competed at a high level, and coached national champions. Together, the founders believe there is a large audience interested in chess but underserved by existing products.
Their goal is to transform chess from a purely strategic challenge into a daily habit—one that feels warm, fun, and socially engaging rather than intimidating.
A Crowded Market, But an Untapped Opportunity
Mashid acknowledged that the chess market is currently highly active, with platforms like Chess.com and even Duolingo attracting massive daily audiences and organic downloads. However, he believes there is still room for differentiation.
According to Mashid, large companies have historically avoided innovating deeply in chess due to limited monetisation models, often relying on subscriptions or ads. Zoe Studios, as a small startup, is willing to take that risk.
Drawing on their Playtika background, the team plans to explore in-app purchases while maintaining a strong focus on delivering value to players.
Backers See Category-Defining Potential
Former Jagex CEO Phil Mansell, one of the studio’s backers, praised Zoe Studios’ vision, highlighting its focus on accessibility and community.
He noted that the team is building a product capable of introducing chess to audiences who may never have felt the game was for them—an approach that could meaningfully reshape the category on mobile.
The Bigger Picture
With experienced founders, early angel backing, and a clear vision to humanize and modernize chess, Zoe Studios is positioning itself at the intersection of classic gameplay and casual-first mobile design. As the studio moves toward a VC round, its success will hinge on whether it can truly lower the barriers around chess—and turn one of the world’s oldest games into a welcoming mobile experience for a new generation.
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