Co-Founder & CEO
Business & Strategy | Chess Player | Marketing Lead
Stefan leads ChessLine's vision, strategy and business growth. With a background in business administration and marketing and a deep passion for chess, he combines entrepreneurial thinking with practical chess experience. His mission is to make advanced chess training accessible to everyone, using cutting-edge AI to deliver personalized, easy-to-understand recommendations.
Stefan's personal experience in competitive chess inspired the creation of ChessLine, addressing common pain points such as preparing openings efficiently, saving time, and making smart decisions in-game. His business acumen ensures ChessLine is built for long-term success, bringing chess players a tool that evolves with their skill level.
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Fast and scalable, handling millions of chess positions efficiently.•
User-friendly, designed with a strong focus on intuitive interaction and smooth gameplay.•
Continuously improving, with regular updates and technical enhancements.His expertise ensures that ChessLine remains a powerful, practical tool that chess players of all levels can rely on.
Co-Founder & CTO
Software Engineer | Chess Player | Technical Lead
Carl is the technical driving force behind ChessLine, ensuring that cutting-edge AI technology and real-world chess training merge into one seamless experience. His background is deeply rooted in practical software development, having completed an IT apprenticeship before earning a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science at FHNW. This unique blend of hands-on experience and academic knowledge allows Carl to develop, implement, and optimize ChessLine's technology in a way that is both efficient and player-focused.
Co-Founder & CEO
Business & Strategy | Chess Player | Marketing Lead
Stefan leads ChessLine's vision, strategy and business growth. With a background in business administration and marketing and a deep passion for chess, he combines entrepreneurial thinking with practical chess experience. His mission is to make advanced chess training accessible to everyone, using cutting-edge AI to deliver personalized, easy-to-understand recommendations.
Stefan's personal experience in competitive chess inspired the creation of ChessLine, addressing common pain points such as preparing openings efficiently, saving time, and making smart decisions in-game. His business acumen ensures ChessLine is built for long-term success, bringing chess players a tool that evolves with their skill level.
Co-Founder & CTO
Software Engineer | Chess Player | Technical Lead
Carl is the technical driving force behind ChessLine, ensuring that cutting-edge AI technology and real-world chess training merge into one seamless experience. His background is deeply rooted in practical software development, having completed an IT apprenticeship before earning a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science at FHNW. This unique blend of hands-on experience and academic knowledge allows Carl to develop, implement, and optimize ChessLine's technology in a way that is both efficient and player-focused.
•
Fast and scalable, handling millions of chess positions efficiently.•
User-friendly, designed with a strong focus on intuitive interaction and smooth gameplay.•
Continuously improving, with regular updates and technical enhancements.His expertise ensures that ChessLine remains a powerful, practical tool that chess players of all levels can rely on.
At ChessLine, we believe that chess is more than just a game – it's a powerful tool for developing mental strength, strategic thinking, and connecting people worldwide. Our vision is to provide a revolutionary, AI-driven training experience that adapts to each player, helping them train smarter, improve faster, and reach their full potential. We envision a world where every player—beginner, club player, or professional—has access to cutting-edge, personalized training that enhances their skills efficiently.
These articles highlight how we use AI to make chess training more personal, efficient, and accessible for players of all levels.
The startup magazine FOUNDED portrays how ChessLine uses AI-powered, personalized training plans to adapt to each player's level, style, and goals. The article highlights our mission to make high-quality chess coaching accessible to everyone – from beginners to club players and ambitious tournament players.
Read the FOUNDED article about ChessLine's personalized, AI-powered chess training
In its 'Interview of the Month', the Swiss Chess Federation talks to our CEO Stefan Rau about how ChessLine uses artificial intelligence to improve chess learning. The interview covers our logo and brand story, our iterative startup approach, and how we help players build and train opening repertoires tailored to their needs.
Read the Swiss Chess Federation interview about learning chess with AI and ChessLineBecoming the go-to-tool for champions
Trust, customer experience, and innovation
Shaping the future of chess training
Enhancing accessibility and enjoyment
Lifelong journey and adaptive training
Our Core BeliefsOur Core ValuesOur PurposeMaking Chess Learning Accessible & Enjoyable
Chess is a game that offers social, cognitive, and strategic benefits—but many players struggle with learning it effectively. Our goal is to:
Within the next 10 years, ChessLine aims to become the go-to training tool for future chess champions.
Join us on this journey and revolutionize your chess training with ChessLine!
Our Journey & Milestones
Foundation of ChessLine
Alpha version release
Goal: 100,000+ users worldwide
Whether you're a beginner, a tournament player or a professional chess player, ChessLine is designed to help you improve efficiently.