Square Off
Square Off manufactures AI-powered telerobotic chess boards for chess enthusiasts and families, featuring automated piece movement and integration with Chess.com and Lichess. The company sells premium hardware ($279-$549), a $19/6-month subscription membership, and accessories across 30+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersMountain View, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Square Off does
Square Off is a consumer robotics company that designs and manufactures AI-powered telerobotic chess boards for chess enthusiasts, families, and gifting buyers. Founded in 2015 by Bhavya Gohil (CEO) and Atur Mehta (CTO) as a college project, the company is incorporated as Infivention Technologies Private Limited in Mumbai, India, with US operations through Square Off, Inc. in Delaware and warehouses in Fremont, California and Ireland. Its product line centers on four chess board SKUs ranging from $279 to $549: Miko Chess Grand (premium handcrafted rosewood board), Square Off PRO (portable/rollable tournament-size board), SWAP (multi-game board supporting chess, checkers, halma, and connect 4), and NEO Z (compact interactive board), plus an upcoming Miko Mini AI robot targeted at children.
The company's core technology combines proprietary robotics that physically move chess pieces on the board with the open-source Stockfish 14 chess engine to power an adaptive AI opponent offering 20 difficulty levels from ELO 800 to 3380. Boards connect to a companion iOS/Android app via Bluetooth, which integrates with Chess.com and Lichess.org, granting users access to 30+ million global chess players. Additional features include magnetic sensor-based move detection, LED-guided coaching, automated piece reset, game analysis, PGN export, and livestreaming of professional matches.
Square Off operates a hybrid B2C/D2C revenue model combining hardware sales ($279-$549 one-time purchases), a $19/6-month Square Off Plus subscription for advanced AI and analysis features, accessory sales (protective bags, storage boxes, premium wooden pieces), and an affiliate program offering up to 10% commission. Distribution combines the company's squareoffnow.com storefront, Amazon marketplace, and a network of 50+ retail partners across 30 countries, including Chess House, House of Staunton, and Hammacher Schlemmer. To date, the company reports 50,000+ boards sold, 100,000+ app downloads, and 1.16M+ games played across 151 countries.
Square Off firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Square Off
- Legal name
- Infivention Technologies Private Limited
- Website
- https://squareoffnow.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Square Off manufactures AI-powered telerobotic chess boards for chess enthusiasts and families, featuring automated piece movement and integration with Chess.com and Lichess. The company sells premium hardware ($279-$549), a $19/6-month subscription membership, and accessories across 30+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Square Off industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Smart Chessboards
- NAICS
- Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912)
- SIC
- Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Electronic Table Games (ETGs) & Stadium Gaming Terminals (MPAEANAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Game Controllers & Input Devices (Gamepads, Wheels, Flight Sticks) (CRACAOAD)
Keywords
Where Square Off is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mountain View
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Square Off business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Hardware Chess Board Sales: One-time purchase revenue from selling physical AI-powered chessboards (PRO, NEO, SWAP, Miko Chess Grand). Prices range from $279 to $549 per unit.
- Square Off Plus Membership: Subscription-based membership at $19 per 6 months, unlocking premium features including unlimited AI levels 1-20, full adaptive AI access, Lichess bot access, advanced game analysis, custom board themes, and video call functionality.
- Accessories: Sales of complementary products including protective bags, chess piece storage boxes, and wooden chess pieces.
- Affiliate Program: Partners earn up to 10% commission on each sale generated through their referral codes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Miko Chess Grand (Grand Kingdom Set) - Premium handcrafted automated board |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Square Off PRO - Portable tournament-sized board |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | NEO Z - Light and compact board |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | SWAP - Multi-game board |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Square Off Plus Membership |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Accessories - Protective Bag |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Square Off product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Square Off designs, manufactures, and sells AI-powered telerobotic chessboards (Miko Chess Grand, Square Off PRO, NEO Z, SWAP) that automatically move chess pieces on a physical board to reflect remote opponents' moves or AI plays. Boards connect via Bluetooth to a companion iOS/Android app that integrates with Chess.com and Lichess.org, and a $19/6-month Square Off Plus subscription unlocks advanced AI levels, game analysis, and online features.
Product overview
Square Off is a robotics and AI company that produces smart, interactive chessboards with telerobotic technology. The product portfolio centers on four main chessboard products: Miko Chess Grand (Grand Kingdom Set) as the premium handcrafted option with automated movements, Square Off PRO as the portable rollable tournament-size board, SWAP as the multi-game board supporting chess and other games, and NEO Z as the compact interactive variant. The ecosystem is enhanced by the Square Off Plus membership subscription that unlocks higher AI levels and advanced features, supported by a companion mobile app for iOS and Android. Additional offerings include chess puzzles, GIF creation tools, and accessories like protective bags and storage solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Square Off PLUS: Premium membership program offering enhanced features including advanced AI difficulty levels, unlimited adaptive AI access, full Lichess bot access, game analysis tools, and video calling features for $19 per 6 months.
- Square Off Cares
Products and services
- Miko Chess Grand (Grand Kingdom Set) Premium flagship handcrafted wooden chessboard with rosewood finish featuring automated piece movements, adaptive AI, livestream capability, and designated parking space for captured pieces, sold for $549.
- Square Off PRO Portable, rollable tournament-size e-chessboard with LED indicators, battery operation for up to 10 games per charge, adaptive AI, and game analysis, sold for $279.
- SWAP Multi-game automated board supporting chess, checkers, Halma, Connect 4, and blitz chess mode on a single board, sold for $379.
- NEO Z Light and compact interactive smart chessboard with adaptive AI and game analysis capabilities, sold for $319.
- Miko Mini AI robot designed for kids as an educational companion; listed as Coming Soon.
- Square Off Plus Membership Subscription at $19 per 6 months unlocking premium features including all 20 AI levels, unlimited adaptive AI, full Lichess bot access, advanced game analysis with real-time evaluation bar, custom board themes, video call functionality, and unlimited game history.
- Square Off Mobile App iOS and Android companion app that connects to Square Off boards via Bluetooth, enabling online play against Chess.com/Lichess players, AI challenges, game analysis, video calls during play, leagues, tournaments, and rewards collection.
- Chessboard Accessories (Protective Bag, Chess Piece Storage Box, Wooden Chess Pieces - PRO) Complementary accessories including protective sleeves/bags ($39-$70), chess piece storage boxes, and premium wooden chess pieces for the Square Off PRO board with satin matte finish.
Quantifiable outcome
- Improves chess game performance by up to 30% (claimed)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Square Off
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Square Off technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability6 records
Feature8 records
Square Off partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AmazoncoreMajor marketplace retailer selling Square Off products including PRO board and accessories through Amazon marketplace listings.
- Chess HousecoreSpecialty chess retailer and online store distributing Square Off products to chess enthusiasts.
- House of StauntoncorePremium chess equipment retailer distributing Square Off products alongside traditional chess sets.
- Hammacher SchlemmercoreSpecialty gifts and gadgets retailer featuring Square Off as an innovative chess product.
- Chess.comcorePlatform integration enabling Square Off board users to play against 30+ million chess players on Chess.com directly through the Square Off App.
- Lichess.orgcoreOpen-source chess platform integration allowing Square Off users to challenge players on Lichess via the mobile app connection.
- Chess World AustraliaminorAustralian chess specialty retailer distributing Square Off products in Australia.
- Sydney Chess AcademyminorChess academy and retailer in Australia offering Square Off products.
- My Chess DreamsminorOnline chess store featuring Square Off products.
- TOYTAGminorToy retailer featuring Square Off as innovative chess/gadget products.
- Playnet NinetyminorAsian market distributor for Square Off products.
- Touch of ModernminorFlash sales and deals platform featuring Square Off products.
- Stack CommerceminorE-commerce platform featuring deals on Square Off chess boards.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Square Off competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Miko (Miko.ai): Miko is an AI robotics companion for kids with overlapping domain expertise in robotics, AI, and consumer hardware. Shares the same support email ([email protected]) and brand 'Miko Mini' on Square Off's roadmap, indicating a tight strategic/ownership linkage in kids' AI hardware.
- Anki (defunct): Anki was a consumer AI robotics company (Cozmo, Vector, Overdrive) with directly comparable product/market and technology. Although defunct, its trajectory and lessons are highly relevant as a benchmark for Square Off's hardware-plus-AI consumer model.
- Sphero: Sphero is an educational robotics/toy company (BB-8, Sphero Bolt) that overlaps with Square Off in consumer robotics and STEM-adjacent products. Comparable in target consumer, robotics engineering, and D2C channel.
Others
- Chess.com: Chess.com is the world's largest online chess platform with 30M+ players and a Square Off integration partner. Valuable ecosystem participant that drives demand for Square Off hardware but also a potential competitor if it builds or white-labels its own board.
Direct peers
- Bryght Labs (ChessUp): ChessUp by Bryght Labs is a smart chess board with AI coaching and online play. Closest direct competitor to Square Off on AI-driven instruction, premium materials, and consumer-grade smart chess hardware.
- Chessnut: Chessnut produces connected electronic chess boards with auto-moving pieces and app integration. Directly competes with Square Off's PRO and NEO Z product lines on smart chess hardware for connected play.
- Millennium 2000 (eChess): Millennium2000 produces the eChess range of electronic chess boards used in casual and tournament play. Legacy competitor in the connected e-board category Square Off is modernizing with AI and robotics.
- DGT (Digital Game Technology): DGT is the long-established leader in electronic chess boards and clocks used in professional tournaments. Square Off competes directly in the smart/e-board category with AI-driven automated piece movement and online play.
Broad incumbents
- Hasbro Gaming: Hasbro Gaming is a global incumbent in board games and toys (Monopoly, Scrabble, etc.). Hasbro has the distribution, licensing, and supply chain to launch a smart chess board that could compete with Square Off if the category attracts mainstream attention.
- Mattel: Mattel is a global toy and games incumbent with brands like UNO and Master. Could enter or partner into the smart/AI board game category, pressuring Square Off's pricing and shelf space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Square Off social profiles
Digital presenceSquare Off financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Square Off leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Square Off funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Square Off M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Square Off
What does Square Off do?
Square Off designs, manufactures, and sells AI-powered telerobotic chessboards (Miko Chess Grand, Square Off PRO, NEO Z, SWAP) that automatically move chess pieces on a physical board to reflect remote opponents' moves or AI plays. Boards connect via Bluetooth to a companion iOS/Android app that integrates with Chess.com and Lichess.org, and a $19/6-month Square Off Plus subscription unlocks advanced AI levels, game analysis, and online features.
Is Square Off a public or private company?
Square Off is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Square Off founded?
Square Off was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Square Off based?
Square Off is headquartered in Mountain View, United States, in the North America region.
How does Square Off make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Hardware Chess Board Sales are the primary driver. The others are square Off Plus Membership, accessories and affiliate Program.
Who are Square Off's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Miko (Miko.ai), Anki (defunct) and Sphero. Chess.com is listed as an others. Direct peers are Bryght Labs (ChessUp), Chessnut, Millennium 2000 (eChess) and DGT (Digital Game Technology). Broad incumbents are Hasbro Gaming and Mattel.
Does Square Off have an API?
No public API is recorded for Square Off.
What industry is Square Off in?
Square Off's product category is Smart Chessboards. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAEANAC, Electronic Table Games (ETGs) & Stadium Gaming Terminals, with a secondary code of CRACAOAD, Game Controllers & Input Devices (Gamepads, Wheels, Flight Sticks). Its NAICS code is 45912 and its SIC code is 3944.