Chess.com Named In Fast Company’s Annual List Of The World’s Most Innovative Companies

Chess.com, the world’s leading chess platform, has been named as one of Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies for 2024.

This year’s list shines a spotlight on businesses that are shaping industry and culture through their innovations. These organizations are setting new standards and achieving remarkable milestones in all sectors of the economy.

Alongside the World's 50 Most Innovative Companies, Fast Company recognizes 606 organizations across 58 sectors and regions.

"Recognition by Fast Company as one of the 50 most innovative companies in the world is a testament to the creative energy of our team and the vibrant, global chess community that we serve," said Erik Allebest, Chess.com’s CEO.

"We spend each day thinking about how to make the timeless game of chess more accessible and enjoyable for our growing global community of over 165 million registered users."

We spend each day thinking about how to make the timeless game of chess more accessible and enjoyable for our growing global community of over 165 million registered users.

—Erik Allebest, Chess.com CEO

Chess.com is a platform where the global chess community comes together to learn, play and connect. There are players from over 190 different countries, from people just beginning their chess journey to world champions.

Chess.com also hosts major online events such as the flagship $1.7 million Champions Chess Tour, the Speed Chess Championships, and its weekly Titled Tuesday tournaments. In the last year, Chess.com also introduced the world to the killer chess-playing cat Mittens, the hugely-popular PogChamps, celebrity sports crossover events like BlitzChamps and the mighty SlugChamps, the new Kingdom Chess app, and exciting partnerships with Duolingo, Lofi Girl, and Clash of Clans.

The World's Most Innovative Companies stands as Fast Company's hallmark franchise and one of its most anticipated editorial efforts of the year.

Fast Company's editors and writers identified the companies driving progress around the world and across industries, evaluating thousands of submissions through a competitive application process.

The result is a globe-spanning guide to innovation today, from early-stage startups to some of the most valuable companies in the world. Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies package is available online, as well as in-app form via iTunes, and on newsstands beginning March 26. The hashtag is #FCMostInnovative.

“Our list of the Most Innovative Companies is both a comprehensive look at the innovation economy and a snapshot of the business trends that defined the year,” said Fast Company editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan.

“We saw extraordinary innovation across the board in 2023, but we also saw a handful of clear patterns: the growing footprint and impact of AI, the triumphant return of live events, and great leaps forward in climate tech. We face daunting challenges on many fronts, but the solutions we celebrate in MIC give me plenty of hope about the future.”

... we also saw a handful of clear patterns: the growing footprint and impact of AI, the triumphant return of live events, and great leaps forward in climate tech.

—Brendan Vaughan, Fast Company editor-in-chief 

Fast Company will host the Most Innovative Companies Summit and Gala on May 16. The summit features a morning and afternoon of inspiring content, followed by a creative black-tie gala including networking, a seated dinner, and an honoree presentation.

This event celebrates the Most Innovative Companies honorees and provides an inside look at cutting-edge business trends and what it takes to innovate in 2024.