Technology. Startups. Ideas.

Hi there,

It has been quite some time since my last post but finally can break the silence with some great news. Iepe, a dear friend, has put more than 10 years of his life to create a new sport – Chessboxing. Yes, it is indeed a mix of playing chess and boxing at the same time – one round at a time.

Iepe has started his long-awaited crowdfunding campaign few days ago and he needs your little contribution in support of his Chessboxing campaign. I am sharing his press release below so take a look to learn the story behind.

Twelve years after he founded the sport, and 3 years after founding the marketing company, the man behind chess boxing is offering would­-be investors a ‘blood and sweat equity’ stake in his company if they can defeat him in the ring. To mark the launch of a €500,000 (minimum goal €150K) funding campaign on Seedrs, entrepreneur and former world champion lepe Rubingh will hand over a one percent stake to any professional investor who beats him in a chessboxing fight – either by check mate or by knockout. However, a loss will come with at a price – a compulsory investment of €35,000(pre­-money valuation) into Chess Boxing Global the sport’s global marketing company.

The popularity of Chessboxing continues to rise as increasing numbers trial the sport’s unique blend of mental and physical challenges – and in particular the opportunity to pit their brains and brawn against skilled opponents. A chessboxing fight consists of up to 11 alternating rounds of chess and boxing. A bout begins with a three ­minute chess round, followed by three minutes of boxing. Competitors have a maximum total of nine minutes to complete all their chess moves ­ and a maximum of 15 minutes for boxing. A fight can be won by knocking an opponent out in the ring, via a checkmate in chess, by a judge’s decision or if a competitor exceeds their chess time limit.

“Unlike most other sports, chess boxing requires both adrenalin and concentration, it takes nerves and muscles of steel,” said lepe Rubingh, Chief Executive Officer of Chess Boxing Global. “The first rule of chessboxing: control yourself before your opponent does.” After founding the sport in 2003, Rubingh formed CBG three years ago to establish a professional global league. Buoyed by the successful staging of sold­ out world championship events in Moscow and Berlin, he’s looking for investors to help fund the sport’s continued growth.

“Chessboxing produces a unique form of intelligent entertainment,” said Rubingh. “The global success of the Ultimate Fighting Championship shows the potential if you create the right sport – and deliver it to the right audience.” And unlike most entrepreneurs, Rubingh is willing to put his gloves where his wallet is and offer interested parties a unique investment opportunity. In addition to the Seedrs campaign, he’s proposing a ‘blood and sweat equity bout’ where investors can fight for shares by challenging the sport’s creator in the chessboxing ring. “If I’m beaten fair and square in the ring, I’ll hand over one percent of my company – no questions asked,” said Iepe Rubingh. “But I want to warn interested investors they’ll need deep pockets. If I win – and I normally do – they’ll have to have their cheque book ready as they’ll have to agree to invest €40,000 (post­money valuation).”

“As in all walks of life, there’s always a price tag attached to winning – and losing.”

I have already done my little contribution to this cool new sport. Hurry up and make your contribution as you will actually get a stake in the company at pretty favorable valuation. What if it becomes as big as F1?