ICML Chess & Boardgames Night by Techgames.xyz & Poindexter Labs
Part of a global Techgames.xyz series of curated strategy game nights for AI founders, operators, researchers, and investors across NYC, SF, London, and other major tech hubs.
Curated boardgames tables for AI people who enjoy thinking in games.
New here? Welcome. If you’ve been before, you know the drill.
🎙️ A word from your host
Hosted by:
Jocelyn D'Arcy -2615 games on BGA
I'm bringing my entire game collection from London to Seoul: Catan + expansion, Heat, Wingspan, Great Western Trail, Splendor Marvel, Set, Carcassone & expansion, Dungeon Mayhem, Jaipur, Agricola family, Azul & variants, Charty Party, Pandemic, Lost Ruins of Arnak, 7 Wonders, Ticket To Ride.
Send me a message if I'm missing your favourite game and I will try and get it.
🧠 Who this is for
AI researchers looking to assess game dominance through their knowledge
AI founders with burn in their eyes
Operators ready to get off the sidelines
Investors who know a boardgame reveals more than a coffee chat ever could
ICML conference attendees who like boardgames
Regular attendees?
✅ T1-investors (Sequoia, Bessemer Ventures, a16z, Dawn Capital, etc)
✅ AI Researchers from some of the best institutions (ETH, Uni of Toronto, Oxbrigde, Anthropic, Microsoft, Google)
✅ Operators with evidence of exceptional abilities (early at now unicorns, Olympiad winners, etc)
✅ VC-Backed founders ($1M-$100M+ raised)
❌ No Consultancies/agencies
❌ No Sales people
❌ No unexceptional students
✅ All experience levels welcome — even if it’s your first time playing
🃏 Format
Dinner & drinks provided
Good people
Multiple tables with chess boards &other boardgames
👾 Why games?
We believe the best minds in tech are game thinkers.
Demis Hassabis crushed at chess before DeepMind. Zuck plays poker. Reid Hoffman reimagined Catan. Great players make great builders.
Games reveals how someone thinks. It's instinct, math, timing, and emotional control — in public.
Zuck used to play poker every night with his cofounder Eduard Saverin in the early days of building Facebook
🕒 Logistics
📍 Location: Conference hotel
🕕 Doors open: 5:30
🃏 Let the games begin: 5:45
🎟️ Don’t miss out — request your seat
Space is tight and seats always fill fast. Apply early to secure your spot.
👾 About Our Partner
Poindexter Labs is the smart way to build knowledge for the most advanced AI models.
👾 About TechGames
TechGames.xyz runs curated game nights for founders, operators, and investors who prefer ideas over small talk and would rather build trust over a board than over drinks.
We’ve hosted 300+ events with 10,000+ AI/startup attendees across SF, NYC, London, Berlin, and more.
If you’re interested in supporting or helping host future games in your city, click the below links & we'll message you: