Silicon Valley Chess Academy

Venkatagiri Acharya is a software engineering leader, chess coach, and community builder who serves as the Founding President of Silicon Valley Chess Academy. With over 15 years of experience in AI, cloud computing, and enterprise software, he has led global engineering teams in designing and delivering large-scale platforms used by millions of users worldwide.A USCF- and FIDE-rated chess player, Acharya is a former University Chess Champion, Indian Air Force WAC Chess Champion, and a member of the U1900 National Team Championship-winning team. His lifelong passion for chess has inspired him to mentor the next generation of players through Silicon Valley Chess Academy.Since founding the academy, Acharya has helped more than 1,000 students develop strategic thinking, confidence, problem-solving skills, and a lifelong appreciation for chess. He also founded Silicon Valley Chess (SVC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to growing the chess community by organizing regular USCF-rated and non-rated tournaments for children, adults, and families.In addition, Acharya leads the official Silicon Valley Chess Club on Chess.com, a vibrant online community of more than 1,000 players, where he hosts free weekly tournaments and educational events.Passionate about the intersection of chess, leadership, engineering, and critical thinking, Acharya frequently shares insights on how the principles of chess can help individuals make better decisions, solve complex problems, and succeed in technology and everyday life.