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<\/p>\nMahjong, with roots in 19th-century China and long considered a grandma\u2019s game, has made a comeback in recent years, rebranded as a trendy social activity for a new generation of Gen Z and millennial players.<\/p>\n
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Today, mahjong is a ~$2.6B<\/a> global industry that\u2019s expected to reach $4B+ by 2032.\u00a0 But it\u2019s not all just fun and games, and its appeal has now reached another demographic looking to connect: female founders.\u00a0<\/p>\n Work hard, play hard \u2014 but at the same time<\/p>\n Digital events platform Evite reported a 46% YoY increase this year in mahjong events, a trend Evite data analyst Olivia Pollock told Inc is gaining traction in networking settings.\u00a0<\/p>\n And it\u2019s especially popular among women entrepreneurs. Per<\/a> Inc:<\/p>\n Everhem founder Haley Weidenbaum enjoyed her introduction to mahjong so much, she\u2019s considering it as a team-building activity for her remote employees.\u00a0 For some women entrepreneurs, though\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2026 mahjong is generating more than just new professional connections.\u00a0<\/p>\n Take Angie Lin, for example: a Taiwanese-American founder whose newly launched startup East Never Loses organizes mahjong events around LA.<\/p>\n In 2022, she went from teaching friends how to play, to hosting mahjong house parties, which eventually turned into 200-person, ticketed warehouse events held every few months. Then, when celebrities started reaching out about hosting private parties, Lin told<\/a> Inc she decided to quit her marketing job and go all in on the venture.\u00a0<\/p>\n One year in, her company now hosts as many as 14 mahjong experiences a month, including public, private, and corporate events \u2014 all thanks to a newfound interest in an old-school game.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nIt\u2019s showing up in spaces like DJ-ed parties<\/a> in LA and luxury hotels in New York.
\nFueling its popularity: mainstream media like Crazy Rich Asians (2018), renewed interest in board games<\/a>, and sustained post-pandemic demand for in-person experiences.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nAriel Kaye, founder of bedding brand Parachute, after hosting a successful mahjong night with 20+ other female founders in May, is planning to host another.\u00a0
\nAustin-based entrepreneur Elizabeth McCormick hosted her first mahjong party this summer with four people. Now she has ~30-person guest lists for her biweekly meetups.\u00a0<\/p>\n