What is Yo Mana

Our Story

Values

Statement


So, what is Yo Mana?

<aside> ✨ Our mission is to unite diverse people of all cultures, nationalities, and identities through diverse games!

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Our story

<aside> 🧙 In 2019, three expats met in Tallinn and started playing board games together in their apartments. They are known by the nicknames Forobor, TillyToke, and Lotafak. That’s how Yo Mana began…

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<aside> <img src="/icons/calendar_gray.svg" alt="/icons/calendar_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Gamers’ Squad Era | Autumn 2019

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1/9 Lotafak’s Apartment

Lotafak’s cozy apartment became the heart of our gaming adventures on an autumn evening. With a few board games and lots of laughter, we formed the Games Squad Estonia. This was the beginning of our epic journey.

<aside> <img src="/icons/calendar_gray.svg" alt="/icons/calendar_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Autumn 2019 | Gamers’ Squad Era

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2/9 First Public Event

Our game nights were popular, but we quickly outgrew Lotafak’s apartment. We then co-hosted our first big event, a Halloween hangout at Art of Nature, bringing board games and a Nintendo Switch to create our geek corner.

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<aside> <img src="/icons/calendar_gray.svg" alt="/icons/calendar_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Spring-Summer 2020 | Gamers’ Squad Era

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3/9 COVID & Yo Mana, Spring-Summer 2020

As we organized more events with other venues, COVID-19 overshadowed our gaming fun. However, we refused to let it dim our spirits. Renaming ourselves Yo Mana and creating a logo, we remained optimistic about the return of real-life gaming adventures.

<aside> <img src="/icons/calendar_gray.svg" alt="/icons/calendar_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Autumn 2020 | Yo Mana Business Era

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4/9 OÜ & Renting a Physical Place

Despite the challenges of COVID-19, Yo Mana thrived. As our collection outgrew Patryk's car, the three of us, known as Forobor, TillyToke, and Lotafak, pooled our savings and looked for a bigger space. Renting and renovating marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

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<aside> <img src="/icons/calendar_gray.svg" alt="/icons/calendar_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Winter 2020 | Gamers’ Squad Era

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5/9 Online Store

We created an online store to expand our dream of a cozy gaming hub, ensuring we could reach and connect with even more gaming enthusiasts.

<aside> <img src="/icons/calendar_gray.svg" alt="/icons/calendar_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Summer 2021 | Yo Mana Business Era

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6/9 Opening of the Physical Space

In the summer of 2021, we opened Yo Mana’s physical gaming space and online store. While the shop was profitable, it shifted our focus from community events to sales, making us uneasy about straying from our original vision.

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<aside> <img src="/icons/calendar_gray.svg" alt="/icons/calendar_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Autumn 2021 | Yo Mana Non-Profit Era

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7/9 Closure of the Shop

As Mana Creators, we reflected on our journey. While the store helped us through tough times, it didn’t quite align with the adventurous spirit we started with. With our community's support, we decided to refocus on what truly mattered: events for our community.

<aside> <img src="/icons/calendar_gray.svg" alt="/icons/calendar_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Winter 2022 | Yo Mana Non-Profit Era

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8/9 Establishment of MTÜ

Transforming into a non-profit was a game-changer for us. Today, Yo Mana is more than just a club — it's a gamers’ home, where players come together to share their passion and build lasting friendships.

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<aside> <img src="/icons/fireworks_gray.svg" alt="/icons/fireworks_gray.svg" width="40px" /> TODAY

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Yo Mana community

Yo Mana community