When Carlos Torres and Jessica Rosales met in college, they discovered they had a lot in common: a love of science, younger siblings and parents who had emigrated from Mexico. But while both grew up in bilingual homes, their grasp of the Spanish language was very different.
“Carlos was known as a ‘no sabo’ kid,” said Rosales, using a term for Latinos who didn’t grow up fluent in Spanish. “He was always asking me what the Spanish word for something was.”
From that dynamic, Yo Sabo was born—a lively card game that helps players laugh, learn, and reconnect with their Spanish language roots in a low-pressure setting.
“How much Spanish you know has always been tied to whether or not someone is considered a ‘real’ Latino,” said Rosales. “We wanted to help people feel empowered about learning Spanish and to not be afraid to make mistakes.”
The name itself is a wink. “Yo sé” is the correct Spanish for “I know,” but the game’s title embraces the slang, “Yo sabo,” as a badge of belonging for anyone still finding their fluency.
Each round of the game blends trivia, word guessing, and mini challenges that get families reminiscing and laughing together. Launched in 2022, Yo Sabo quickly grew from a kitchen-table idea to a national bestseller thanks in part, to Amazon’s seller tools, said the founders. Torres and Rosales choose Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) to pick, pack, and ship their orders, so they can focus on creating new games and engaging with their growing community.
“Fulfillment by Amazon has been a game changer,” Rosales said. “It helps us keep a consistent flow of inventory, so we never go out of stock. And with FBA handling all returns and customer service, we can focus more on other aspects of the business.”
Through Amazon’s Brand Registry, they’ve been able to protect their intellectual property, ensuring that customers receive only authentic versions of their game. And with Buy with Prime, they’ve grown their business by providing fast, free delivery, easy returns and 24/7 customer support.
“Buy with Prime is perfect for those last-minute shoppers who realize it’s their turn to bring a game to game night,” Rosales said.
Beyond game night, the founders use their success to give back. They regularly donate Yo Sabo to classrooms and community programs across the country, helping teachers incorporate bilingual learning into their curriculum. “We’ve even given grants to educators to help them decorate classrooms that celebrate Spanish language and culture,” Rosales said.
Their mission is as much about belonging as it is about language.
“Your Spanish skills don’t define how Latino you are,” Rosales said. “We’re all in this together—unidos.”