Together Tech: Why Startups Are Betting on In-Person Over AI

Key Takeaways

• Board, founded by Mirror's Brynn Putnam, raised $20 million in Series A funding to build tech that facilitates in-person social experiences
• The 'together tech' movement is distinct from anti-AI sentiment. It represents genuine consumer demand for human-centric products
• 10,000+ Board console units are already active in homes, schools, and hospitals, proving market demand exists

AI Isn't the Only Game in Town

The AI fundraising machine keeps breaking its own records. Anthropic just filed for an IPO. Alphabet raised $80 billion for AI projects. But some founders are building in the opposite direction.

Brynn Putnam, who previously founded the connected fitness company Mirror, just raised money for Board. The startup builds touchscreen consoles designed for one purpose: getting people in the same room to play games together.

Board has now raised $35 million total since 2023. More telling: 10,000+ of its console units are already in active use across homes, schools, and hospitals. This isn't a prototype. It's a product with traction.

Not Anti-AI. Pro-Human.

The TechCrunch Equity podcast team, which broke down this trend in a recent episode, made an important distinction. This movement isn't the same as the "AI-free browser crowd" or other tech-backlash movements. It's not about rejection. It's about people genuinely gravitating toward things that feel more human.

“The goal is to shift the conversation from 'self-improvement' to 'shared connection,' using technology not to isolate, but to bring families and friends together face-to-face.”

— Brynn Putnam, Founder of Board

The evidence is showing up in unexpected places. Cyberdeck creators, makers who build whimsical DIY computers with physical buttons and screens, are going viral on social platforms. Their designs literally encourage users to go outside. The aesthetic is tactile, weird, and intentionally impractical for remote work.

The Investment Signals

Together tech isn't just a cultural vibe. Real money is moving. The same Equity episode covered two other funding rounds that suggest a broader pattern.

Ex-Meta CTO Mike Schroepfer raised $250 million for climate tech. At a moment when almost nobody else is writing those checks. His pitch: real-world problems, physical solutions.

Rocket engine startup Impulse raised $500 million. Their announcement made an unusual point. The funds will be spent on people, not AI. In 2026, that's a positioning statement.

“We are seeing a genuine gravitation toward things that feel human, a tactile pushback against the digital-only landscape created by the recent AI boom.”

— Anthony Ha, Senior Writer at TechCrunch

What the Community Is Saying

On Hacker News, the response has been mostly positive. Commenters called the shift "refreshing" after years of pure software plays. But some raised questions about long-term viability. Hardware-dependent social startups have a mixed track record.

Reddit's r/startups community framed it differently. Many see together tech as a "backlash indicator" for the AI investment cycle. But the consensus wasn't negative. The trend feels less like rejection of technology and more like a return to experiential hardware that prioritizes social wellness.

The Bigger Picture

The Equity podcast team raised a question that deserves attention. Even as together tech gains momentum, the biggest AI fundraises keep flowing to established players. Anthropic's IPO filing came against Alphabet's $80 billion raise. Is the money all flowing back to the big guys anyway?

Maybe. But that misses what's interesting about together tech. It's not competing for the same dollars. It's creating a parallel market for founders who want to build things that work differently.

Putnam built Mirror into a $500 million acquisition by Lululemon. She knows how to build consumer hardware that people actually buy. Board already has 10,000+ units in the wild. That's not a bet against AI. It's a bet that some people want tech that puts them in the same room.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is together tech?

Together tech refers to startups building products that facilitate in-person social experiences and physical interactions, as a counterpoint to AI-first digital tools. Examples include Board's gaming consoles and DIY cyberdeck projects.

Who founded Board and what does it do?

Board was founded by Brynn Putnam, who previously created the connected fitness company Mirror. Board makes touchscreen consoles designed for in-person gaming and social experiences in homes, schools, and hospitals.

How much funding has Board raised?

Board raised a $20 million Series A led by Union Square Ventures in June 2026, bringing total funding to $35 million since the company's 2023 founding.

Is together tech a rejection of artificial intelligence?

No. Experts distinguish together tech from anti-AI movements. It represents genuine consumer demand for human connection, not backlash against AI technology itself.

What evidence shows together tech has market demand?

Board already has 10,000+ console units in active use. Viral interest in cyberdeck makers and significant funding for physical-world startups like Impulse ($500M) and climate tech ($250M from ex-Meta CTO) suggest real appetite.

Source: Startups | TechCrunch