Brynn Putnam, founder of fitness app Mirror, just raised funding for Board, a startup building in-person game and social experiences. The move represents a countercurrent to the AI funding frenzy dominating venture capital right now.
Board operates in a growing category of founders deliberately designing away from screens. Cyberdeck creators have gone viral building DIY computers that prioritize tactile interaction over digital convenience. These ventures tap into genuine consumer fatigue with phone-first culture and the dopamine-loop design patterns that dominate tech.
The timing matters. While large language models and generative AI startups command record-breaking rounds, founders like Putnam see an opening in the inverse: offline-first social platforms and physical interaction tools. Board positions itself as a social layer for tabletop gaming and real-world connection, directly competing against digital entertainment for user attention and time.
This isn't new backlash wrapped in nostalgia. The cyberdeck movement and similar projects reflect a sophistication about user experience design. These creators aren't rejecting technology; they're rejecting the attention-extraction model baked into most digital products. They're building products that assume users want friction, tactility, and social presence.
Putnam brings credibility to this space. Mirror proved she understands how to build consumer habit loops, just applied to fitness. Board applies that playbook to offline experiences, suggesting the category has real founder talent and potential venture returns.
The broader pattern shows investor appetite for wellness-adjacent categories. Digital wellness, analog tools, and offline-first experiences increasingly look less like niche markets and more like macro trends. Gen Z's documented skepticism toward social media, combined with rising mental health discussions around screen time, creates real demand.
Whether Board and similar ventures become venture-scale businesses remains open. But the fundraising activity signals something clear: founders and investors are betting that the next wave