capital
The most interesting startups right now want to get you off your phone
June 6, 2026
Startups like Board, from Mirror founder Brynn Putnam, and viral cyberdeck makers are building products that push people toward in-person games, social experiences, and away from constant phone use. The shift matters because it suggests a countertrend to the record-breaking AI funding boom, with founders betting that “offline” hardware and communal experiences can be a real consumer category, not just backlash.
While the AI fundraising machine keeps breaking its own records, some founders are building in the other direction.  Mirror founder Brynn Putnam just raised money for Board, a startup focused on bringing people together through in-person games and social experiences. Cyberdeck creators are going viral crafting whimsical DIY computers that literally encourage users to touch grass. Unlike the AI-free browser crowd, this doesn’t just feel like backlash, […]
Source: techcrunch.com