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The rise of 'together tech' startups in 2026
#startup-trends#human-centric-design#social-techboardmirrorboard
💡Discover the 'together tech' trend—a shift toward physical, human-centric products in an AI-dominated market.
⚡ 30-Second TL;DR
What Changed
Emergence of 'together tech' as a counter-trend to pure AI automation
Why It Matters
This trend highlights a potential market fatigue regarding purely virtual AI interactions. It suggests that future product design may need to integrate physical social components to maintain user engagement.
What To Do Next
Evaluate if your current AI product can incorporate a 'phygital' or in-person social component to increase user retention.
Who should care:Founders & Product Leaders
Key Points
- •Emergence of 'together tech' as a counter-trend to pure AI automation
- •Mirror founder Brynn Putnam launches 'Board' for in-person social gaming
- •Growing interest in DIY computers and physical, offline-first tech experiences
🧠 Deep Insight
Background and context from public sources — not the original article. 9 sources cited.
🔑 Enhanced Key Takeaways
- •Brynn Putnam's new venture, 'Board,' is a 24-inch touchscreen device with a wood-finish frame that utilizes proprietary 'PieceSense technology' to recognize physical game pieces, thereby merging traditional board games with digital interactivity.
- •Board launched publicly at TechCrunch Disrupt in October 2025 and has since achieved significant market penetration, reaching tens of thousands of homes, schools, hospitals, and restaurants across all 50 US states, with 85% of customers engaging in an average of 30 or more play sessions per month.
- •The company plans to introduce 'Board Studio' later in 2026, an AI-powered platform designed to enable users, including children, to create original games from natural language prompts in under an hour, transforming players into designers.
- •The 'together tech' movement, exemplified by Board, is viewed as a deliberate investment in fostering in-person social connection, standing in contrast to purely AI-driven tools or movements that reject AI entirely.
- •The broader DIY tech trend has evolved from its 18th-century roots in handcrafts and a 1950s boom in home improvement, transitioning into digital DIY with online resources, and is now extending towards empowering individuals to shape their own smart environments.
🛠️ Technical Deep Dive
- Display: 24-inch touchscreen device.
- Interaction Technology: Proprietary "PieceSense technology" that recognizes physical game pieces.
- Hardware Durability: Custom hardware and software engineered to identify various types of touch, withstand rough play and spills, and respond in real-time to player movements.
- Input Method: Replaces traditional controllers with real-world, tactile objects (e.g., sponge, rocket, knife) for intuitive physical-digital interaction.
- Game Library: Launched with 12 original games, encompassing various genres from fast-paced arcade rounds to collaborative quests.
- Multiplayer Capability: Supports solo play up to unlimited multiplayer, with team settings accommodating up to 10 players.
- Creator Platform (Upcoming): Board Studio, an AI-powered platform, will allow game creation using natural language prompts.
🔮 Future ImplicationsAI analysis grounded in cited sources
The 'together tech' trend will catalyze a renewed focus on consumer hardware innovation that prioritizes shared physical experiences.
Brynn Putnam's successful track record with Mirror and her new venture, Board, coupled with significant investor interest, indicates a growing market demand for technology designed to foster face-to-face interaction over digital isolation.
Artificial intelligence will increasingly democratize content creation for physical-digital hybrid platforms, enabling broader user participation.
The planned 'Board Studio' feature, which allows users to create games using AI and natural language prompts, signifies a shift towards user-generated content facilitated by AI in tangible tech products.
The DIY movement in technology will continue its evolution towards more accessible and user-friendly tools for personalizing smart environments.
The historical progression of DIY from manual crafts to digital tools and the emergence of 'do-it-yourself smart experiences' (DIYes) suggest a future where individuals can more easily customize their technological surroundings.
⏳ Timeline
2010
Brynn Putnam founds Refine Method, a boutique fitness studio.
2016
Brynn Putnam starts Mirror, an interactive home-fitness panel.
2019
Mirror officially launches to the public.
2020
Lululemon acquires Mirror for $500 million.
2023
Brynn Putnam founds Board, a gaming technology company.
2025-10
Board unveils its face-to-face game console at TechCrunch Disrupt.
2026-06
Board raises $20M in Series A funding led by Union Square Ventures.
📎 Sources (9)
Factual claims are grounded in the sources below. Forward-looking analysis is AI-generated interpretation.
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