A small but growing number of founders are betting on bringing people together offline
News Source
β’Sun, 20 Sep 2026 15:00:00 +0000
π° What Happened
Some founders are starting companies built around bringing people together in person. Two well-known entrepreneurs have taken that path.
Brynn Putnam sold her fitness company Mirror to Lululemon for $500m. Her new company, Board, makes a 24-inch touchscreen table that recognises physical game pieces.
Tristan Walker sold his grooming brand to Procter and Gamble. He now runs Heirloom Craft, which buys and grows fine-craft trade schools.
π The Backstory
Both founders had already built and sold successful companies. That makes their new focus on offline connection stand out.
Board is built for a group sitting around one screen, not one person alone. Heirloom Craft starts with a San Francisco leatherworking school founded by Hermes's first American artisan.
Worries about screen time and loneliness have grown in recent years.
π― Why It Matters
Loneliness and screen fatigue affect many people. If these ideas work, they could create new places for people to meet face to face.
Some founders are starting companies built around bringing people together in person. Two well-known entrepreneurs have taken that path.
Brynn Putnam sold her fitness company Mirror to Lululemon for $500m. Her new company, Board, makes a 24-inch touchscreen table that recognises physical game pieces.
Tristan Walker sold his grooming brand to Procter and Gamble. He now runs Heirloom Craft, which buys and grows fine-craft trade schools.
Both founders had already built and sold successful companies. That makes their new focus on offline connection stand out.
Board is built for a group sitting around one screen, not one person alone. Heirloom Craft starts with a San Francisco leatherworking school founded by Hermes's first American artisan.
Worries about screen time and loneliness have grown in recent years.
Loneliness and screen fatigue affect many people. If these ideas work, they could create new places for people to meet face to face.