The founder who sold Mirror to Lululemon for $500 million is back with another connected hardware play. Brynn Putnam just unveiled Board at TechCrunch Disrupt - a $500 gaming console that turns traditional board games digital. The startup has already raised $15 million and is targeting Series A funding as it prepares to challenge the home gaming market with a unique social gaming experience.
The entrepreneur who turned home fitness into a $500 million exit is betting big on family game night. Brynn Putnam, who sold Mirror to Lululemon in 2020, just pulled back the curtain on her next venture at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 - and it's not what anyone expected.
Board isn't your typical gaming console. The device marries the social dynamics of traditional board games with the infinite possibilities of digital gaming, creating what Putnam calls a "place for creative self-expression." The 24-inch touchscreen, housed in an elegant wood frame, recognizes touches, gestures, and physical game pieces - essentially turning your dining room table into an interactive gaming arena.
"Play is just universal," Putnam told the Disrupt audience when asked about pivoting from fitness to gaming. "With fitness, not everyone loves working out at home, but play really unites us. It's sort of this universal language that connects us and brings us together."
The timing feels deliberate. While the gaming industry has increasingly pushed toward online multiplayer experiences and virtual reality, Board is betting on the opposite trend - bringing families back to the same physical space. The $500 device launches with 12 games and 50 physical pieces, designed for four to six players gathered around the screen.
But this isn't just nostalgia-driven hardware. Board's real ambition lies in its software platform and AI integration. "We're really excited about the long-term power of AI to personalize the experiences on the device," Putnam explained. The company envisions vision and voice inputs, adaptive storylines, dynamic environments, and accessibility features like real-time translation and voice-to-text conversion.
The funding tells a compelling story about investor confidence in Putnam's track record. Lerer Hippeau, the same VC firm that led Mirror's $3 million seed round, is backing Board alongside First Round and Box Group. The startup has already secured $15 million and is actively raising its Series A round.
Board's development strategy mirrors successful gaming platforms. The company built its initial game library through an internal studio partnering with external developers, but the long-term vision includes opening the platform to third-party creators. Plans for a dedicated app store could transform Board from a gaming device into a broader interactive platform, potentially capturing revenue from both hardware sales and software licensing.
