Board Raises $20M for Interactive "Together Tech" Hardware

Board, the innovative hardware startup founded by Brynn Putnam, has successfully closed a $20 million Series A funding round. The investment was spearheaded by Union Square Ventures, with Michael Mignano, a General Partner at USV, joining the company's board. This significant capital infusion marks a pivotal moment for the company, which is dedicated to developing technology that fosters in-person human connection.

The round also attracted a notable roster of angel investors, including prominent figures such as Biz Stone, Tim Ferriss, and Scott Belsky, underscoring strong confidence in Board's vision. This funding follows a previous $15 million raise led by Lerer Hippeau, demonstrating sustained investor belief in Putnam's entrepreneurial endeavors. Lerer Hippeau had previously backed Putnam's highly successful connected fitness venture, Mirror, which was acquired by Lululemon for a substantial sum.

Board's core offering is a sophisticated 24-inch touchscreen device housed in an elegant wood-frame. Its proprietary technology enables the recognition of physical game pieces, seamlessly merging the tangible experience of traditional board games with the dynamic interactivity of digital platforms. This unique approach positions Board within the growing market for 'together tech,' a category focused on leveraging technology to encourage face-to-face interaction rather than screen-based isolation.

Since its public debut last October at TechCrunch Disrupt, Board has demonstrated impressive market traction. The company reports that its devices are now present in tens of thousands of households, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and hospitality venues across all 50 U.S. states. A remarkable 85% of its customer base engages with the platform for an average of 30 or more play sessions monthly, highlighting strong user adoption and sustained engagement.

In conjunction with the funding announcement, Board unveiled Board Studio, an AI-powered game creation platform slated for release later this year. This innovative tool will empower users to design original games using natural language prompts, enabling the rapid development of playable prototypes in under an hour. This move into content creation further solidifies Board's commitment to building an ecosystem around its hardware.

The investment arrives at an opportune time for the consumer technology sector, which is experiencing a resurgence of investor interest, largely fueled by advancements in artificial intelligence. Putnam, drawing from her experience with Mirror, views Board as a natural evolution, shifting focus from individual self-improvement to enhancing interpersonal relationships. The company's mission resonates with a broader cultural trend seeking to rebalance digital engagement with real-world connection, a sentiment echoed by investors like Ben Lerer of Lerer Hippeau, who noted a renewed wave of high-caliber founders entering the consumer tech space.