Mirror Founder Brynn Putnam Launches New Hybrid Gaming Console 'Board'

Brynn Putnam, renowned for founding Mirror, the connected fitness startup acquired by Lululemon for $500 million, is back with a new company named Board. This new venture is a unique tech-powered gaming console that blends the physical interaction of board games with the digital capabilities of video games. The device was introduced for the first time at the TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 conference in San Francisco.

Board features a 24-inch touchscreen housed within a wood-finish frame, designed to bring friends and family together, much like a traditional board game. The screen recognizes touch, gestures, and physical objects. At its launch, the console is priced at $500 and comes with 12 pre-installed games and 50 game pieces. Putnam plans to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) over time to personalize the user experience, enabling features like adaptive storylines, dynamic environments, translation, and voice-to-text capabilities, ultimately allowing users to create content on the platform.

The startup's internal game studio collaborated with external developers for the initial games, with plans to open a platform and app store for third-party developers in the future. Board has already secured $15 million in funding from investors including Lerer Hippeau, First Round, and Box Group, and is currently raising a Series A round. Putnam explained her pivot to gaming by stating that play is a universal language that unites people.

Impact: This news is relevant for investors tracking the startup ecosystem and emerging tech trends in the entertainment sector. The success of its previous venture indicates strong potential for this new product, potentially influencing investment in similar innovative hardware and software solutions. Rating: 6/10.

Difficult terms used: connected fitness startup: A company that makes exercise equipment or services that connect to the internet or other devices, often for remote or personalized workouts. tech-powered gaming console: A device that uses technology, especially advanced computer systems, to play video games. AI (Artificial Intelligence): Technology that allows computers and machines to simulate human intelligence and problem-solving abilities. app store: A digital marketplace where users can download applications (apps) for their devices. VC firm (Venture Capital firm): A type of private equity firm that invests in startups and small businesses with high growth potential in exchange for an equity stake. seed round: The initial stage of financing for a startup, typically provided by angel investors or venture capital firms. Series A: The first significant round of venture capital financing for a startup, following the seed round.