The most interesting startups right now want to get you off your phone
TL;DR
While the AI fundraising machine keeps breaking its own records, some founders are building in the other direction. Mirror founder Brynn Putnam just raised money for Board, a startup focused on bringing people together through in-person games and social experiences. Cyberdeck creators are going viral crafting whimsical DIY computers that literally encourage users to touch grass. Unlike the AI-free browser crowd, this doesn’t just feel like backlash, […].
Nauti's Take
Promising: a genuine market is forming for products that deliberately push back against constant screen time — an opening for founders outside the AI race. The catch: anti-tech as a business model often stays niche and hard to scale, and some of it reads more as lifestyle statement than durable company.
Builders betting on community and real-world experiences will find inspiration here, while those chasing fast growth should size the addressable market realistically.
Summary
While the AI fundraising machine keeps breaking its own records, some founders are building in the other direction. Mirror founder Brynn Putnam just raised money for Board, a startup focused on bringing people together through in-person games and social experiences.
Cyberdeck creators are going viral crafting whimsical DIY computers that literally encourage users to touch grass. Unlike the AI-free browser crowd, this doesn’t just feel like backlash, […]
Sources