Founders Are Betting on a Future Beyond Screens

A new wave of startups is attracting investment by building tech for in-person experiences, moving against the dominant AI trend.

In a tech landscape dominated by record-breaking AI fundraising, a counter-trend is quietly gaining momentum. A growing number of founders are building companies designed to pull people away from their screens and into real-world interactions, and this movement is attracting serious investor attention. For example, Brynn Putnam, the founder of the at-home fitness company Mirror, recently secured funding for her new venture, Board. The startup is focused entirely on creating in-person social experiences and games that bring people together physically. This isn't an isolated case. Another sign of this shift is the viral popularity of "cyberdecks"—custom, whimsical DIY computers. These devices are often built for specific, tangible tasks, encouraging users to engage with technology in a more hands-on and creative way than a standard smartphone. They represent a move toward technology that is personal and tactile, rather than all-encompassing and virtual.

This trend matters because it signals a potential shift in consumer demand and a new opportunity for innovation. After years of digitally-mediated life, there is a growing appetite for authentic, offline connections. For founders and business leaders, this points to an underserved market that values tangible experiences. It suggests that the next wave of successful products may not be another social media app, but tools that facilitate community and face-to-face engagement. This isn't about rejecting technology, but reimagining its purpose. Instead of creating digital worlds to escape into, these companies use technology as a bridge to enhance physical-world activities. This taps into broader cultural conversations around digital wellness and screen time fatigue. The success of these ventures could validate a new category of "human-centric" tech, offering a compelling alternative to the crowded AI space by focusing on the quality of human experience.

This trend signals a shift in consumer demand toward offline experiences, creating new market opportunities for founders and businesses outside the crowded AI space. It shows a growing appetite for tech that facilitates real-world connection rather than replacing it.

Companies can explore a new, underserved market focused on digital wellness and in-person social products. This represents a strategic alternative to competing in the capital-intensive AI sector, appealing to consumers fatigued by screen time.