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Founders Brynn Putnam and Tristan Walker Launch New Ventures Focused on Offline Connection
Key points
- Brynn Putnam launched Board, a touchscreen table for group games.
- Tristan Walker launched Heirloom, acquiring and scaling craft trade schools.
- Both founders previously sold successful companies.
- Their new ventures aim to address social connection and loneliness.
New Ventures from Experienced Founders
Brynn Putnam, founder of connected-fitness company Mirror, and Tristan Walker, founder of men's grooming brand Walker & Company Brands, have started new companies after selling their previous ventures. Putnam sold Mirror to Lululemon for $500 million, and Walker sold Walker & Company Brands to Procter & Gamble for an undisclosed sum, reportedly between $20 million and $40 million.
Focus on Offline Interaction
Putnam's new company, Board, produces a 24-inch touchscreen table designed for group play, recognizing physical game pieces and gestures. Walker's Heirloom is acquiring and expanding fine-craft trade schools, beginning with a leatherworking school in San Francisco. Both founders are building companies centered on bringing people together physically, rather than through screens.
Addressing Social Connection
The founders' shared goal is to restore a sense of connection that they believe technology has diminished. This aligns with recent findings, such as the World Health Organization's classification of loneliness as a global health challenge, affecting one in six people worldwide and linked to approximately 870,000 deaths annually.
Funding Model for Heirloom
Walker is also involved with Collaborative Holdings, a fund created by Collaborative Fund. This initiative supports founders running profitable, cash-flow-positive businesses, allowing them to grow without the pressure to pursue venture-style returns.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Brynn Putnam (Mirror founder) and Tristan Walker (Walker & Company Brands founder) have launched new companies, Board and Heirloom, respectively. Both ventures focus on creating offline, in-person experiences, moving away from purely digital interactions.