The ‘together tech’ wave might be the most intriguing startup bet of 2026

The Silicon Valley zeitgeist is beginning to pivot toward a counter-intuitive frontier. While billions of dollars continue to pour into generative AI and large language models, a nascent but vibrant cohort of founders is placing their bets on what is being termed "together tech." This movement—headlined by the recent emergence of Brynn Putnam's new venture, Board—aims to leverage technology not to isolate users in personalized digital feedback loops, but to facilitate high-friction, in-person social experiences. It is a calculated departure from the prevailing "frictionless" ethos that has defined the last decade of platform development, suggesting that the next great startup opportunity lies in the physical world rather than the virtual one.

This trend did not emerge in a vacuum; it is a direct response to the "loneliness epidemic" that has intensified in the wake of the pandemic and the saturation of the attention economy. For years, the metric of success for consumer technology was "time spent on platform," a goal achieved through increasingly sophisticated algorithms designed to keep users tethered to their screens. However, the psychological and societal costs of this hyper-individualization have reached a breaking point. Investors and founders are looking back at the successful trajectory of hardware-enabled community builders—like Putnam’s previous venture, Mirror—and the revival of analog hobbies like board games and communal dining to find the blueprint for a post-AI social landscape.

Mechanically, together tech differs from traditional social media by prioritizing "physical gateway" hardware and local-first software. Rather than fostering passive consumption, companies like Board utilize technology as an logistical back-end for real-world interactions. Furthermore, the "cyberdeck" subculture—characterized by the DIY assembly of whimsical, tactile computers—signals a shift toward artisanal hardware. These devices often lack the hyper-efficiency of a smartphone, but they offer a sensory experience that encourages the user to engage with their surroundings. The value proposition here is intentionality: using technology to create boundaries and physical anchors rather than infinite, vaporous streams of content.

The business implications of this shift are significant, particularly for a venture capital landscape that has become monochromatic with AI investments. For years, the scalability of software was the primary draw for investors, yet the market is becoming over-saturated with "AI-wrappers" that lack defensibility. Together tech startups offer a distinct moat: community and physical infrastructure. These businesses are harder to replicate with a simple API call because they rely on human networks and physical location. This represents a return to a more diversified investment strategy, where hardware and service-oriented models provide a hedge against the diminishing returns of digital-only platforms.

Regulatory and cultural headwinds are also fueling this movement. As global governments move to restrict social media access for minors and increase oversight on algorithmic manipulation, many builders are preempting the shift by creating "safe" alternatives that promote physical well-being. This is not merely an "anti-tech" or luddite sentiment; it is a sophisticated attempt to re-engineer technology as a tool for human flourishing. By shifting the objective from "information processing" to "communal experience," these startups are redefining what it means to be a "tech company" in an era where the digital world feels increasingly automated and alienating.

Looking ahead, the success of the together tech wave will depend on its ability to scale without losing the intimacy that makes it appealing. The industry should watch for whether these startups can bridge the gap between niche enthusiast communities and broad consumer adoption. Furthermore, as the hype around the metaverse and Apple’s Vision Pro continues to mature, we will likely see a battle for the "reality" market: one side betting on immersive digital overlays, and the other—the together tech movement—betting on the unmediated physical experience. The most intriguing question for 2026 is whether a consumer base exhausted by artificiality will finally be ready to trade their screens for the tangible joy of "touching grass" with others.