Brynn Putnam, who sold connected-fitness company Mirror to Lululemon, and Tristan Walker, who sold men's grooming brand Walker & Company Brands to Procter & Gamble, are launching new companies focused on fostering offline connection.
Putnam's new venture, Board, produces a 24-inch touchscreen table designed for groups to play together, recognising physical game pieces and gestures. Walker's company, Heirloom, is acquiring and scaling fine-craft trade schools, beginning with a leatherworking school in San Francisco.
Both founders state their aim is to restore a type of connection they believe technology has diminished over the past decade. The World Health Organization's Commission on Social Connection classified loneliness as a global health challenge in June of last year, estimating it affects one in six people worldwide.