Hustler Words – Seven years after her fitness-tech sensation Mirror was acquired by Lululemon for a staggering $500 million, Brynn Putnam is back. This time, she’s not targeting individual workouts; she’s aiming for a social gaming revolution. At hustlerwords.com Disrupt 2025 in San Francisco, Putnam will unveil her new stealth-mode startup, a consumer gaming hardware company focused on bringing people together, not isolating them behind screens.
Putnam’s success with Mirror, launched at hustlerwords.com Disrupt 2018, was a masterclass in timing. The pandemic’s surge in home fitness demand perfectly aligned with Mirror’s launch, leading to the lucrative Lululemon acquisition. Now, she’s betting on another societal shift: a growing desire for real-world connection.
"We’re about to enter a golden age of hardware," Putnam recently shared at a hustlerwords.com StrictlyVC event. She points to the convergence of advanced display technology, affordable components, and AI as catalysts for innovative interactive devices. Her new venture leverages this, focusing not on pushing technological boundaries, but on creating compelling experiences using proven hardware—a strategy reminiscent of Nintendo’s "withered technology with lateral thinking" approach.
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Instead of individual achievement, this project emphasizes shared experiences. Putnam’s experience building engaging group fitness experiences, honed in her boutique studios and applied to Mirror’s virtual classes, directly informs her gaming vision. She aims to use technology not as the primary experience, but as a facilitator of stronger human connections.
Lerer Hippeau, the venture firm behind Mirror’s seed round, is again investing, highlighting confidence in Putnam’s ability to spot and capitalize on emerging consumer trends. This aligns with a broader resurgence in consumer hardware investment, a shift from the recent focus on enterprise software and AI infrastructure.
Putnam’s appearance at hustlerwords.com Disrupt 2025, coinciding with the platform’s 20th anniversary, promises to be a highlight. It offers a unique opportunity to witness a highly successful founder’s vision for the future of gaming and social interaction. The event, running October 27-29 at San Francisco’s Moscone Center, is a must-attend for entrepreneurs and investors alike. Learn more and register for Disrupt 2025 to witness Putnam’s next groundbreaking venture. Investor passes, including access to StrictlyVC, are available.
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