Mirror founder Brynn Putnam to unveil her gaming hardware startup at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

Brynn Putnam, founder of the fitness hardware company Mirror, is set to unveil her new gaming hardware startup at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 in San Francisco. Seven years after Mirror’s debut at the same event—which led to a $500 million acquisition by Lululemon—Putnam is shifting focus from individual fitness to fostering in-person social connections through technology. Her new venture, still in stealth mode, aims to create consumer gaming hardware that encourages face-to-face interaction, countering the trend of screen isolation. She emphasizes using mature, affordable components combined with innovative user experiences, inspired by Nintendo’s approach of “withered technology with lateral thinking.” Putnam’s new project reflects a broader cultural shift toward valuing shared experiences and human connection, leveraging advances in display technology, AI, and hardware affordability. The gaming space is a natural extension of her expertise in motivating behavior change and creating engaging group experiences, as demonstrated by her work with boutique fitness and Mirror’s virtual classes. Investor confidence