A small but growing number of founders are betting on bringing people together offline

The market for offline social experiences is expanding, attracting significant repeat founders and capital.

A growing number of founders are launching ventures focused on fostering offline human connection, a trend emerging amidst rising concerns about loneliness and the isolating effects of technology. Brynn Putnam, formerly of Mirror, has founded Board, a company developing a touchscreen table designed for interactive group games that recognize physical pieces and gestures, aiming to bring people of different ages and abilities together. Tristan Walker, founder of Walker & Company Brands, is investing in and scaling traditional craft trade schools, starting with a leatherworking school, to preserve and transmit skills he believes are being lost and to offer alternatives to traditional higher education. Other entrepreneurs like Andy Dunn and Audrey Gelman are also pursuing similar goals with community-focused platforms and hospitality ventures. These initiatives are supported by a societal shift, with a majority of Americans prioritizing experiences over material purchases and finding retail experiences generic. While the investment amounts are currently modest compared to major tech startups, the involvement of successful repeat founders suggests a perceived market opportunity in addressing social isolation and restoring in-person interaction.

The founders behind these new ventures are leveraging their past successes to tap into a perceived market gap created by the isolating effects of technology and a global increase in loneliness. They are betting that a desire for genuine, in-person connection and the preservation of traditional skills represents a significant, underserved market. This strategic pivot from purely digital or remote solutions to tangible, shared physical experiences could signal a broader re-evaluation of how technology impacts social well-being and community.

This trend represents a potential counter-narrative to the dominance of digital interaction, suggesting that tangible, shared activities and the transmission of craft skills may offer a more fulfilling and scalable path to connection. The involvement of seasoned entrepreneurs like Putnam and Walker lends credibility to the idea that these offline-focused businesses can achieve substantial growth and financial success, potentially carving out a new investment category.