The ‘together tech’ wave might be the most intriguing startup bet of 2026
While the AI fundraising machine keeps breaking its own records, some founders are building in the other direction. Mirror founder Brynn Putnam just raised money for Board, a startup focused on bringing people together through in-person games and social experiences. Cyberdeck creators are going viral crafting whimsical DIY computers that literally encourage users to touch grass. Unlike the AI-free browser crowd, this doesn’t just feel like backlash, […]
While the AI fundraising machine keeps breaking its own records , some founders are building in the other direction.
Mirror founder Brynn Putnam just raised money for Board , a startup focused on bringing people together through in-person games and social experiences. Cyberdeck creators are going viral crafting whimsical DIY computers that literally encourage users to touch grass. Unlike the AI-free browser crowd , this doesn’t just feel like backlash, but also people genuinely gravitating toward things that feel a little more human.
On this episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Sean O’Kane dig into the week’s headlines, from the “together tech” wave to what Anthropic’s confidential IPO filing means against the backdrop of Alphabet’s $80 billion AI raise, and whether the money is all flowing back to the big guys anyway.
Why ex-Meta CTO Mike Schroepfer raised $250 million for climate tech specifically , at a moment when almost nobody else is
How rocket engine startup Impulse raised $500 million — and is loudly emphasizing that those funds will be spent on people, not AI
A look inside Anthropic’s S-1 , and what the team is looking forward to once we can finally compare the AI labs’ financials
What two YouTube directors cracking the box office tells us about creator economy power
Subscribe to Equity on YouTube , Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod.
Theresa Loconsolo is an audio producer at TechCrunch focusing on Equity, the network’s flagship podcast. Before joining TechCrunch in 2022, she was one of 2 producers at a four-station conglomerate where she wrote, recorded, voiced and edited content, and engineered live performances and interviews from guests like lovelytheband. Theresa is based in New Jersey and holds a bachelors degree in Communication from Monmouth University. You can contact or verify outreach from Theresa by emailing theresa.loconsolo@techcrunch.com .
You can contact or verify outreach from Theresa by emailing theresa.loconsolo@techcrunch.com .
You can contact or verify outreach from Theresa by emailing theresa.loconsolo@techcrunch.com .
Anthony Ha is TechCrunch’s weekend editor. Previously, he worked as a tech reporter at Adweek, a senior editor at VentureBeat, a local government reporter at the Hollister Free Lance, and vice president of content at a VC firm. He lives in New York City.
You can contact or verify outreach from Anthony by emailing anthony.ha@techcrunch.com .
Sean O’Kane is a reporter who has spent a decade covering the rapidly-evolving business and technology of the transportation industry, including Tesla and the many startups chasing Elon Musk. Most recently, he was a reporter at Bloomberg News where he helped break stories about some of the most notorious EV SPAC flops. He previously worked at The Verge, where he also covered consumer technology, hosted many short- and long-form videos, performed product and editorial photography, and once nearly passed out in a Red Bull Air Race plane.
You can contact or verify outreach from Sean by emailing sean.okane@techcrunch.com or via encrypted message at okane.01 on Signal.
Get an inside look at what it takes to scale and succeed from leaders at Mach Industries, Founders Fund, and Shinkei Systems. Through candid fireside chats and high-impact networking, you’ll walk away with valuable insights and new connections.
Google will pay SpaceX $920M per month for compute Sean O'Kane
Google will pay SpaceX $920M per month for compute
Google will pay SpaceX $920M per month for compute
Microsoft launches Scout, an OpenClaw-inspired personal assistant Russell Brandom
Microsoft launches Scout, an OpenClaw-inspired personal assistant
Microsoft launches Scout, an OpenClaw-inspired personal assistant
Hackers hijacked Instagram accounts by tricking Meta AI support chatbot into granting access Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai
Hackers hijacked Instagram accounts by tricking Meta AI support chatbot into granting access
Hackers hijacked Instagram accounts by tricking Meta AI support chatbot into granting access
Anthropic files to go public Kirsten Korosec
DuckDuckGo makes its ‘no-AI’ search engine easier to access as its traffic booms Sarah Perez
DuckDuckGo makes its ‘no-AI’ search engine easier to access as its traffic booms
DuckDuckGo makes its ‘no-AI’ search engine easier to access as its traffic booms
‘What a joke’: GitHub Copilot’s new token-based billing spurs consternation among devs Lucas Ropek
‘What a joke’: GitHub Copilot’s new token-based billing spurs consternation among devs
‘What a joke’: GitHub Copilot’s new token-based billing spurs consternation among devs
I put Google’s 24/7 AI assistant Gemini Spark to work, and it’s actually pretty useful Sarah Perez
I put Google’s 24/7 AI assistant Gemini Spark to work, and it’s actually pretty useful
I put Google’s 24/7 AI assistant Gemini Spark to work, and it’s actually pretty useful
AI The ‘together tech’ wave might be the most intriguing startup bet of 2026 Theresa Loconsolo Anthony Ha Kirsten Korosec Sean O'Kane 13 hours ago
The ‘together tech’ wave might be the most intriguing startup bet of 2026
Venture Ross Fubini wrote Anduril’s first check. Here’s what he’s looking for in defense tech. Rebecca Bellan Theresa Loconsolo 2 days ago
Ross Fubini wrote Anduril’s first check. Here’s what he’s looking for in defense tech.
AI Does your CEO have AI psychosis? Aaron Levie thinks most of them do. Kirsten Korosec Anthony Ha Sean O'Kane Theresa Loconsolo May 29, 2026
Does your CEO have AI psychosis? Aaron Levie thinks most of them do.
AI Your SEO strategy is optimized for a search engine that no longer exists. Rebecca Bellan Theresa Loconsolo May 27, 2026
Your SEO strategy is optimized for a search engine that no longer exists.
Pontos-chave
- A tendência do 'together tech' pode indicar uma busca por experiências humanas autênticas em um mundo digitalizado.
- Startups que promovem interações sociais podem encontrar um nicho no Brasil, onde a socialização é valorizada.
- A combinação de tecnologia social e ambiental pode abrir novas oportunidades de investimento e inovação.
Análise editorial
A ascensão do que está sendo chamado de "together tech" representa uma resposta interessante ao domínio crescente da inteligência artificial no setor de tecnologia. Em um momento em que startups estão cada vez mais focadas em soluções automatizadas e algoritmos complexos, iniciativas que promovem interações humanas diretas, como a da Board, de Brynn Putnam, podem ressoar fortemente com um público que busca experiências mais autênticas e conectivas. Essa tendência pode ser especialmente relevante no Brasil, onde a cultura de socialização é um pilar fundamental da vida cotidiana.
Além disso, a busca por experiências sociais em um mundo cada vez mais digitalizado pode indicar uma mudança de comportamento entre os consumidores, que estão se afastando da virtualização excessiva. O conceito de "tocar a grama" — que sugere uma reconexão com o mundo físico — pode ser um reflexo de um desejo mais amplo por equilíbrio entre a vida digital e a real. Para o ecossistema brasileiro, isso pode abrir espaço para startups que priorizam a interação humana, criando um nicho que contrabalança a predominância da tecnologia baseada em IA.
O investimento em tecnologias que promovem a interação social pode também ser uma estratégia para atrair um público mais jovem, que valoriza experiências compartilhadas. À medida que o Brasil continua a se desenvolver como um hub de inovação, iniciativas que fomentam o engajamento social podem se destacar e atrair investimentos. O que será interessante observar nos próximos anos é como essas startups conseguirão escalar suas operações e se diferenciar em um mercado saturado, onde a competição com soluções baseadas em IA é feroz.
Por fim, a questão do financiamento em tecnologia climática, como o caso de Mike Schroepfer, também não deve ser ignorada. A interseção entre tecnologia social e ambiental pode ser um campo fértil para inovações que atendam tanto às necessidades humanas quanto às demandas do planeta, sugerindo que o futuro pode estar na combinação de abordagens que priorizam tanto o bem-estar social quanto a sustentabilidade ambiental.
O que esta cobertura entrega
- Atribuicao clara de fonte com link para a publicacao original.
- Enquadramento editorial sobre relevancia, impacto e proximos desdobramentos.
- Revisao de legibilidade, contexto e duplicacao antes da publicacao.
Fonte original:
TechCrunch AISobre este artigo
Este artigo foi curado e publicado pelo AIDaily como parte da nossa cobertura editorial sobre desenvolvimentos em inteligência artificial. O conteúdo é baseado na fonte original citada abaixo, enriquecido com contexto e análise editorial. Ferramentas automatizadas podem auxiliar tradução e estruturação inicial, mas a decisão de publicar, a revisão factual e o enquadramento de contexto seguem responsabilidade editorial.
Saiba mais sobre nosso processo editorial