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This Week in Startups · June 24, 2026 · 01:08:51

Why the Future of Video Games is Moving Back to the Dinner Table

AJ Piplica, Brynn Putnam, Jason Calacanis
Spotify

Jason Calacanis interviews Brynn Putnam, founder of Board, a tabletop gaming console that projects digital play onto physical surfaces without screens. They discuss raising $20M in a pre-launch Series A, the screen-time debate for families, and the strategy of building versus buying game IP. The episode also features Alex Wilhelm speaking with Hermeus CEO AJ Piplica about hypersonic autonomous jets that bridge rockets and airplanes, targeting military and fast-freight applications.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Novel

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Hermeus: Hypersonic Autonomous Jets for War and Freight
AJ Piplica presents Hermeus's autonomous jet technology that operates at hypersonic speeds, bridging the performance gap between traditional airplanes and rockets for both defense and commercial logistics.
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Highlights

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Board: Bringing Games Back to the Dinner Table
Brynn Putnam introduces Board, a tabletop gaming console that projects interactive games directly onto the dinner table, removing the need for screens and restoring face-to-face family play.
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Pre-Launch Hardware Fundraising
Brynn Putnam raised a $20M Series A for Board before the product had launched, leveraging a repeat-founder track record and a clear vision for a screen-free gaming category.
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Editorial

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Building vs Buying IP for a Family Gaming Platform
Board is debating the merits of developing original game IP in-house versus licensing existing family-friendly franchises, and Putnam hints at a hybrid approach that leans on owned content for differentiation.
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