Board, the company behind a 24-inch face-to-face gaming
console that combines a digital touchscreen with physical game pieces, has raised $20 million
in Series A funding and announced Board Studio, a new platform designed to let people create
and share interactive games.
The round was led by Union Square Ventures, with participation from existing investors
including First Round Capital, BoxGroup, Lerer Hippeau, Patron and SV Angel. Union Square
Ventures General Partner Michael Mignano will join Board’s board of directors.
Founded by Brynn Putnam, Board is built around a shared tabletop screen and proprietary
PieceSense technology that recognizes physical game pieces as players move them. The
system is intended to combine the social interaction of traditional board games with the
responsiveness and visual depth of video games.
Board said its console is now used in tens of thousands of homes and gathering spaces across
all 50 U.S. states, including schools, hospitals and restaurants. The company plans to launch 10
original games during 2026, expanding its library to more than 25 titles by year-end.
The next phase of that strategy centers on creation. Board has opened its developer platform to
people building games, educational tools, simulations and storytelling experiences using its
software development kits and AI coding tools.
Board Studio, scheduled to launch later this year, is expected to make that process accessible
to a broader audience. Families, educators, hobbyists and developers will be able to use
natural-language prompts and AI-powered tools to turn ideas into playable prototypes and share
them with the Board community.
“AI creation deserves a new home — one built around shared physical experiences, real
objects, and people gathered together around a table,” said Putnam, Board’s founder and CEO.
The funding will support Board’s expansion from a gaming device into a broader platform for
playing and creating together, while financing new games, accessories and creator tools.