While the AI sector continues to dominate venture capital headlines, a counter-movement of "together tech" startups is emerging as one of the most compelling bets of 2026. On the latest episode of TechCrunch's Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Sean O'Kane highlighted Mirror founder Brynn Putnam, who recently secured funding for her new venture Board, a company designing in-person games and shared social experiences. The hosts also pointed to viral Cyberdeck creators, who are building whimsical DIY computers that actively nudge users to step away from screens and "touch grass." Unlike pure anti-AI sentiment, the Equity team characterized this as something more nuanced: a real gravitational pull toward products that emphasize physical presence and human connection.
The episode also tackled the elephant in the room, the concentration of capital flowing back to the biggest players. Against the backdrop of Alphabet's $80 billion AI raise, the hosts examined what Anthropic's confidential IPO filing signals for the broader industry, noting that regulators and investors alike are eager to see the AI lab's S-1 financials laid bare alongside its competitors. The discussion suggested that while flashy AI rounds grab attention, smaller categories may be where the next generation of breakout companies quietly takes shape.
In other segments, the hosts spotlighted two notable raises outside the AI frenzy. Former Meta CTO Mike Schroepfer pulled in $250 million for a climate tech startup, an unusually large haul for the sector at a time when most investors have fled. Meanwhile, rocket engine company Impulse closed a $500 million round, with leadership deliberately framing the capital as funding for human talent rather than artificial intelligence. Rounding out the episode, the hosts unpacked what the box office success of two films directed by YouTube creators reveals about the shifting power dynamics in the creator economy.