Alumni Business Spotlight: Brigham Boice, Founder of Newpast

Game Design graduate Brigham Boice ’25 is creating a platform that enables people and communities to take control of their own narrative and share the stories that matter to them. Boice is the founder of Newpast LLC, a company dedicated to developing educational software that connects communities with their local history.

We sat down with Boice to learn about his entrepreneurial journey and how the industry connections and knowledge he gained at Champlain shaped Newpast LLC’s development.

Q: What inspired you to create Newpast?

I grew up in Peterborough, New Hampshire. It was a small arts community and was very focused on its history. When first presenting and learning about my town’s history,  I found that few students actually understood their own local history, and I wanted to change that. When my father introduced me to the Unity game development engine, I was able to combine my interests in history and technology, creating video games that could teach people about their local history. My first recreation was of my hometown in the year 1886. People could walk around the town and explore what places were like back then.

Q: What is Newpast?

Newpast is a company that develops educational software primarily focused on local history. We have been developing software for many years and are now focusing on our premier product, Spindle, a location-based storytelling tool that allows users to engage with vivid history, imagery, and narratives right where they are. We’re currently developing a tour for Burlington, Vermont, to help people learn about Church Street and its history.

I’ve also created a tool called Weaver, which allows people to create these location-based experiences and interactive stories using a no-code editor. My grandmother, for example, who wants to tell her own neighborhood story, can connect to the local community and share her experiences with younger generations. Weaver enables users to preserve their history.