Build Mode

TechCrunch

On Build Mode, TechCrunch's Startup Battlefield Editor Isabelle Johannessen cuts through the startup mythology to uncover how founders survive the brutal early days, navigate impossible funding landscapes, and somehow keep their companies — and sanity—  intact. Each season, Isabelle is joined by founders, investors, and operators to dig into specific aspects of the startup journey, from creative go to market strategies to founder mental health. The interviews are full of candid startup wisdom—think cap table drama, co-founder breakups, and pivot panic. So, if you’re starting a company or or even just thinking about it, this is your survival guide.  

  1. Maintaining Momentum and Morale During the Long Road to FDA Approval with Robhy Bustami, BioticsAI

    3 GG FA

    Maintaining Momentum and Morale During the Long Road to FDA Approval with Robhy Bustami, BioticsAI

    Surviving the long road to FDA approval isn’t just about building great technology, it’s about keeping your team motivated, finding the right investors, and learning how to operate when timelines are uncertain. This week on Build Mode, Isabelle Johannesen sits down with Robbie Bustami, co-founder and CEO of BioticsAI, a Startup Battlefield-winning company building an AI copilot for ultrasound to help detect fetal abnormalities. From a $100K prototype to FDA clearance, Robhy shares what it actually takes to build in one of the most regulated industries in the world. In this episode, they break down what it really looks like to build a medtech startup, where you can’t “move fast and break things,” and every milestone takes time, coordination, and trust. This conversation covers: How to stay motivated and keep your team aligned when FDA approval isn’t guaranteed What founders need to know about navigating the FDA process from day one How to find investors who understand the slower, high-risk nature of medtech Why cross-functional collaboration (engineers, clinicians, researchers) is critical to success The role of advisors and why active industry experts matter more than big names How to build momentum and celebrate wins during long, uncertain timelines  Subscribe to Build Mode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen. And watch the full videos on YouTube. Apply to Startup Battlefield: We are looking for early-stage companies that have an MVP. So nominate a founder (or yourself): techcrunch.com/apply. Be sure to say you heard about Startup Battlefield from the Build Mode podcast.   TechCrunch Disrupt: If you're thinking about applying to Startup Battlefield, then October 13 to 15 in San Francisco, we're back for TechCrunch Disrupt, where the Startup Battlefield 200 takes the stage. So if you want to cheer them on, or just network with 1000s of founders, VCs, and tech enthusiasts, then grab your tickets.   Use code buildmode15 for 15% off any ticket type.  Chapters: 00:00 Building a $100K MedTech Startup 00:32 Intro: Biotics AI & the Problem with Ultrasound Misdiagnosis 02:16 What Biotics AI Actually Does (AI Copilot for Ultrasound) 02:54 Early Days: Startup Battlefield & First Product 07:10 Navigating FDA Approval (Without Guesswork) 09:22 What FDA Clearance Unlocks (Going to Market) 10:59 Selling into Hospitals & Early Customers 12:11 Keeping a Team Motivated During Long Timelines 18:54 The Hardest Parts of Building in MedTech 22:22 Fundraising, Advisors, and Building the Right Team 28:33 The Future of AI in Reproductive Healthcare New episodes of Build Mode drop every Thursday. Hosted by Isabelle Johannessen. Produced and edited by Maggie Nye. Audience development led by Morgan Little. Special thanks to the Foundry and Cheddar video teams.

    32 min
  2. Don't stop hiring humans. Stop hiring the wrong humans with Jaspar Carmichael-Jack, Artisan

    23 APR

    Don't stop hiring humans. Stop hiring the wrong humans with Jaspar Carmichael-Jack, Artisan

    Surviving the early days as an AI startup isn’t just about making the technology work, it’s about hiring the right people, avoiding costly mistakes, and standing out in a crowded market. This week on Build Mode, Isabelle Johannessen sits down with Jaspar Carmichael-Jack, founder and CEO of Artisan, a fast-growing AI startup building AI employees for sales. Best known for its viral “Stop Hiring Humans” campaign, Artisan is rethinking outbound sales with AI, while still betting on hiring exceptional human talent. In this episode, they break down what it really takes to build and scale a venture-backed AI company, from Y Combinator to rapid growth. This conversation covers: Startup hiring mistakes every founder should avoid Lessons on firing, team building, and company culture in early-stage startups The strategy behind bold, controversial marketing that drives growth How AI is transforming sales, hiring, and the future of work What founders get wrong about the necessary roles needed for a scaling startup This conversation gets to the heart of building a startup: making the right hires early or paying for it later.  Subscribe to Build Mode on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, or ⁠wherever you like to listen⁠. And watch the full videos on ⁠YouTube⁠. Apply to Startup Battlefield: We are looking for early-stage companies that have an MVP. So nominate a founder (or yourself): techcrunch.com/apply. Be sure to say you heard about Startup Battlefield from the Build Mode podcast.   TechCrunch Disrupt: If you're thinking about applying to Startup Battlefield, then October 13 to 15 in San Francisco, we're back for TechCrunch Disrupt, where the Startup Battlefield 200 takes the stage. So if you want to cheer them on, or just network with 1000s of founders, VCs, and tech enthusiasts, then grab your tickets.   Use code buildmode15 for 15% off any ticket type.  New episodes of Build Mode drop every Thursday. Hosted by Isabelle Johannessen. Produced and edited by Maggie Nye. Audience development led by Morgan Little. Special thanks to the Foundry and Cheddar video teams.

    37 min
  3. How geCKo Materials Turned a Lab Breakthrough into a Scalable Deep Tech Startup

    16 APR

    How geCKo Materials Turned a Lab Breakthrough into a Scalable Deep Tech Startup

    Deep tech founders face a unique challenge: turning breakthrough science into a scalable startup. From navigating academia and IP to fundraising, manufacturing, and product-market fit, the path from research lab to real-world impact is anything but straightforward. This week on Build Mode, Isabelle Johannessen sits down with Capella Kerst, founder and CEO of geCKo Materials and 2024 Startups Battlefield runner up.  geCKo Materials is building a bio-inspired adhesive with applications across robotics, manufacturing, and even space. In this episode, they explore how she turned a Stanford PhD breakthrough into a venture-backed deep tech company.  This conversation covers: How to turn academic research into a scalable startup The challenges of moving from Stanford PhD to founder and CEO What it takes to raise capital as a deep tech and hardware startup Why commercialization and manufacturing are the hardest parts of innovation How to identify real-world use cases and achieve product-market fit Following recent episodes on building teams, this conversation focuses on the foundation behind every startup: transforming breakthrough technology into a viable business. Apply to Startup Battlefield: We are looking for early-stage companies that have an MVP. So nominate a founder (or yourself): techcrunch.com/apply. Be sure to say you heard about Startup Battlefield from the Build Mode podcast.   TechCrunch Disrupt: If you're thinking about applying to Startup Battlefield, then October 13 to 15 in San Francisco, we're back for TechCrunch Disrupt, where the Startup Battlefield 200 takes the stage. So if you want to cheer them on, or just network with 1000s of founders, VCs, and tech enthusiasts, then grab your tickets.   Use code buildmode15 for 15% off any ticket type.  Chapters: 00:00 The Breakthrough Moment 01:45 From Startup Battlefield to Scale 02:42 What Gecko Materials Actually Does 05:18 Turning a PhD Into a Company 07:44 The Big Vision for Gecko Materials 09:19 From Wild Ideas to Real Use Cases 11:16 Spinning Out of Stanford 14:49 Raising Capital (and a 36-Hour Round) 17:54 Breakthroughs and Momentum 18:00 Building a World-Class Team 22:19 Owning the Founder Role 24:21 Finding Product-Market Fit in Deep Tech 26:54 Why More Research Doesn’t Become Startups 29:15 What’s Next for Gecko Materials New episodes of Build Mode drop every Thursday. Hosted by Isabelle Johannessen. Produced and edited by Maggie Nye. Audience development led by Morgan Little. Special thanks to the Foundry and Cheddar video teams.

    32 min
  4. How to handle layoffs with compassion with Ayal Yogev, Anjuna

    9 APR

    How to handle layoffs with compassion with Ayal Yogev, Anjuna

    This week’s guest is Ayal Yogev, co-founder and CEO of Anjuna Security, who has experienced both sides of the startup journey: scaling quickly during the boom years and then making the incredibly difficult decision to lay off a significant portion of his team when the market shifted. From growing to 75 employees to scaling back and rebuilding, Yogev learned firsthand that the hardest part of leadership isn’t hiring fast, it’s making tough decisions with care, transparency, and integrity. In this episode, Isabelle Johannessen and Yogev unpack what it really means to lead through layoffs with compassion and how founders can support their teams even in the most challenging moments. They also explore the lessons learned from scaling too quickly and how to build a more resilient company the second time around. They discuss: How to approach layoffs with empathy and transparency Ways to support employees beyond financial compensation What founders get wrong about scaling and hiring Why culture matters most during difficult moments Lessons from rebuilding after layoffs Apply to Startup Battlefield: We are looking for early-stage companies that have an MVP. So nominate a founder (or yourself): techcrunch.com/apply. Be sure to say you heard about Startup Battlefield from the Build Mode podcast.   TechCrunch Disrupt: If you're thinking about applying to Startup Battlefield, then October 13 to 15 in San Francisco, we're back for TechCrunch Disrupt, where the Startup Battlefield 200 takes the stage. So if you want to cheer them on, or just network with 1000s of founders, VCs, and tech enthusiasts, then grab your tickets.   Use code buildmode15 for 15% off any ticket type.  New episodes of Build Mode drop every Thursday. Hosted by Isabelle Johannessen. Produced and edited by Maggie Nye. Audience development led by Morgan Little. Special thanks to the Foundry and Cheddar video teams.   Chapters: 00:00 We grew too fast 02:30 What Anjuna actually does 04:45 Scaling the team quickly 06:10 The market crash hits 09:40 Handling layoffs with empathy 12:10 Supporting employees the right way 15:30 Why culture matters in crisis 20:50 The hiring mistake founders make 27:40 When to scale your sales team 34:40 Rebuilding after layoffs

    46 min
  5. Diverse teams start with diverse VCs with Leah Solivan, Taskrabbit

    2 APR

    Diverse teams start with diverse VCs with Leah Solivan, Taskrabbit

    If one thing has become clear this season, finding the right talent for your team isn’t as easy as picking from a pile of resumes This week’s guest is  Leah Solivan, the founder of Taskrabbit and now an early-stage investor who has seen that the power to change a homogenous startup exosystem comes from empowering diverse VCs to fund underrepresented founders who will hire the hidden tech talent. From bootstrapping TaskRabbit on credit cards to scaling it into one of the defining companies of the gig economy, Leah learned firsthand that the hardest part of building a company isn’t the product, it’s selecting the right people to build it. In this episode, Isabelle Johannessen and Leah unpack what it really takes to build diverse teams from day one and why most companies get it wrong by waiting too long. They also explore how the lack of diversity in venture capital directly shapes who gets funded, and ultimately, who gets hired. They discuss: How to build diverse teams intentionally from the very beginning Why the “easy path” in hiring leads to less diverse outcomes The connection between diverse VCs and diverse companies How to hire for culture and values over credentials Apply to Startup Battlefield: We are looking for early-stage companies that have an MVP. So nominate a founder (or yourself): techcrunch.com/apply. Be sure to say you heard about Startup Battlefield from the Build Mode podcast.   TechCrunch Disrupt: If you're thinking about applying to Startup Battlefield, then October 13 to 15 in San Francisco, we're back for TechCrunch Disrupt, where the Startup Battlefield 200 takes the stage. So if you want to cheer them on, or just network with 1000s of founders, VCs, and tech enthusiasts, then grab your tickets.   Use code buildmode15 for 15% off any ticket type. Chapters: 00:00 The hard way to hire diverse talent 01:20 From engineer to Taskrabbit founder03:39 The moment that sparked Taskrabbit 07:39 Why building teams is the hardest part 12:06 Learning how to hire from scratch 17:36 Why venture capital lacks diversity 27:25 How to build diverse teams from day one 39:42 What founders get wrong about competition

    47 min
  6. Why hiring the weirdos works with Isaiah Granet, Bland

    26 MAR

    Why hiring the weirdos works with Isaiah Granet, Bland

    If one thing has become clear this season, it’s that there is no formula to building the perfect team. But no one breaks the mold quite like this week’s guest, Isaiah Granet, the co-founder and CEO of Bland. The voice AI startup has been growing at a breakneck speed but the founding team has taken their time to prioritize passion over pedigree and find their team members in places many might not think to look.  In this episode, Isabelle Johannessen and Isaiah Granet unpack a radically different approach to hiring that prioritizes aligned work ethic, curiosity, and flexibility rather than resumes and connections. So far, that approach has worked for Bland. The scrappy team has gone from pre-seed to series B in less than a year.  They discuss: How to identify “hidden gem” talent in unexpected places The role of cold inbound and unconventional sourcing When to hire ahead of need and when not to How hiring philosophy shapes company culture at scale Apply to Startup Battlefield: We are looking for early-stage companies that have an MVP. So nominate a founder (or yourself): techcrunch.com/apply. Be sure to say you heard about Startup Battlefield from the Build Mode podcast.   TechCrunch Disrupt: If you're thinking about applying to Startup Battlefield, then October 13 to 15 in San Francisco, we're back for TechCrunch Disrupt, where the Startup Battlefield 200 takes the stage. So if you want to cheer them on, or just network with 1000s of founders, VCs, and tech enthusiasts, then grab your tickets.   Use code buildmode15 for 15% off any ticket type.  Chapters: 00:00 — Hiring for Passion Over Pedigree 02:42 — Pivoting Into Voice AI 03:49 — Explosive Growth: Pre-Seed to Series B 05:00 — Surviving Hypergrowth 10:00 — Rethinking Hiring: Finding Hidden Talent 16:30 — Building and Scaling Culture 24:00 — Who to Hire (and When to Fire) 41:30 — Compensation, Equity, and Final Lessons New episodes of Build Mode drop every Thursday. Hosted by Isabelle Johannessen. Produced and edited by Maggie Nye. Audience development led by Morgan Little. Special thanks to the Foundry and Cheddar video teams.

    50 min
  7. How to fight with your co-founder with Ian Schmidt, Trimergence

    19 MAR

    How to fight with your co-founder with Ian Schmidt, Trimergence

    Every founding team is a mix of personalities, communication styles, and strengths. That can be a superpower or cause founders to butt heads. Without a clear framework for navigating conflict, even the strongest teams can fall apart before they really get started. This week on Build Mode, Isabelle Johannessen sits down with Ian Schmidt, strategic advisor at Trimergence, to unpack the “personal operating system” behind every founder. As a coach, consultant, and occasionally a bouncer, Ian helps teams build the self-awareness and relational tools they need to scale without unnecessary friction. They discuss: Why founders should invest in coaching before conflict escalates How to repair after conflict goes sideways The importance of understanding your own triggers as a leader How to create space for the self-work that actually saves time long-term Following last week’s episode on family co-founders, this conversation expands those lessons into practical tools any founding team can use. Apply to Startup Battlefield: We are looking for early-stage companies that have an MVP. So nominate a founder (or yourself): techcrunch.com/apply. Be sure to say you heard about Startup Battlefield from the Build Mode podcast.   TechCrunch Disrupt: If you're thinking about applying to Startup Battlefield, then October 13 to 15 in San Francisco, we're back for TechCrunch Disrupt, where the Startup Battlefield 200 takes the stage. So if you want to cheer them on, or just network with 1000s of founders, VCs, and tech enthusiasts, then grab your tickets.   Use code buildmode15 for 15% off any ticket type.  Chapters: 00:00 Why Conflict Isn’t the Problem 02:18 The Founder Operating System 04:21 Why Co-Founders Clash 05:34 How to Map Your Personal OS 10:26 Start Early or Pay Later 16:59 Frameworks for Navigating Conflict 23:32 Relationships, Loneliness & Support Systems 31:15 Identity, Habits & Scaling Yourself New episodes of Build Mode drop every Thursday. Hosted by Isabelle Johannessen. Produced and edited by Maggie Nye. Audience development led by Morgan Little. Special thanks to the Foundry and Cheddar video teams.

    49 min
  8. When startups become a family business

    12 MAR

    When startups become a family business

    In startups, choosing a co-founder is often compared to choosing a spouse. But what happens when your co-founder actually is family? In this episode of Build Mode, host Isabelle Johannessen explores how founders navigate co-founder relationships that come with built-in trust and unique challenges. First up is Hala Jalwan and Alessio Tresanti, the married co-founders of AI agent for procurement focusing on autonomous sourcing, Rivio. They discuss building a company from the same household and why clear roles and communication matter when both your personal and professional lives are on the line. Then Isabelle talks with Anna Sun, co-founder of Nowadays, an AI co-pilot for corporate event planning that she launched with her sister Amy shortly after graduating from MIT. Sun explains how their sibling dynamic shapes decision-making, team culture, and the way they move quickly as founders. They discuss: How trust shapes strong co-founder partnerships The benefits and challenges of building a startup with family Dividing roles and decision-making between co-founders Hiring and culture in early-stage startups Why some founders turn to co-founder coaching to navigate conflict This episode looks at how unconventional co-founder relationships can become a startup’s biggest advantage and why trust may be the most powerful tool a founding team has. Apply to Startup Battlefield: We are looking for early-stage companies that have an MVP. So nominate a founder (or yourself): techcrunch.com/apply. Be sure to say you heard about Startup Battlefield from the Build Mode podcast.   TechCrunch Disrupt: If you're thinking about applying to Startup Battlefield, then October 13 to 15 in San Francisco, we're back for TechCrunch Disrupt, where the Startup Battlefield 200 takes the stage. So if you want to cheer them on, or just network with 1000s of founders, VCs, and tech enthusiasts, then grab your tickets.   Use code buildmode15 for 15% off any ticket type.  New episodes of Build Mode drop every Thursday. Hosted by Isabelle Johannessen. Produced and edited by Maggie Nye. Audience development led by Morgan Little. Special thanks to the Foundry and Cheddar video teams.

    41 min
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Presentatori e ospiti

Descrizione

On Build Mode, TechCrunch's Startup Battlefield Editor Isabelle Johannessen cuts through the startup mythology to uncover how founders survive the brutal early days, navigate impossible funding landscapes, and somehow keep their companies — and sanity—  intact. Each season, Isabelle is joined by founders, investors, and operators to dig into specific aspects of the startup journey, from creative go to market strategies to founder mental health. The interviews are full of candid startup wisdom—think cap table drama, co-founder breakups, and pivot panic. So, if you’re starting a company or or even just thinking about it, this is your survival guide.  

Informazioni

  • Canale
    TechCrunch
  • Creatore
    TechCrunch
  • Anni di attività
    2021 - 2026
  • Puntate
    222
  • Classificazione
    Contenuti adatti a tutti
  • Copyright
    © TechCrunch
  • Sito web del podcast
    Build Mode

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