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. 7 hr ago

    The New Rules of Early-Stage Fundraising with Charles Hudson

    Raising your first round has always been hard — but in today’s market, the rules are changing fast. In this episode of Build Mode, our host and Startup Battlefield lead Isabelle Johannesen sits down with Charles Hudson, Founder and Managing Partner of Precursor Ventures, to talk about what early-stage founders need to know before raising their first institutional round. Charles shares a candid look at how the venture landscape has shifted, why AI is changing what investors pay attention to, and how founders can better navigate fundraising when the old playbooks no longer apply. They get into: • Why raising pre-seed and seed funding feels harder right now• How AI is reshaping venture capital• What founders should know before choosing an investor• Why the highest valuation is not always the best deal• How to build momentum during a fundraise• Why storytelling and a strong blurb matter more than ever• What happens when a startup raises too much too soon• Why the biggest risk may not be a down round — but no round at all• How to think about whether venture capital is actually the right path Whether you're preparing to raise, currently fundraising, or just trying to understand how early-stage venture is changing, this conversation is packed with practical, honest advice for founders building in today’s market. Subscribe to Build Mode on⁠ Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, or⁠ wherever you like to listen⁠. And watch the full videos on⁠ YouTube⁠. New episodes of ⁠Build Mode⁠ drop every Thursday.  Chapters: 00:00 – The New Rules of Startup Fundraising 02:00 – What VCs Look for in First-Time Founders 08:50 – The Biggest Fundraising Mistakes Startup Founders Make 13:20 – Why Startup Valuations Are So Unpredictable in 2026 18:20 – Why Raising Too Much Money Can Hurt Your Startup 25:55 – Should Every Startup Raise Venture Capital? 29:20 – How to Choose the Right VC Investor 33:55 – Why Silicon Valley Still Gives Founders an Advantage 36:40 – How to Build Momentum During a Startup Fundraise 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.

    42 min

  2. Season 3, Episode 1 Trailer

    Build Mode: Inside the Fundraise

    Startup fundraising is harder than ever, and Season 3 of Build Mode is here to help. Whether you're raising a seed round, preparing for Series A, pitching venture capital firms, negotiating a term sheet, or exploring alternatives to VC funding, this season is packed with practical advice from founders and investors who have successfully navigated the fundraising journey. Hosted by TechCrunch Startup Battlefield Editor Isabelle Johannessen, Build Mode is the TechCrunch podcast where founders, investors, and startup operators share honest conversations about what it really takes to build and finance a company. This season features Charles Hudson (Precursor Ventures), Andrew Dai (Elorian), Ashley Tyrner-Dolce (FarmboxRx), Kristina Subbotina (Lexsy AI), Sydney Sykes (NVIDIA), Xavier Chi (Mbodi), Jack Groetzinger (SeatGeek), Sasha Orloff (Puzzle), Everette Taylor (Kickstarter), Manan Mehta (Unshackled Ventures), Julia Hartz (Eventbrite), and more. Together, they cover topics including avoiding down rounds, raising capital in today's venture market, working with corporate venture capital, crowdfunding, startup financial readiness, fundraising as an immigrant founder, IPO lessons, and how to deliver a winning startup pitch. If you're an entrepreneur, startup founder, investor, or operator looking for actionable fundraising advice, this season is your playbook. New episodes begin July 9 and release every week on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Subscribe now and learn how to raise capital, grow your startup, and build with confidence.

    1 min

  3. 18 Jun ·  Bonus

    Best of Build Mode: Think like a VC

    This week on Build Mode, we’re diving back into the archives for a special best-of episode all about venture capital. Host Isabelle Johannesen and producer Maggie Nye revisit conversations from past seasons to give founders a glimpse behind the VC curtain and a better understanding of what investors are really looking for. From choosing the right investors to building a differentiated go-to-market strategy, these venture capitalists and founder-turned-investors share hard-earned lessons on fundraising, portfolio dynamics, investor-founder relationships, and what separates the companies that successfully raise their next round from those that don't. In this episode, you'll hear from: ⁠Yuri Sagalov, managing director at General Catalyst⁠ ⁠Ross Fubini, managing partner at XYZ Venture Capital⁠ and Leslie Feinzaig, founder and general partner at Graham & Walker⁠ ⁠Paul Irving, partner at GTMfund⁠ ⁠Leah Solivan, founder of TaskRabbit and founder of Precedent VC⁠ Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:19 Yuri Sagalov (General Catalyst): The three types of investors and who founders should avoid 03:29 Ross Fubini (XYZ VC) & Leslie Feinzaig (Graham & Walker): What great investors actually bring to the table 08:36 Paul Irving (GTMfund): The go-to-market signals investors look for 12:30 Leah Solivan (TaskRabbit / Precedent VC): Understanding the competition inside your investors' portfolios 14:30 Outro Subscribe to Build Mode on⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠⁠, or⁠ ⁠wherever you like to listen⁠⁠. And watch the full videos on⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠. 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.

    17 min

  4. 11 Jun ·  Bonus

    Best of Build Mode: Scaling Company Culture

    This week on Build Mode, we’re diving back into the archives for a special best-of episode all about company culture. Host Isabelle Johannesen and producer Maggie Nye revisit some of the most insightful conversations from past seasons to explore how founders intentionally shape culture from day one and why the habits, values, and decisions of leadership have an outsized impact as companies scale. Guests share lessons on hiring for culture, developing strong leaders, building diverse teams, navigating layoffs with empathy, and creating workplaces where people can do their best work. From early-stage startups to high-growth companies, these founders reveal what they've learned about building cultures that last. In this episode, you'll hear from: Ian Schmidt, partner & consultant at Trimergence Hala Jawani, cofounder & CEO of Rivio Ayal Yogev, cofounder & CEO of Anjuna Leah Solivan, founder of TaskRabbit and founder of Precedent VC Jasper Carmichael-Jack, cofounder & CEO of Artisan Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:22 Ian Schmidt (Trimergence): Why founders should invest in leadership and culture early 03:55 Hala Jawani (Riveo): Hiring leaders who can scale culture 05:22 Eyal Yogev (Anjuna): Why culture is built through a thousand small decisions 08:51 Leah Solivan (TaskRabbit / Precedent VC): Building diverse teams from day one 13:15 Jasper Carmichael-Jack (Artisan): How AI could reshape workplace culture 15:45 Outro Subscribe to Build Mode on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, or ⁠wherever you like to listen⁠. And watch the full videos on ⁠YouTube⁠. 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.

    18 min

  5. 4 Jun ·  Bonus

    Best of Build Mode: The Founder Mistakes That Cost Time, Money, and Growth

    This week on Build Mode, we’re diving back into the archives for a special best-of episode all about startup mistakes, hard-earned lessons, and the decisions founders wish they’d made differently. Host Isabelle Johannesen and producer Maggie Nye revisit some of the most insightful conversations from past seasons to explore the missteps that shaped successful companies. Guests share candid stories about chasing product-market fit, making hiring mistakes, navigating investor expectations, managing hypergrowth, building company infrastructure, and learning what really matters in the early days of a startup. In this episode, you’ll hear from: Deon Nicholas, cofounder & former CEO of Forethought AI and co-founder of Espa Labs Jasper Carmichael-Jack, cofounder & CEO of Artisan Yuri Sagalov, partner at General Catalyst Isaiah Granet, cofounder & CEO of Bland Ayal Yogev, founder & CEO of Anjuna Sarah Lucena, founder & CEO of Mappa Whether you’re building your first startup, hiring your early team, fundraising, or figuring out how to scale sustainably, this episode is packed with practical advice and honest reflections from founders and investors who learned these lessons the hard way. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:20 Deon Nicholas (Forethought, Espa Labs): Product-market fit, iteration, and why your first product probably won’t work 05:45 Jasper Carmichael-Jack (Artisan): Hiring mistakes, logo shopping, and finding the right people 09:30 Yuri Sagalov (General Catalyst): Founder commitment, investor signals, and avoiding non-standard company structures 12:35 Isaiah Granet (Bland): Equity grants, payroll headaches, and taking care of early employees 17:25 Ayal Yogev (Anjuna): Overhiring, market shifts, and lessons from the 2022 downturn 22:55 Sarah Lucena (Mappa): Why every founder needs a great lawyer  Subscribe to Build Mode on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, or ⁠wherever you like to listen⁠. And watch the full videos on ⁠YouTube⁠. 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.  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.

    27 min

  6. 28 May ·  Bonus

    Best of Build Mode: Cofounders, Conflict and Compatibility

    This week on Build Mode, we’re diving back into the archives for a special best-of episode all about effective partnerships, from cofounder relationships and team trust to investor dynamics and leadership communication. Host Isabelle Johannesen and producer Maggie Nye revisit some of the most insightful conversations from past seasons to explore what makes startup partnerships actually work. Guests share candid stories about finding cofounders online, navigating founder breakups, building trust inside fast-growing teams, balancing marriage and business, choosing the right investors, and learning when compatibility matters more than credentials. In this episode, you’ll hear from: Jasper Carmichael-Jack, cofounder & CEO of Artisan Ian Schmidt, partner & consultant at Trimergence Hala Jawani and Alessio Trestani, cofounders of Rivio Leah Solivan, founder of TaskRabbit Ross Fubini, managing partner at XYZ Venture Capital and Leslie Feinzaig, founder & CEO of Graham & Walker Sarah Lucena, founder & CEO of Mappa Whether you’re searching for the right cofounder, managing conflict on your team, scaling as a solo founder, or building relationships with investors, this episode is packed with practical advice and honest founder lessons from people who’ve lived it. Chapters: 00:00  Intro:  01:00 Jasper Carmichael-Jack (Artisan): Meeting a cofounder online and navigating a founder breakup 04:20 Ian Schmidt (Trimergence): Frameworks for conflict resolution, communication, and team trust 08:15  Hala Jawani & Alessio Cristante (Riveo): Building a startup as married cofounders 10:20 Leah Solivan (TaskRabbit): Transitioning leadership and building executive trust 12:30 Ross Fubini (XYZ Ventures) & Leslie Feinzaig (Graham & Walker): Choosing the right investors and building your cap table 16:05 Sarah Lucena (Mapa): Compatibility, investor alignment, and finding the right people  Subscribe to Build Mode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen. And watch the full videos on YouTube. 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.  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.

    21 min

  7. 14 May ·  Bonus

    The 7-Failure Rule: How Forethought AI Found Product-Market Fit with Co-Founder Deon Nicholas

    This week we're sharing our very first episode with Deon Nicholas, the co-founder and CEO of Forethought AI. In this episode, Nicholas shares how he built a company that puts customers (not hype) at the center. He unpacks his “7-Failure Rule,” the early experiments that shaped Forethought’s success, and why conviction should always come from your users, not your investors. 00:00 Intro 01:23 The Founder Journey: Adapting Every 6-9 Months 05:33 From AI Research to Solving Business Problems 11:12 Finding Your Customer: The Importance of User Conversations 18:22 Building Demos and Landing First Paying Customers 25:12 The Seven Failure Rule for Product Market Fit 30:38 Preparing for and Winning TechCrunch Disrupt 35:16 The Reality of Fundraising and Chasing Metrics 39:07 Navigating Competition in Customer Service AI 43:03 Stepping into Chairman and What's Next 44:57 Outro

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

    30 Apr

    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
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About

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.  

Information

  • Channel
    TechCrunch
  • Creator
    TechCrunch
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    229
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © TechCrunch
  • Show Website
    Build Mode

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