Build Mode cover art

Build Mode

Build Mode

By: TechCrunch
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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.TechCrunch Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Best of Build Mode: Think like a VC

    Best of Build Mode: Think like a VC
    Jun 18 2026
    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.
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    17 mins
  • Best of Build Mode: Scaling Company Culture

    Best of Build Mode: Scaling Company Culture
    Jun 11 2026
    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.
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    18 mins
  • Best of Build Mode: The Founder Mistakes That Cost Time, Money, and Growth

    Best of Build Mode: The Founder Mistakes That Cost Time, Money, and Growth
    Jun 4 2026
    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.
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    27 mins
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