
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 g... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 232 | Founded | 5 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Tech NewsTechnologyNews | |||

SeatGeek didn't become one of the biggest names in ticketing by following the playbook. It started as a simple ticket search engine on the TechCrunch 50 stage (now known as TechCrunch Battlefield) and took on the industry’s massive incumbents by expa... more
Building a great product is one thing. Getting a company like Nvidia to put its name behind it is something else entirely.
In this episode of Build Mode, host and Startup Battlefield lead Isabelle Johannesen sits down with Sydney Sykes, who leads gl... more
Building an AI startup is one thing. Raising one of the largest seed rounds of the year before launching a product is something else entirely.
In this episode of Build Mode, host and Startup Battlefield lead Isabelle Johannesen sits down with Andrew... more
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 ... more
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Build Mode is the rare startup podcast that doesn't just recycle the highlight-reel version of founder stories. Isabelle Johannessen is sharp — she comes into every episode having clearly done the homework, and she knows exactly when to push past the polished answer to get at what actually happened: the co-founder fight, the layoff nobody wanted to make, the pivot that almost broke the company. That takes real preparation and even sharper listening in the room.
What sets her apart as a host is h... more
This is a great pod. Rebecca and sometimes co-hosts do a great job not going after the founders we all know about, but finding Founders (sorry) with interesting stories about how they started their companies and what obstacles they’ve had to overcome. Balanced, direct, informative, and insightful.
People’s stories are interesting and this podcast exemplifies that there are as many ways to build a startup as there are people. Plus the hosts add context that makes this a really interesting listen even if you’re not that into tech.
Found has quickly become a favorite in my feed! I'm consistently impressed by the engaging conversations, insightful content, and actionable ideas. I truly learn something every time I listen!
Love the honest and open conversations with founders the TechCrunch team is facilitating here! If you’re currently a founder or entrepreneur, or want to be one in the future, this podcast should be part of your content diet. So glad I "Found" this show!
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
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This show curates candid conversations with founders, investors, and operators to reveal practical realities of starting and scaling a company. Episodes repeatedly surface topics like fundraising signals, go-to-market discipline, co-founder dynamics, and building humane, diverse teams. The format leans into real-world lessons, not hype, with a strong emphasis on long-term culture, leadership coaching, and pragmatic product-market fit in challenging markets. Notable flair includes founder-to-investor perspectives, multi-founder dynamics (including family and paired founders), and AI-enabled approaches to hiring and team performance, making it a practical resource for listeners who want actionable strategies and a clear read on what works in ... more
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These podcasts share a similar audience with Build Mode:
1. Equity
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3. Y Combinator Startup Podcast
4. The a16z Show
5. The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch
Build Mode launched 5 years ago and published 232 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Build Mode include:
1. Jack Groetzinger
2. Sydney Sykes
3. Andrew Dai
4. Charles Hudson
5. Isaiah Granet
6. Jasper Carmichael-Jack
7. Ian Schmidt
8. Hala Jawani
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