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Build Mode

Build Mode

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

    Maintaining Momentum and Morale During the Long Road to FDA Approval with Robhy Bustami, BioticsAI
    Apr 30 2026
    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.
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    32 mins
  • Don't stop hiring humans. Stop hiring the wrong humans with Jaspar Carmichael-Jack, Artisan

    Don't stop hiring humans. Stop hiring the wrong humans with Jaspar Carmichael-Jack, Artisan
    Apr 23 2026
    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.
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    37 mins
  • How geCKo Materials Turned a Lab Breakthrough into a Scalable Deep Tech Startup

    How geCKo Materials Turned a Lab Breakthrough into a Scalable Deep Tech Startup
    Apr 16 2026
    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.
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    32 mins
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