Build Mode: TechCrunch’s New Podcast for Founders
▼ Summary
– TechCrunch is launching a new podcast called Build Mode, hosted by Isabelle Johannessen, offering candid advice for early-stage founders.
– Build Mode will feature weekly episodes starting November 13, tackling themes like go-to-market strategies, fundraising, and hiring challenges.
– The podcast will be available on platforms like Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, with bonus content on TechCrunch’s social channels.
– Season One focuses on the realities of product launches, sponsored by J.P. Morgan, and includes community-sourced stories and questions.
– Disrupt 2025 is happening soon, with tickets available and a 2-for-1 discount offer to bring a guest and save on passes.
With the highly anticipated Disrupt 2025 event approaching rapidly, TechCrunch introduces Build Mode, an essential new podcast series created specifically for early-stage startup founders. This timely launch complements both the flagship conference and the annual Startup Battlefield 200 competition, offering another valuable resource for the entrepreneurial community.
Guided by Startup Battlefield Editor Isabelle Johannessen, Build Mode serves as a practical survival manual for founders immersed in the turbulent early phases of company creation. The podcast strips away superficial success stories and exaggerated hype, delivering instead raw, honest discussions and actionable strategies from those who have genuinely lived through the startup journey. Listeners gain access to hard-won wisdom from experienced founders, venture capitalists, and operational experts who share both their triumphs and costly mistakes.
Beginning November 13, each weekly episode will explore critical themes that dominate founders’ thoughts. The series confronts the real-world challenges of launching a business, including chaotic go-to-market efforts, intense fundraising demands, precarious financial runways, and problematic hiring decisions. Build Mode promises to reveal the authentic narratives behind company building, providing clarity on what truly drives progress from initial concept to market execution.
The podcast will be accessible across all major platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Additional bonus materials and exclusive previews will appear regularly on TechCrunch’s social media channels such as Instagram, X, and TikTok. A preview trailer for Build Mode and its debut season is currently available for listening.
Season One focuses intensely on the complex journey of bringing a product to market. The episodes will examine both spectacular successes and instructive failures, breaking down the practical requirements for transitioning from theoretical idea to tangible business offering. J.P. Morgan joins as the inaugural season sponsor, supporting this exploration of entrepreneurial reality.
Beyond the podcast itself, TechCrunch emphasizes the upcoming Disrupt 2025 event featuring an impressive lineup of industry leaders. More than 250 influential figures from organizations including Google Cloud, Netflix, Microsoft, Box, a16z, ElevenLabs, Wayve, and Hugging Face will lead over 200 educational sessions. These presentations are designed to provide actionable insights that accelerate startup development and competitive positioning. Attendees will also have opportunities to explore more than 300 startups demonstrating innovations across numerous sectors.
Special registration incentives include a two-for-one discount allowing attendees to bring a companion while saving sixty percent on passes. Those registering by October 27 can secure savings reaching $444. The event takes place in San Francisco with registration currently open.
The vision for Build Mode extends beyond conventional podcasting to establish a collaborative community where builders support one another’s success. This mirrors the supportive network developed through the Startup Battlefield program, which has nurtured over 1,700 startups. The producers actively encourage listener participation, inviting founders, operators, and interested audiences to share their most pressing questions and challenges for potential inclusion in future episodes.
Previous subscribers to TechCrunch’s Found podcast will automatically become part of the Build Mode community. The complete Found archive remains accessible, preserving years of founder interviews and accumulated knowledge. This commitment to open sharing reflects the podcast’s core philosophy: no exclusive secrets, just transparent stories and difficult lessons offered freely to anyone courageous enough to pursue startup creation.
(Source: TechCrunch)
