Introducing Build Mode: TechCrunch’s new podcast for founders 

Disrupt 2025 Just days away, with Tickets are still available here! And there’s no better time to announce it alongside our flagship event and annual Startup Battlefield 200 competitionWe’re launching a brand new TechCrunch franchise: Build Mode

Hosted by Startup Battlefield Editor Isabel JohannesenBuild Mode is a survival guide for early-stage founders navigating the messy, high-stakes chaos of building a company from scratch. No sugar coating. No hype. Just candid conversations and tactical advice from those who’ve done it before and have the scars (and word sheets) to prove it.

Starting November 13, Isabelle will sit down with founders, VCs and operators to unpack the real stories behind the build. Each season and weekly episode will tackle a theme that keeps founders up at night: market chaos, fundraising pressures, runaway runways, hiring misfires and everything in between.

whether you are a apple, Spotifyor YouTube Individuals, you can tune into build mode Wherever podcasts are available. Bonus content and exclusive clips will drop on TechCrunch’s social channels, including Instagram, XAnd tiktok. If you haven’t subscribed, well, the clock is ticking until we officially launch in a few weeks!

Check out the build mode and the trailer for the first season here:

Season one of Build Mode begins with a dive into the good, bad and grim reality of bringing your product to market. From big splashes to epic fails, we’re unpacking what it really takes to go from idea to execution. And we are excited to have Our season one sponsor, JP Morganalong for the ride.

But this is just the beginning.

We want Build Mode to be more than a podcast; We want it to be a community of creators helping other creators succeed, just like the 1,700+ startups that come through the Startup Battlefield program. That means we want to hear from you, founders, operators and curious listeners about the questions and themes that keep you up at night.

We’ll be weaving community-sourced stories, tips and questions into upcoming episodes, so stay tuned for how to get involved!

And if you have previously subscribed to us Podcast found — Welcome back! You are already part of the Build Mod community We’re keeping the FOUND archive alive so you can revisit founder interviews and insights from years past. No gatekeeping, just honest stories and hard-earned lessons, shared freely by anyone brave enough to build a startup.