Introducing Build Mode: TechCrunch’s new podcast for founders

Disrupt 2025 is just a few days away, and tickets are still available here! And there’s no better time to announce that alongside our main event and annual Startup Battlefield 200 competition, we’re launching an all-new TechCrunch franchise: Build Mode.

Presented by Startup Battlefield editor Isabelle Johannessen, Build Mode is a survival guide for early-stage founders navigating the chaotic, high-stakes chaos of building a company from scratch. No sugar coating. No hype. Just candid conversations and tactical advice from people who’ve done it before and have the scars (and paperwork) to prove it.

Starting November 13, Isabelle will sit down with founders, venture capitalists and operators to unpack the real stories behind the build. Each season and weekly episode will tackle a topic that keeps founders up at night: the chaos of going to market, the pressures of fundraising, the runaway funnels, the wrong hires, and everything in between.

Whether you’re an Apple, Spotify, or YouTube user, you can listen to build mode wherever you find podcasts. Additional content and exclusive clips will be released on TechCrunch’s social channels, including Instagram, X, and TikTok. If you’re not a subscriber, the clock is ticking until we officially launch in a few weeks!

Check out the trailer for Build Mode and Season 1 here:

Season 1 of Build Mode begins with a dive into the good, bad, and gritty realities of bringing your product to market. From big splashes to epic fails, we break down what it takes to go from idea to execution. We are excited to have our first season sponsor, JP Morgan, along for the ride.

But this is just the beginning.

We want Build Mode to be more than just a podcast; We want it to be a community of builders who help other builders succeed, just like the over 1,700 startups that have come through the Startup Battlefield program. That means we want to hear from you, founders, operators, and curious listeners, about the questions and topics 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’re a previous subscriber to our Found podcast – welcome back! You are already part of the Build Mode community. We keep the found archive alive so you can revisit founder interviews and insights from years past. There’s no gatekeeping, just honest stories and hard-earned lessons, shared for free to anyone brave enough to build a startup.