Build Mode

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podcasts@techcrunch.com

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Build Mode Bonus: Inside the VC Decision-Making Process with True Ventures' Puneet Agarwal

October 09, 2026

Venture capital is more concentrated than ever, making it increasingly difficult for early-stage founders to land their first check. So what does it actually take to stand out to investors? In this special bonus episode of Build Mode, host Isabelle Johannesen sits down with Puneet Agarwal, managing partner at True Ventures, to discuss what VCs are really looking for in 2026. True Ventures has backed companies including Fitbit, Peloton, and Duo Security, and evaluates thousands of startups e...

The Case for Crowdfunding Before Raising Venture Capital with Everette Taylor, Kickstarter

October 01, 2026

For years, crowdfunding had a reputation as the place founders went when they couldn’t raise venture capital. Kickstarter CEO Everette Taylor thinks founders should look at it very differently. In this episode of Build Mode, host Isabelle Johannesen sits down with Everett to talk about crowdfunding as an alternative and sometimes a precursor to traditional venture funding. Everette’s own path into entrepreneurship was unconventional. Growing up in Richmond, Virginia, far from Silicon Valley...

How a first-time founder bootstrapped her way to a $47.5 Million Exit with Ashley Tyrner-Dolce, FarboxRx

September 24, 2026

Ashley Tyrner-Dolce spent more than a decade building FarmboxRx without taking a single dollar of venture capital and ultimately exited the company while still owning the majority of it. In this episode of Build Mode, host Isabelle Johannesen sits down with Ashley to talk about what bootstrapping actually looks like when you don’t have money from a previous exit or a wealthy network to fall back on. Ashley started the company after experiencing food insecurity herself. Years earlier, while ...

Founder Storiez · High booking difficulty · 100 - 1,000 listeners

Liftoff with Keith: Conversations with Super Founders and Growth Experts sharing useful insights · Medium booking difficulty · 100 - 1,000 listeners

How do I get in touch with Build Mode?

Build Mode is hosted by Isabelle Johannessen. Its publicly listed email is podcasts@techcrunch.com. For guest bookings, the host or producer is usually the best person to reach. Podseeker helps you find direct host and producer contacts and pitch from your own inbox.

What is the email for Build Mode?

The publicly listed email for Build Mode: podcasts@techcrunch.com.

How many listeners does Build Mode have?

Podseeker estimates Build Mode reaches 100 to 1,000 listeners per episode. Only the publisher has exact numbers.

Who is an ideal guest for Build Mode?

Build Mode typically books industry leaders. Typical guest background: Founders, CEOs, venture investors, operators, and specialized startup professionals with substantial firsthand experience building, funding, scaling, or advising companies. Common among recent guests: Building or leading a venture-backed startup; Raising significant venture capital; Leading a company through major growth, crisis, or strategic change. Recent guests include Julia Hartz, Sasha Orloff, and Manan Mehta.

How hard is it to get booked on Build Mode?

Medium. Guests usually need solid credentials in the topic and an idea that fits the show.

What topics does Build Mode cover?

Recent episodes cover Startups, Venture Capital, Fundraising, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership. Pitch an idea tied to one of these topics and mention a recent episode.