Connect with us

Science & Technology

A diverse team will make your startup more successful with Leah Solivan, Taskrabbit l Build Mode

If one thing has become clear this season, finding the right talent for your team isn’t as easy as picking from a pile of resumes This week’s guest is Leah Solivan, the founder of Taskrabbit and now an early-stage investor who has seen that the power to change a homogenous startup exosystem comes from empowering…

Published

on

If one thing has become clear this season, finding the right talent for your team isn’t as easy as picking from a pile of resumes This week’s guest is Leah Solivan, the founder of Taskrabbit and now an early-stage investor who has seen that the power to change a homogenous startup exosystem comes from empowering diverse VCs to fund underrepresented founders who will hire the hidden tech talent.

From bootstrapping TaskRabbit on credit cards to scaling it into one of the defining companies of the gig economy, Leah learned firsthand that the hardest part of building a company isn’t the product, it’s selecting the right people to build it.

In this episode, Isabelle Johannessen and Leah unpack what it really takes to build diverse teams from day one and why most companies get it wrong by waiting too long. They also explore how the lack of diversity in venture capital directly shapes who gets funded, and ultimately, who gets hired.

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 hard way to hire diverse talent
01:20 From engineer to Taskrabbit founder
03:39 The moment that sparked Taskrabbit
07:39 Why building teams is the hardest part
12:06 Learning how to hire from scratch
17:36 Why venture capital lacks diversity
27:25 How to build diverse teams from day one
39:42 What founders get wrong about competition

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.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. @jameslobosco36

    April 2, 2026 at 8:33 am

    Diverse ? How about BEST QUALIFIED ?

    • @adityamwagh

      April 2, 2026 at 4:26 pm

      You want a good balance of ego and talent. Best qualified and ego go hand in hand.

  2. @biswas316

    April 2, 2026 at 8:46 am

    So now talent and hard work doesn’t matter but diversity matter 🤣🤣🤣

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CNET

Electric Dirt Bikes Are Changing Everything | Gas vs. Electric

Are electric dirt bikes finally ready to replace traditional gas-powered machines? We explore the rapid rise of e-motos and compare them with gas dirt bikes. Featuring the Segway Xaber 300 and real-world racing insights from events like the Red Bull Erzberg Rocket Ride, we cover both the game-changing advantages and current limitations, like range and…

Published

on

Are electric dirt bikes finally ready to replace traditional gas-powered machines? We explore the rapid rise of e-motos and compare them with gas dirt bikes. Featuring the Segway Xaber 300 and real-world racing insights from events like the Red Bull Erzberg Rocket Ride, we cover both the game-changing advantages and current limitations, like range and charging infrastructure. Are you sticking with gas forever, or are you ready to make the switch to electric?

You can find the products mentioned in this video linked below
Segway Xaber 300 eDirt Bike – Red
*Cnet may get commission on this offer.

Read more about it on CNET.com
CES 2026: Segway Debuts 2 New E-Bikes and an e-Dirtbike Along With New Accessories

0:00 Intro: The Electric Dirt Bike Revolution
0:45 Weight & Agility
1:36 Convenience & Zero Maintenance
1:59 Noise Levels & Trail Access
2:53 Instant Torque & Performance Modes
3:28 Pro Racing & Podium Sweeps
4:10 Limitations: Range & Charging Infrastructure
5:29 Final Verdict: Are E-Motos the Future?

Video Credits:
Host: Dillon Lopez
Scripted by: Dillon Lopez
Producer: Dillon Lopez
Camera: Dillon Lopez
Video Editor: Dillon Lopez
Thumbnail Designer: Cole Kan

Add CNET as a trusted news source
Never miss a deal again! See CNET’s browser extension 👉
Check out CNET’s Amazon Storefront:
Subscribe to CNET on YouTube:
Follow us on TikTok:
Follow us on Instagram:
Follow us on Bluesky:
Like us on Facebook:
CNET’s AI Atlas:
Follow us on X:
Visit CNET.com:

#emoto #motorcycle #segways

Continue Reading

CNET

Celebrating Windows 95’s Birthday | CNET Archives

CNET’s initial impression was that Windows 95 would have a major impact, thanks to features like long file names, the taskbar and the Recycle Bin. Explore this vintage review. 0:00 The Windows 95 Hype and Cultural Phenomenon 0:45 Initial Skepticism and the Mac User Perspective 0:59 CNET Reality Check: Expert Panel Introduction 1:33 Hardware Requirements:…

Published

on

CNET’s initial impression was that Windows 95 would have a major impact, thanks to features like long file names, the taskbar and the Recycle Bin. Explore this vintage review.

0:00 The Windows 95 Hype and Cultural Phenomenon
0:45 Initial Skepticism and the Mac User Perspective
0:59 CNET Reality Check: Expert Panel Introduction
1:33 Hardware Requirements: 386/486 vs. Pentium Reality
2:05 Hard Drive Space Demands
2:18 Plug and Play: “Plug and Pray” vs. Reality
2:52 The Windows 95 vs. Mac Debate
3:33 The New Interface: Goodbye Program/File Manager, Hello Explorer
4:04 Understanding the Taskbar and “My Computer”

Video Credits:
Video Editor: Vatsal Upadhyay
Thumbnail Designer: Cole Kan

Add CNET as a trusted news source
Never miss a deal again! See CNET’s browser extension 👉
Check out CNET’s Amazon Storefront:
Subscribe to CNET on YouTube:
Follow us on TikTok:
Follow us on Instagram:
Follow us on Bluesky:
Like us on Facebook:
CNET’s AI Atlas:
Follow us on X:
Visit CNET.com:

#windows95 #birthday #microsoft

Continue Reading

Science & Technology

A Cosmologist’s Guide to the End of the Universe | Katie Mack and Debbie Millman | TED

How does studying the end of time change your perspective of life on Earth? Cosmologist and TED Fellow Katie Mack joins designer and podcaster Debbie Millman to talk about the story of the cosmos — from the Big Bang’s ancient light still glowing across the universe to the five ways it might all come to…

Published

on

How does studying the end of time change your perspective of life on Earth? Cosmologist and TED Fellow Katie Mack joins designer and podcaster Debbie Millman to talk about the story of the cosmos — from the Big Bang’s ancient light still glowing across the universe to the five ways it might all come to an end — plus what aerobatic flying taught her about staying present. (Recorded at TEDNext 2025 on November 10, 2025)

Join us in person at a TED conference:
Become a TED Member to support our mission:
Subscribe to a TED newsletter:

Follow TED!
Instagram:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:
Facebook:
X:

The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.

Watch more:

TED videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with the TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a request at

#TED #TEDTalks #Astronomy

Continue Reading

Trending