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How to handle layoffs with compassion with Ayal Yogev, Anjuna

This week’s guest is Ayal Yogev, co-founder and CEO of Anjuna Security, who has experienced both sides of the startup journey: scaling quickly during the boom years and then making the incredibly difficult decision to lay off a significant portion of his team when the market shifted. From growing to 75 employees to scaling back…

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This week’s guest is Ayal Yogev, co-founder and CEO of Anjuna Security, who has experienced both sides of the startup journey: scaling quickly during the boom years and then making the incredibly difficult decision to lay off a significant portion of his team when the market shifted.

From growing to 75 employees to scaling back and rebuilding, Yogev learned firsthand that the hardest part of leadership isn’t hiring fast, it’s making tough decisions with care, transparency, and integrity.

In this episode, Isabelle Johannessen and Yogev unpack what it really means to lead through layoffs with compassion and how founders can support their teams even in the most challenging moments. They also explore the lessons learned from scaling too quickly and how to build a more resilient company the second time around.

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.

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.

Chapters:
00:00 We grew too fast
02:30 What Anjuna actually does
04:45 Scaling the team quickly
06:10 The market crash hits
09:40 Handling layoffs with empathy
12:10 Supporting employees the right way
15:30 Why culture matters in crisis
20:50 The hiring mistake founders make
27:40 When to scale your sales team
34:40 Rebuilding after layoffs

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1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. @eatmanyzoos

    April 10, 2026 at 12:10 pm

    why not be smart enough to create something that can survive in any market? unless you have no creativity and make decisions based on trends and data and not the human spirit.

    Reply

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A Foldable iPhone? Siri AI in a HomePod? What to Expect at the iPhone Event | All Things Mobile

Apple’s September iPhone Event will be led by a new CEO, loaded with hardware, and full of surprises. We could finally get a foldable iPhone, new smart speakers, powerful smartwatches and more. Here’s what to expect and what we really want to see once Apple pulls back the curtain on September 9th. Read more about…

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August 31, 2026

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Apple’s September iPhone Event will be led by a new CEO, loaded with hardware, and full of surprises. We could finally get a foldable iPhone, new smart speakers, powerful smartwatches and more. Here’s what to expect and what we really want to see once Apple pulls back the curtain on September 9th.

Read more about Apple’s rumored new foldable phone on CNET.com
A Folding iPhone at Last? What to Expect From Apple’s Surprise and Shine Fall Event

0:00 Introduction & Apple Event Rumors
0:34 What to Expect: iPhone 18 Pro & Pro Max
1:22 What to Expect: Apple Watch Series 12 & Ultra 4
2:01 What to Expect: CEO Transition to John Ternus
2:41 Wishlist: Foldable iPhone Ultra
4:00 Wishlist: Smart Home & HomePod Displays
4:57 Wishlist: Siri AI Fitness Coach
6:09 Outro & World Record Result

Video Credits:
Host: Andrew Gebhart
Scripted by: Andrew Gebhart
Producer: Iyaz Akhtar, Bridget Carey
Camera: JD Christison
Video Editor: Chris Monroe
Thumbnail Designer: Tharon Green

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#iphone #apple #applewatch #technews #foldable

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The Day Tim Cook Replaced Steve Jobs: The iPhone 4S Launch | CNET Archives

Watch the moment Tim Cook takes the stage for his first product launch as Apple CEO in 2011. Stepping into Steve Jobs’ shoes, Cook welcomes the crowd to Apple’s Town Hall auditorium, reflects on his 14-year journey and teases the future of tech. Read more about it on CNET.com Tim Cook’s Legacy: Turning Apple’s Tech…

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Watch the moment Tim Cook takes the stage for his first product launch as Apple CEO in 2011. Stepping into Steve Jobs’ shoes, Cook welcomes the crowd to Apple’s Town Hall auditorium, reflects on his 14-year journey and teases the future of tech.

Read more about it on CNET.com
Tim Cook’s Legacy: Turning Apple’s Tech Chic Gadgets Into Status Symbols

Timecode Chapters:
0:20 Welcome & CEO Introduction
0:58 The History of Apple’s Town Hall
1:43 Unveiling Apple’s Integrated Vision
2:12 Introducing the iPhone 4S
2:54 Summary of Announcements (iOS 5, iCloud, & Siri)
3:36 Closing Remarks & Thanks

Video Credits:
Producer/Editor: Vatsal Upadhyay
Thumbnail Designer: Tharon Green

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NASA Launches The Roman Space Telescope: Earth’s New Orbiting Observatory

NASA and SpaceX successfully launched the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope from the historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Orbiting Observatory was named after NASA’s first chief astronomer, Nancy Grace Roman and can produce images from deep space 100 times larger than NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Read more about…

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August 30, 2026

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NASA and SpaceX successfully launched the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope from the historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Orbiting Observatory was named after NASA’s first chief astronomer, Nancy Grace Roman and can produce images from deep space 100 times larger than NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope.

Read more about NASA’s Roman Space Telescope on CNET.com:
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Telescope Is About to Start Its Cosmic Survey

0:00 Liftoff & Ascent
1:03 Max Q
1:54 Side Booster Cutoff & Separation
2:07 Boostback Burn
2:40 Main Core Separation & Second Stage Ignition
2:57 Fairing Separation
3:34 Side Booster Entry Burn
4:09 Side Booster Landing Burn & Touchdown
4:47 Second Stage Cutoff (SECO-1)
5:14 Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Deployment
5:43 Post-Deployment Wrap-Up

Video Credits:
Producer: Stephen Beacham

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#nasa #spacex #space #spaceexploration #romanspacetelescope #astronomy #spacenews #hubble #observation

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