This week on Build Mode, we’re diving back into the archives for a special best-of episode all about venture capital. Host Isabelle Johannesen and producer Maggie Nye revisit conversations from past seasons to give founders a glimpse behind the VC curtain and a better understanding of what investors are really looking for.

From choosing the right investors to building a differentiated go-to-market strategy, these venture capitalists and founder-turned-investors share hard-earned lessons on fundraising, portfolio dynamics, investor-founder relationships, and what separates the companies that successfully raise their next round from those that don’t.

In this episode, you’ll hear from:

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⁠Yuri Sagalov, managing director at General Catalyst⁠ ()

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⁠Ross Fubini, managing partner at XYZ Venture Capital⁠ and Leslie Feinzaig, founder and general partner at Graham & Walker⁠ ()

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⁠Paul Irving, partner at GTMfund⁠ ()

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⁠Leah Solivan, founder of TaskRabbit and founder of Precedent VC⁠ ()

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:19 Yuri Sagalov (General Catalyst): The three types of investors and who founders should avoid

03:29 Ross Fubini (XYZ VC) & Leslie Feinzaig (Graham & Walker): What great investors actually bring to the table

08:36 Paul Irving (GTMfund): The go-to-market signals investors look for

12:30 Leah Solivan (TaskRabbit / Precedent VC): Understanding the competition inside your investors’ portfolios

14:30 Outro

Subscribe to Build Mode on⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠ () ,⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠⁠ () , or⁠ ⁠wherever you like to listen⁠⁠ () . And watch the full videos on⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠ () . 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. 

This week on Build Mode, we’re diving back into the archives for a special best-of episode all about startup mistakes, hard-earned lessons, and the decisions founders wish they’d made differently.

Host Isabelle Johannesen and producer Maggie Nye revisit some of the most insightful conversations from past seasons to explore the missteps that shaped successful companies.

In this episode, you’ll hear from:

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Deon Nicholas, cofounder & former CEO of Forethought AI and co-founder of Espa Labs ()

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Jasper Carmichael-Jack, cofounder & CEO of Artisan ()

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Yuri Sagalov, partner at General Catalyst ()

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Isaiah Granet, cofounder & CEO of Bland ()

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Ayal Yogev, founder & CEO of Anjuna ()

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Sarah Lucena, founder & CEO of Mappa ()

Whether you’re building your first startup, hiring your early team, fundraising, or figuring out how to scale sustainably, this episode is packed with practical advice and honest reflections from founders and investors who learned these lessons the hard way.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

02:20 Deon Nicholas (Forethought, Espa Labs): Product-market fit, iteration, and why your first product probably won’t work

05:45 Jasper Carmichael-Jack (Artisan): Hiring mistakes, logo shopping, and finding the right people

09:30 Yuri Sagalov (General Catalyst): Founder commitment, investor signals, and avoiding non-standard company structures

12:35 Isaiah Granet (Bland): Equity grants, payroll headaches, and taking care of early employees

17:25 Ayal Yogev (Anjuna): Overhiring, market shifts, and lessons from the 2022 downturn

22:55 Sarah Lucena (Mappa): Why every founder needs a great lawyer

 Subscribe to Build Mode on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ () , ⁠Spotify⁠ () , or ⁠wherever you like to listen⁠ () . And watch the full videos on ⁠YouTube⁠ () . 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. 

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.

Surviving the long road to FDA approval isn’t just about building great technology, it’s about keeping your team motivated, finding the right investors, and learning how to operate when timelines are uncertain.

This week on Build Mode, Isabelle Johannesen sits down with Robbie Bustami, co-founder and CEO of BioticsAI, a Startup Battlefield-winning company building an AI copilot for ultrasound to help detect fetal abnormalities. From a $100K prototype to FDA clearance, Robhy shares what it actually takes to build in one of the most regulated industries in the world.

In this episode, they break down what it really looks like to build a medtech startup, where you can’t “move fast and break things,” and every milestone takes time, coordination, and trust.

This conversation covers:

• How to stay motivated and keep your team aligned when FDA approval isn’t guaranteed

• What founders need to know about navigating the FDA process from day one How to find investors who understand the slower, high-risk nature of medtech

• Why cross-functional collaboration (engineers, clinicians, researchers) is critical to success

• The role of advisors and why active industry experts matter more than big names

• How to build momentum and celebrate wins during long, uncertain timelines

 Subscribe to Build Mode on Apple Podcasts () , Spotify () , or wherever you like to listen () . And watch the full videos on YouTube () .

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: ([%E2%80%A6]pt2026&utm_content=ticketsales&promo=buildmode15&display=true) 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. ([%E2%80%A6]pt2026&utm_content=ticketsales&promo=buildmode15&display=true)  

Use code buildmode15 for 15% off any ticket type. 

Chapters:

00:00 Building a $100K MedTech Startup

00:32 Intro: Biotics AI & the Problem with Ultrasound Misdiagnosis

02:16 What Biotics AI Actually Does (AI Copilot for Ultrasound)

02:54 Early Days: Startup Battlefield & First Product

07:10 Navigating FDA Approval (Without Guesswork)

09:22 What FDA Clearance Unlocks (Going to Market)

10:59 Selling into Hospitals & Early Customers

12:11 Keeping a Team Motivated During Long Timelines

18:54 The Hardest Parts of Building in MedTech

22:22 Fundraising, Advisors, and Building the Right Team

28:33 The Future of AI in Reproductive Healthcare

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.