Science & Technology

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…

Published

1 month ago

April 9, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

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

@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

Science & Technology

SpaceX’s S-1 Claims a TAM as Large as the Annual US GDP

The SpaceX S-1 dropped, and the $28 trillion TAM claim inside is somehow not even the wildest part. The Equity podcast team breaks down what’s in the filing, and whether any of this math connects to reality.

Published

10 hours ago

May 22, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

The SpaceX S-1 dropped, and the $28 trillion TAM claim inside is somehow not even the wildest part.

The Equity podcast team breaks down what’s in the filing, and whether any of this math connects to reality.

Science & Technology

SpaceX files to go public, and the math requires a little faith | Equity Podcast

The SpaceX S-1 is finally here, and the story it tells goes way further than rockets. The filing runs to 36 pages of risk factors alone, and the numbers inside match the ambition: a $28 trillion total addressable market, a pay package tied to establishing a Mars colony, and a valuation target that would make…

Published

14 hours ago

May 22, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

On this episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Sean O’Kane dig into the week’s biggest talent shakeups, acquisitions, and headlines — including what the filing actually says and whether any of this math connects to reality.

Subscribe to Equity on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

3:28 NanoCo raises $12M seed for secure OpenClaw alternative

9:46 Anthropic acquires Stainless and hires Andrej Karpathy

15:12 The consumer backlash against AI being pushed by big tech

16:37 Google Search as you know it is changing as AI takes over

22:14 SpaceX’s S-1 is here

27:54 Is the $1.75 trillion valuation justified?

32:47 Outro

CNET

The iPhone 18 Twist That Might Upset Many | One More Thing

Not all versions of the iPhone 18 might launch in September. CNET’s Bridget Carey breaks down the latest rumors on the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Pro. You can find the products mentioned in this video linked below Apple iPhone 17, US Version, 256GB Apple iPhone 17 Pro, US Version, 256GB Apple iPhone 17 Pro…

Published

20 hours ago

May 22, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Not all versions of the iPhone 18 might launch in September. CNET’s Bridget Carey breaks down the latest rumors on the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Pro.

You can find the products mentioned in this video linked below
Apple iPhone 17, US Version, 256GB
Apple iPhone 17 Pro, US Version, 256GB
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max, US Version, 256GB
*CNET may get a commission on these offers

Read more about the iPhone 18 on CNET.com
iPhone 18: Everything We Know About Apple’s Most Ambitious Lineup Yet

0:00 September’s iPhone launch could look different
0:15 Apple is changing its launch schedule for iPhone 18
0:33 iPhone 18 might not come out until 2027
1:04 iPhone 18 upgrade cycle twist
1:08 New iPhone Pro color rumors
1:08 iPhone 18 Pro cherry color
1:19 New iPhone 18 colors
1:26 No iPhone 18 in Space Black?
1:38 iPhone 18 Pro rumors
1:45 Smaller dynamic island on iPhone 18 Pro
2:10 New iPhone 18 Pro cameras
2:26 Better OLED screen for iPhone 18 Pro
2:33 Apple A20 chip rumor
2:52 Apple’s biggest iPhone battery ever
3:08 iPhone Pro price rumors
3:39 RAM shortages and iPhones
3:43 Folding iPhone Ultra rumors
3:55 A longer wait for standard iPhone 18
4:05 iPhone 18 rumors
4:13 Dynamic Island on iPhone 18 base model
4:20 iPhone camera control button updates
4:35 Could the iPhone 18 launch next year?
4:56 More RAM in new iPhones
5:04 Is iPhone Air 2 on its way?
5:08 New iPhone Air rumors
5:25 When will we get all of the new iPhones?
5:48 iPhone 17 and 17 Pro Max are worldwide best-sellers

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#apple #iphone18 #iphone18pro #iphone18promax #iphone #applenews