Science & Technology

The new rules of early-stage go to market (hint: there are no rules) l Build Mode

Published

6 months ago

January 8, 2026

In the season finale of Build Mode, Isabelle Johannessen sits down with Paul Irving, Partner and COO of GTMfund, to discuss go-to-market strategies for the AI era. Drawing from his work with over 120 portfolio companies and a network of 350+ operators from companies, Paul shares specific, actionable advice on how early-stage startups can win even when facing well-funded competitors who iterate at lightning speed. He also explains why distribution has become the final remaining moat when technical advantages disappear in months instead of years, and why every company needs a unique go-to-market motion tailored to their specific ICP.

If you just can’t get enough AI-native GTM strategies, check out this episode of the GTMnow podcast: Build your AI Outbound Machine with ChatGPT

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:44 Meet Paul Irving – GTM Fund

04:02 Finding Competitive Edge in Specific Channels

07:34 Matching Operators to Startups with AI

12:08 The End of the B2B SaaS Playbook Era

14:09 Creative GTM Strategies

16:18 The Power of Warm Introduction Mapping

25:25 Red Flags in Go-to-Market Strategy

27:29 Advice for Resource-Constrained Founders

31:22 When to Start Hiring a GTM Team

34:57 Outro

New episodes of Build Mode drop every Thursday. Isabelle Johannessen is our host. Build Mode is produced and edited by Maggie Nye. Audience Development is led by Morgan Little. And a special thanks to the Foundry and Cheddar video teams.

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1 Comment

@PesumsSoftware

January 8, 2026 at 9:44 pm

Paul nailed it:
in 2026, it’s all about the motion that fits your exact ICP.
What’s the biggest red flag you’ve seen in GTM pitches at GTMfund lately? This series is becoming must-listen for operators.
keep it coming!

Reply

CNET

iCloud Storage Full? Do This First Before Paying Apple

If your iCloud storage is full, there’s an easy way to clear space on your iPhone before resorting to paying for more storage. CNET’s Bridget Carey’s quick tips target the largest videos and photos first. 1:21 How to get big video files off of your iPhone and iCloud 2:31 Move videos and photos from your…

Published

17 hours ago

July 3, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

1:21 How to get big video files off of your iPhone and iCloud
2:31 Move videos and photos from your iPhone to a portable hard drive
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3:52 Free up iCloud space: how to clear out old screenshots
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#apple #storagesolutions

Science & Technology

Inside the Fundraise l Build Mode

Published

1 day ago

July 2, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Startup fundraising is harder than ever, and Season 3 of Build Mode is here to help. Whether you’re raising a seed round, preparing for Series A, pitching venture capital firms, negotiating a term sheet, or exploring alternatives to VC funding, this season is packed with practical advice from founders and investors who have successfully navigated the fundraising journey.
Hosted by TechCrunch Startup Battlefield Editor Isabelle Johannessen, Build Mode is the TechCrunch podcast where founders, investors, and startup operators share honest conversations about what it really takes to build and finance a company. This season features Charles Hudson (Precursor Ventures), Andrew Dai (Elorian), Ashley Tyrner-Dolce (FarmboxRx), Kristina Subbotina (Lexsy AI), Sydney Sykes (NVIDIA), Xavier Chi (Mbodi), Jack Groetzinger (SeatGeek), Sasha Orloff (Puzzle), Everette Taylor (Kickstarter), Manan Mehta (Unshackled Ventures), Julia Hartz (Eventbrite), and more. Together, they cover topics including avoiding down rounds, raising capital in today’s venture market, working with corporate venture capital, crowdfunding, startup financial readiness, fundraising as an immigrant founder, IPO lessons, and how to deliver a winning startup pitch.
If you’re an entrepreneur, startup founder, investor, or operator looking for actionable fundraising advice, this season is your playbook. New episodes begin July 9 and release every week on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Subscribe now and learn how to raise capital, grow your startup, and build with confidence.

CNET

I Tried a $4,500 Robotic Exoskeleton and It Gave Me Super Ankles

The future of wearable tech isn’t just on your wrist—it’s on your legs. In this hands-on look, we test the Dephy Sidekick, a consumer-powered bionic footwear system designed to give you a literal boost with every step. At $4,500, this powered ankle exoskeleton claims to offload your calves and make walking effortlessly easy. Read more…

Published

2 days ago

July 2, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Read more about it on CNET.com
Nike’s New Robotic-Powered Footwear System: What to Know

0:00 Taking the Dephy Sidekick for a Walk
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1:13 Military Testing and Focusing on the Ankles
2:18 Is This a Growing Market?
2:49 Who Is Dephy Sidekick For?

#exoskeletons #robotics #walkingaid