While the AI fundraising machine keeps breaking its own records, some founders are building in the other direction.

Mirror founder Brynn Putnam just raised money for Board, a startup focused on bringing people together through in-person games and social experiences. Cyberdeck creators are going viral crafting whimsical DIY computers that literally encourage users to touch grass. Unlike the AI-free browser crowd, this doesn’t just feel like backlash, but also people genuinely gravitating toward things that feel a little more human.

On this episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Sean O’Kane dig into the week’s headlines, from the “together tech” wave to what Anthropic’s confidential IPO filing means against the backdrop of Alphabet’s $80 billion AI raise, and whether the money is all flowing back to the big guys anyway.

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

01:45 YouTubers are taking over the box office

02:46 Everyone’s fleeing climate tech — except this $250M fund

07:03 Impulse Space raises $500M and is hiring humans

13:03 Anthropic quietly files for IPO as Alphabet drops $85B on AI

21:52 The token bubble is starting to burst

26:08 From Board games to DIY cyberdecks, founders are betting on IRL

33:09 Outro

Apple’s big developers conference keynote is expected to focus on updates to Siri and Apple Intelligence. But the software can sometimes give us clues to the direction of Apple’s future hardware. CNET’s Bridget Carey goes through what key areas she’s most interested in for WWDC news.

Follow CNET’s WWDC 2026 Live Blog on CNET.com
Apple WWDC 2026: What We Expect From This Year’s Keynote and How to Watch

0:37 The future of Apple Glasses
0:50 Visual Intelligence
1:53 Siri in the Camera app
2:15 Smart home controls and HomePod
2:50 Apple TV updates
3:14 Siri and wearable tech
3:33 Get ready for WWDC
3:53 Bridget LIVE from WWDC!

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#apple #wwdc2026 #wwdc #timcook #appleglasses #ios27 #applenews

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:
Deon Nicholas, cofounder & former CEO of Forethought AI and co-founder of Espa Labs
Jasper Carmichael-Jack, cofounder & CEO of Artisan
Yuri Sagalov, partner at General Catalyst
Isaiah Granet, cofounder & CEO of Bland
Ayal Yogev, founder & CEO of Anjuna
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.