『Build Mode』のカバーアート

Build Mode

Build Mode

著者： TechCrunch
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On Build Mode, TechCrunch's Startup Battlefield Editor Isabelle Johannessen cuts through the startup mythology to uncover how founders survive the brutal early days, navigate impossible funding landscapes, and somehow keep their companies — and sanity— intact. Each season, Isabelle is joined by founders, investors, and operators to dig into specific aspects of the startup journey, from creative go to market strategies to founder mental health. The interviews are full of candid startup wisdom—think cap table drama, co-founder breakups, and pivot panic. So, if you’re starting a company or or even just thinking about it, this is your survival guide.TechCrunch マネジメント・リーダーシップ リーダーシップ 政治・政府 経済学
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  • How Elorian AI pulled off a $300M pre-seed valuation with Andrew Dai

    How Elorian AI pulled off a $300M pre-seed valuation with Andrew Dai
    2026/07/16
    Building an AI startup is one thing. Raising one of the largest seed rounds of the year before launching a product is something else entirely. In this episode of Build Mode, host and Startup Battlefield lead Isabelle Johannesen sits down with Andrew Dai, founder and CEO of Elorian and former Google DeepMind researcher, to unpack how his company raised a $55 million seed round at a $300 million valuation before generating revenue or releasing a product. Andrew shares what investors saw in Elorian's vision for visual AI, how he approached fundraising after leaving Google DeepMind, and why choosing the right investors mattered more than maximizing valuation. He also offers practical advice for founders building in AI, explains why today's fundraising environment rewards clear storytelling over technical jargon, and shares what surprised him most as a first-time founder. They get into: How Elorian raised a $55 million seed round before launching a product Why visual AI is one of the next major frontiers in artificial intelligence What investors look for when backing frontier AI startups Why the highest valuation isn't always the best fundraising outcome How to pitch highly technical products to non-technical investors What founders should look for when choosing venture capital partners How to hire top AI talent away from Big Tech Why moving quickly matters more than ever in today's AI race How founders can build defensible AI companies as technology evolves Andrew's advice for first-time founders raising venture capital 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. Chapters: 00:00 Meet Andrew Dai: From DeepMind to Building Elorian 01:48 Why Visual AI Is the Next Frontier 04:50 Raising a $55M Seed With No Revenue 08:46 Landing Nvidia, Jeff Dean, and Top AI Investors 12:17 Managing the Pressure of a $300M Valuation 14:40 How AI Founders Should Pitch Investors 20:47 Hiring, Scaling, and Building a Frontier AI Company 27:00 Turning Down Bigger Offers & Advice for Future Founders 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.
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    36 分
  • The New Rules of Early-Stage Fundraising with Charles Hudson

    The New Rules of Early-Stage Fundraising with Charles Hudson
    2026/07/09
    Raising your first round has always been hard — but in today’s market, the rules are changing fast. In this episode of Build Mode, our host and Startup Battlefield lead Isabelle Johannesen sits down with Charles Hudson, Founder and Managing Partner of Precursor Ventures, to talk about what early-stage founders need to know before raising their first institutional round. Charles shares a candid look at how the venture landscape has shifted, why AI is changing what investors pay attention to, and how founders can better navigate fundraising when the old playbooks no longer apply. They get into: • Why raising pre-seed and seed funding feels harder right now• How AI is reshaping venture capital• What founders should know before choosing an investor• Why the highest valuation is not always the best deal• How to build momentum during a fundraise• Why storytelling and a strong blurb matter more than ever• What happens when a startup raises too much too soon• Why the biggest risk may not be a down round — but no round at all• How to think about whether venture capital is actually the right path Whether you're preparing to raise, currently fundraising, or just trying to understand how early-stage venture is changing, this conversation is packed with practical, honest advice for founders building in today’s market. 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. Chapters: 00:00 – The New Rules of Startup Fundraising 02:00 – What VCs Look for in First-Time Founders 08:50 – The Biggest Fundraising Mistakes Startup Founders Make 13:20 – Why Startup Valuations Are So Unpredictable in 2026 18:20 – Why Raising Too Much Money Can Hurt Your Startup 25:55 – Should Every Startup Raise Venture Capital? 29:20 – How to Choose the Right VC Investor 33:55 – Why Silicon Valley Still Gives Founders an Advantage 36:40 – How to Build Momentum During a Startup Fundraise 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.
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    42 分
  • Build Mode: Inside the Fundraise

    Build Mode: Inside the Fundraise
    2026/07/06
    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.
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    1 分
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