We're bringing you a special TechCrunch podcast crossover episode. Isabelle joins Equity Hosts Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Rebecca Bellan to dissect the year's biggest tech developments, from mega AI funding rounds that defied expectations to the rise of "physical AI," and make their calls for 2026.
The group tackled everything from why AI agents didn't live up to the hype in 2025 (but probably will in 2026), to how Hollywood will push back against AI-generated content, to why VCs are facing a serious liquidity crisis.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
- Why world models are the next big thing in AI and how they're different from large language models
- The death of "stealth mode" for AI startups and the rise of alternative funding sources
- Predictions on regulatory chaos around AI policy and what Trump's recent executive order means for startups
- Hot takes on IPOs: Will OpenAI and Anthropic actually go public in 2026?
- Rapid-fire predictions including Johnny Ive and Sam Altman's inevitable public breakup, the return of dumb phones, and why everyone will be calling themselves "AI native"
- What's coming in Build Mode season 2: A deep dive into team building, hiring, and finding co-founders
Chapters:
00:00 Intro - TechCrunch Build Mode & Equity Crossover Episode
00:27 Meet the Hosts - Predictions Episode Introduction
02:49 Reviewing 2024 Predictions - The Mega Funding Rounds
05:40 AI Startup Funding Challenges and Alternative Capital Sources
08:05 2026 AI Predictions - World Models and the Next Evolution
12:41 Physical AI - The Intersection of Robotics and Intelligence
14:07 AI in Media and Content Creation
18:48 Netflix-Warner Brothers Deal and FTC Predictions
21:09 The LP Direct Investment Trend
23:26 IPOs and Deep Tech Capital Challenges
25:49 Startup Battlefield Trends - Verticalized AI Across Industries
28:08 Rapid Fire Predictions - Fashion, Self-Driving Cars, and More
30:25 The Dumb Phone Comeback and Foldable iPhones
32:51 Build Mode Season 2 Preview - People and Team Building
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.
