TechCrunch has new podcast! Build Mode brings you candid startup wisdom from the people who build, break, and build again. Build Mode is hosted by our very own Startup Battlefield Editor, Isabelle Johannessen who is joined by founders, investors, and operators to dig into the uncomfortable truths about startup life. Think cap table drama, co-founder breakups, and pivot panic.We're sharing their first episode with Forethought AI co-founder, Deon Nicholas as a weekend bonus to your feed. He shares how he built a company that puts customers (not hype) at the center and unpacks his “7-Failure Rule,” the early experiments that shaped Forethought’s success. Episodes of Build Mode drop every Thursday, and you can subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. And be sure to check out the video version on TechCrunch’s YouTube.
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46:54
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46:54
Are data centers the new oil fields?
A new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) shows that $580 billion will be spent globally on AI data centers in 2025 alone. This is $40 billion more than will be spent on new oil supplies — leading us to conclude that data centers are the new oil fields. But is this a net positive for the environment or just a different kind of resource drain?
On TechCrunch's Equity podcast, Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Rebecca Bellan dig into what this spending shift means for the energy grid, climate tech, and whether taxpayers should be footing the bill for Big Tech's infrastructure ambitions.
Listen to the full episode to hear about:
The anti-AI disclaimer at the end of Pluribus
Israeli AI agent startup Wonderful's massive $100 million Series A, and why customer service might be the killer app for AI agents
Swedish autonomous vehicle company Einride's SPAC deal — yes, SPACs are back — and whether its electric truck business can carry the autonomous pod dream
Why OpenAI's CFO walked back comments about government "backstops" for data center loans, and what the company is actually asking for from the CHIPS Act
The rise of government spyware targeting journalists and activists, and why mobile phone design makes it nearly impossible to detect
How China-backed hacking groups like Salt Typhoon are "pre-positioning for sabotage" in critical infrastructure worldwide
Disclaimer: This podcast was (also) made by humans
Subscribe to Equity on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod.
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32:53
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32:53
What startups are building next, according to OpenAI’s Head of Startups
Many see OpenAI as the ChatGPT company while rivals like Anthropic and Cohere eye the enterprise space. Marc Manara, OpenAI's head of startups, says the reality looks different: AI-native companies are hitting $200 million in ARR, and product cycles have shrunk from two-week sprints to single days.
Today on TechCrunch's Equity podcast, Russell Brandom sat down with Manara at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 to explore how OpenAI is serving the startups building on its platform.
Listen to the full episode to hear about:
The shift from two-week sprints to one-day development cycles, and what that means for how startups should structure their engineering teams
Why some startups are customizing models for specific tasks in healthcare, finance, and other verticals that seemed out of reach
Where AI still hasn't fully integrated with companies, and why longer-horizon autonomous tasks remain the next frontier for both models and startups
Subscribe to Equity on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod.
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31:30
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31:30
SoftBank is back, and the AI hype cycle is eating itself
SoftBank and OpenAI announced a new 50-50 joint venture this week to sell enterprise AI tools in Japan under the brand "Crystal Intelligence." On paper, it's a straightforward international expansion deal. But SoftBank’s role as a major investor in OpenAI is raising questions about whether AI's biggest deals are creating real economic value or just moving money in circles.
On TechCrunch's Equity podcast, Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha and AI editor Russell Brandom break down why this deal has people skeptical, and what it signals about the sustainability of AI's current investment model.
Listen to the full episode to hear about:
Andreessen Horowitz’s move to shut down its Talent x Opportunity fund, and the Equity crew’s take on the firm's explanation
What former FTC chair Lina Khan’s role in NYC mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's transition team could mean for Big Tech, ride-hailing, and AVs
What Box CEO Aaron Levie had to say about whether we're in an AI bubble at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, and why the shift from training to inference might actually be reassuring
Beta Technologies' successful $1B IPO and what it signals about the thawing public market — even though massive M&A deals are still going through
Subscribe to Equity on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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27:28
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27:28
From Air Force officer to space defense CEO: Why Even Rogers left to build weapons for orbit
Even Rogers spent a decade as an Air Force weapons officer watching China and Russia build space weapons while the U.S. had "nothing in our arsenal." So he left the military to solve the problem himself.
Now, as co-founder and CEO of True Anomaly, he's building the first exclusively defense-focused space superiority company, developing autonomous spacecraft, sensors, and software designed specifically for military engagements in orbit. With $418 million raised and a growing team, Rogers is racing to field capabilities the Space Force desperately needs.
Today on TechCrunch's Equity podcast, Rebecca Bellan sat down with Rogers to explore the emerging business of space defense and why the U.S. is playing catch-up.
Listen to the full episode to hear about:
How the space industry has shifted away from a service domain as threats in space evolve, and what other countries are already deploying.
The biggest bottleneck slowing down space defense development.
How True Anomaly's "Jackal" spacecraft is designed to evolve from surveillance to multi-role missions.
Subscribe to Equity on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod.
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The intersection of technology, startups, and venture capital touches everything now. That’s why Equity, TechCrunch's flagship podcast, digs into the business of startups for entrepreneurs and enthusiasts alike. Every Wednesday and Friday, TechCrunch reporters keep you up-to-date on the world of business, technology, and venture capital. Equity is ranked the No.2 podcast in the Top 100 Venture Capital All time leaderboard on Goodpods—As well as No.17 for the Top 100 Finance All time chart and No.32 for the Top 100 Business News All time chart.
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