If one thing has become clear this season, it’s that there is no formula to building the perfect team. But no one breaks the mold quite like this week’s guest, Isaiah Granet, the co-founder and CEO of Bland. The voice AI startup has been growing at a breakneck speed but the founding team has taken their time to prioritize passion over pedigree and find their team members in places many might not think to look.
In this episode, Isabelle Johannessen and Isaiah Granet unpack a radically different approach to hiring that prioritizes aligned work ethic, curiosity, and flexibility rather than resumes and connections. So far, that approach has worked for Bland. The scrappy team has gone from pre-seed to series B in less than a year.
They discuss:
🧩 How to identify “hidden gem” talent in unexpected places
🧩 The role of cold inbound and unconventional sourcing
🧩 When to hire ahead of need and when not to
🧩 How hiring philosophy shapes company culture at scale
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.
TechCrunch Disrupt: If you’re thinking about applying to Startup Battlefield, then October 13 to 15 in San Francisco, we’re back for TechCrunch Disrupt, where the Startup Battlefield 200 takes the stage. So if you want to cheer them on, or just network with 1000s of founders, VCs, and tech enthusiasts, then grab your tickets.
Use code buildmode15 for 15% off any ticket type.
Chapters:
00:00 — Hiring for Passion Over Pedigree
02:42 — Pivoting Into Voice AI
03:49 — Explosive Growth: Pre-Seed to Series B
05:00 — Surviving Hypergrowth
10:00 — Rethinking Hiring: Finding Hidden Talent
16:30 — Building and Scaling Culture
24:00 — Who to Hire (and When to Fire)
41:30 — Compensation, Equity, and Final Lessons
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.
