AI NewsKeeping your team motivated when FDA approval isn’t guaranteed

Keeping your team motivated when FDA approval isn’t guaranteed

2:21 AM IST · May 1, 2026

Loading the player… Surviving the long road to FDA approval isn’t just about building great technology — it’s about keeping your team motivated, finding the right investors, and learning how to operate when timelines are uncertain. This week on Build Mode, Isabelle Johannessen sits down with Robhy Bustami, co-founder and CEO of BioticsAI, a Startup Battlefield-winning company building an AI copilot for ultrasound to help detect fetal abnormalities. From a $100,000 prototype to FDA clearance, Bustami shares what it actually takes to build in one of the most regulated industries in the world. In this episode, they break down what it really looks like to build a medtech startup, including where you can’t “move fast and break things” and that every milestone takes time, coordination, and trust. This conversation covers: Subscribe to Build Mode onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orwherever you like to listen. Watch the full videos onYouTube. New episodes ofBuild Modedrop 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). Be sure to say you heard about Startup Battlefield from the Build Mode podcast.Apply here. TechCrunch Disrupt 2026:We’re back for TechCrunch Disrupt on October 13 to 15 in San Francisco, where the Startup Battlefield 200 takes the stage. So if you want to cheer them on, or just network with thousands of founders, VCs, and tech enthusiasts, thengrab your tickets. Use codebuildmode15 for 15% off any ticket type.