This season on Build Mode, we\u2019re diving into what it takes to build a world-class founding team.\u00a0This week we\u2019re exploring different kinds of co-founder dynamics and what it takes to build a startup with your family. Building with a family member or spouse comes with major benefits like built-in trust and an \u201calways-on\u201d mentality, but it can also create challenges when all the startup risk is coming from one household.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Build Mode\u2019s Isabelle Johannessen sat down with Hala Jalwan and Alessio Tresanti, spouses and co-founders of Rivio, an AI procurement startup. Jalwan and Tresanti both believe in going all in on their ideas and loved building things together, from community events to cross-country road trips. They found they naturally took simple ideas and blew them up to their most epic potential. So when they got the idea for Rivio, they were confident that they would both be able and willing to commit fully.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
As Rivio has grown, they have two main takeaways: First, co-founders should have clearly defined lanes. Second, it\u2019s a good idea to bring in a third co-founder as a tie-breaker.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rivio\u2019s third co-founder and CTO is Leo Larrere. \u201cIt\u2019s great because honestly it fits perfectly into this relationship,\u201d Tresanti said about Larrere. \u201cIt\u2019s obviously a three-co-founder relationship. He\u2019s also the one that brings sanity to the conversation and can draw the line sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the second half of the episode, Johannessen talks with Anna Sun, the co-founder of Nowadays, an AI co-pilot for corporate event planning that she launched with her sister Amy shortly after graduating from MIT. Sun spoke about how the two built their team out of friends and former co-workers, and created a culture that\u2019s based in community. There\u2019s a built-in trust, not only between the sisters-turned-co-founders but also throughout the team as a whole.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause we\u2019re sisters, we trust each other so much that I remember even previously, when I would start ideas with friends, you always feel like, \u2018Oh, I don\u2019t want to step on the other person\u2019s toes,\u2019 or \u2018I don\u2019t know if this feedback is too direct,\u2019\u201d Sun said. \u201cBut because we grew up in the same household, we have a lot of the same values, and we\u2019re very direct to each other. We don\u2019t want to waste time.\u201d<\/p>\n
These conversations shed light on how founders can build a truly effective and happy team as long as there\u2019s a foundation of trust, clearly defined ownership, and a willingness to navigate conflict respectfully.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Techcrunch event<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSan Francisco, CA
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOctober 13-15, 2026\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Apply to Startup Battlefield:<\/strong><\/a> 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.\u00a0Apply here<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n TechCrunch Disrupt:<\/strong><\/a> We\u2019re 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, then grab your tickets<\/a>.<\/p>\n