1. Deon Nicholas, co-founder of Forethought AI, shares insights about building a lasting company in the debut episode of TechCrunch's Build Mode podcast. He emphasizes that founders should focus on solving real problems rather than chasing hype or inflated valuations.

2. Nicholas also highlights his "7-Failure Rule," encouraging founders to embrace iteration over perfection and expect a few misses before finding what truly resonates with customers.

3. Forethought AI's breakout moment was at TechCrunch Disrupt 2018, where they won Startup Battlefield. Their success came from building something that customers loved enough to stick around for, validating every step with feedback and not getting distracted by valuations or buzz.