Tacos and Tech Podcast
The Tacos and Tech Podcast highlights the builders of companies, technologies, and the ecosystem of San Diego with a local flair for our lifestyle as well.
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The Future of Pool Care
07/03/2025
The Future of Pool Care
In this episode of the Tacos & Tech Podcast, host Neal Bloom chats with , Founder and CEO of Cabana. A longtime builder in the home services space, Jeremy is now focused on modernizing the pool care industry, one of the largest yet most overlooked service sectors in the U.S. Jeremy shares how his product and marketing background led him to build Cabana with a blend of operational efficiency, software tooling, and local team empowerment. He dives into his strategy around vertical SaaS, customer experience, and the importance of trust and taste when scaling service-based businesses. Key Topics Covered Why the pool industry is primed for tech-enabled reinvention Cabana’s approach to building a national brand through software and service How acquisitions, W-2 teams, and onboarding systems set Cabana apart Why founder psychology and team culture matter in field operations Applying tech tools (including ML) to streamline quoting and scheduling Lessons from going through Y Combinator What “slope over Y-intercept” really means in early team building Jeremy’s San Diego taco go-to and what makes a taco technically superior Links & Resources Connect with Jeremy Connect with Neal Bloom LinkedIn: Twitter:
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This Week in San Diego Tech - June 27, 2025
06/27/2025
This Week in San Diego Tech - June 27, 2025
Listen & subscribe on , , , and Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m from and the . My co-host in this episode is , journalist and author of substack. He covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world including breaking news, IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter. Before we dive in, we wanted to thank and ask our listeners to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community! June 27 Dr Squatch - Chime, Coreweave, eToro, Circle doing well and Wealthfront just filed. Fundings: series D Firestorm raised new funds, according to nominations open Curated Events List – For full list – June 27 - July 1 - July 4 - July 8 - July 29 - Dev & Data x CTO Talks: Healthtech Night - link coming soon
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Building Intentional Capital for B2B SaaS
06/24/2025
Building Intentional Capital for B2B SaaS
In this episode of the Tacos & Tech Podcast, host Neal Bloom chats with , Co-Founder and Managing Partner at . Andrew brings decades of investing experience - from public markets to private software equity - to the table. He shares how his journey from the East Coast to San Diego led to launching a new kind of early growth equity firm focused on bootstrapped or lightly funded B2B SaaS companies. Andrew unpacks his investment strategy, discusses founder-alignment, thesis-driven sourcing, and how Channel Equity delivers capital with intention. Plus, he reflects on the power of long-term partnerships, why market cycles don't shake his thesis, and of course, his favorite San Diego burrito spot. Key Topics Covered Channel Equity’s unique approach to early growth equity How Andrew’s public markets background shapes his private investing lens The “Ideal Founder Profile” and why alignment matters more than hype Examples of successful thesis-driven investments (e.g., CreatorIQ, restaurant CMS tools) The impact of AI on go-to-market efficiency and capital needs Fund I formation and raising capital in a challenging market Why IPOs aren’t the goal, and how $100M exits can be life-changing Breakfast burritos, New York pizza, and San Diego sunshine Links & Resources Connect with Andrew Connect with Neal Bloom LinkedIn: Twitter:
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This Week in San Diego Tech
06/20/2025
This Week in San Diego Tech
Listen & subscribe on , , , and Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m from , the , and . My co-host in this episode is , journalist and author of substack. He covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world including breaking news, IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter. Before we dive in, we wanted to thank and ask our listeners to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community! June 20 Recent events debrief: MedTech, AI, GP/LP BIO in Boston in relation to San Diego and Fundings - & of AlphaWave Semi for $2.4B Curated Events List – For full list – July 1 - July 4 - July 8 - July 29 - Dev & Data x CTO Talks: Healthtech Night
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Building the Future of Sports + Entertainment, One Stadium at a Time
06/17/2025
Building the Future of Sports + Entertainment, One Stadium at a Time
What does it take to design a flawless fan experience for 75,000 people on game day, and millions more watching from home? In this episode, Neal Bloom sits down with Vikrant Bodalia, Vice President of Technology Operations at Allegiant Stadium, to unpack the strategy, innovation, and pressure behind the world's biggest live events. From Super Bowl infrastructure to facial-recognition ticketing, Vikrant shares how he reverse engineers every event from the fan perspective first. With a career that spans NBA, NHL, NFL, and the rapid rise of Las Vegas as a sports tech capital, Vikrant offers a front-row look at how venue technology is evolving and why immersive, secure, and seamless experiences are now the industry benchmark. Key Topics Covered: • Vikrant’s journey from IT help desk to VP of tech at world-class venues • Lessons from working behind the scenes in the NBA, NHL, and NFL • What it means to reverse engineer a Super Bowl or Stanley Cup experience • Why “infrastructure first” is the key to delivering at stadium scale • The evolution of venue tech: from 10GB to 100GB+ internet circuits • How ASM Global prepares for record-breaking digital demands • Cybersecurity as a culture, not just a checklist • The role of AI, facial recognition, and immersive media in the future of fan engagement • Las Vegas' emergence as a leading sports and entertainment tech city • How recognition from Top Tech Awards validates years of behind-the-scenes leadership Links & Resources: Las Vegas Top Tech Awards Connect with Vikrant: Connect with Neal:
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Rewiring Real Estate from the Inside Out
06/10/2025
Rewiring Real Estate from the Inside Out
In this episode of Tacos & Tech, Neal welcomes a longtime friend, , Co-Founder and CEO of . to talk about building a company around an idea few people even know exists: assumable loans. They dig deep into Andy’s journey from building software at Electronic Arts and Apple to leading product at Redfin, launching mortgage startup Approved, and now tackling a hidden opportunity in real estate finance: assumable loans. Andy shares his personal founder journey, lessons learned across big tech and startups, and why he's committed to building in San Diego. Key Topics: A walk through Andy’s product career—from EA to Apple to Redfin Why assumable loans are the key to unlocking a stuck real estate market The origin story behind RetroRate and solving a problem most people don’t know exists The impact of locked-in low rates on buyer power and seller mobility Lessons learned building, scaling, and selling a mortgage startup (Approved) Navigating startup life post-acquisition and deciding to build again The evolving San Diego startup landscape and why it’s a great place to build Real talk on balancing work, life, and entrepreneurship with family in tow Leveraging AI and design thinking in modern proptech Links & Resources: Connect with Andy: LinkedIn: Connect with Neal: LinkedIn: Twitter:
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This Week in San Diego Tech - June 6, 2025
06/06/2025
This Week in San Diego Tech - June 6, 2025
Listen & subscribe on , , , and Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m from , the , and . My co-hosts in this episode is , journalist and author of substack. He covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world including breaking news, IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter. June 6 Tech News We recorded this week’s pod live on LinkedIn here. What did you think? Flock Freight raised $60M Series E RevenueCat raised $50M Series B (co-founder based in SD) BioLink: $100M Series C Hyatt Therapeutics: $65M Series A ClearPoint Neuro: $110M public offering Executive Moves named Chief Information & Innovation Officer at Illumina AI Spotlight partners with NVIDIA and launches an AI receptionist tool Headquarters moving to SF, but SD office remains Still a top contender in SD’s AI ecosystem & NVDIA making big AI moves Global deal, local impact: High Moon Studios (Carlsbad) now under Microsoft Gaming community expanding: new meetups + co-working hub in the works Consumer Brand News (HQ in SD) struggles with Del Taco; 200 stores closed hits 100th location milestone Rapid growth since franchising Built-in construction arm WeBuild fueling national expansion Robotics on the Big Stage Local startup featured by YouTuber Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) Two million+ views on their bionic hand demo Another big win for SD’s hardware + health tech community Events Roundup – June Highlights For full list, check out newsletter June 6 - June 9 - June 10 - June 11 - June 12 -
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Inside the rise of real-time diagnostics and the promise of proteomics
06/03/2025
Inside the rise of real-time diagnostics and the promise of proteomics
In this episode of the Tacos & Tech Podcast, host Neal Bloom sits down with CEO of Pictor, a diagnostics company transforming healthcare through proteomics-the science of understanding what the body’s proteins are doing right now. They explore how this next-generation technology is shifting the medical world from slow, reactive testing to real-time, accessible diagnostics for both humans and animals. From Jamie’s early days at Quest Diagnostics to Pictor’s move from New Zealand to San Diego, this episode is a front-row seat to how health innovation really happens. Whether you’re building a biotech startup or just curious about how your body actually works, this conversation reveals what’s next for diagnostics-and why it matters now more than ever. Key Topics Covered What proteomics is-and why it matters more than ever The shift from DNA-based tests to real-time protein diagnostics Pictor’s expansion to Carlsbad and why San Diego is a healthtech hotspot How regulatory clarity is speeding up innovation Lessons in leadership and conviction from Jamie’s founder journey Making diagnostics faster, cheaper, and more personal Links & Resources Connect with Jamie Connect with Neal Bloom
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Exploring Identity, AI, and Leadership
05/28/2025
Exploring Identity, AI, and Leadership
Episode Summary: In this episode of the, Neal Bloom chats with Jesse Taylor, Senior Manager of Identity and Middleware Services at UNLV. Jesse shares his journey from early exposure to technology with Atari and Apple II to becoming a technical leader in higher education. They discuss the evolution of technology, the role of AI in augmenting human capabilities, and Jesse’s approach to authentic leadership and team development. Jesse also highlights his work in identity management at UNLV, his involvement in the Las Vegas tech community, and his recognition as a Top Tech Vegas award recipient. Key Topics Discussed: The evolution of technology in education and hospitality sectors AI as a tool for enhancing human capabilities Leadership strategies for building and supporting high-performing teams The importance of workforce development and apprenticeships in tech The Las Vegas tech ecosystem and connections with San Diego Links & Resources: Connect with Jesse: Connect with Neal: LinkedIn: Twitter:
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Building San Diego's Product Management Community
05/14/2025
Building San Diego's Product Management Community
Dive into San Diego's evolving product management landscape with as she announces the inaugural Product Management Summit. Learn how the local tech ecosystem has matured and why bringing world-class product leadership to San Diego matters. Key Topics: • San Diego Product Management Summit (June 5-6) • Evolution from Intuit leadership to Product Rebels • Building Product Tank's 2,500+ member community • Customer-centric product development methodologies • San Diego's maturing tech ecosystem Links & Resources: Connect with Vidya: LinkedIn: Connect with Neal: LinkedIn: Twitter:
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Techstars San Diego Powered by San Diego State Year 3 with Misti Cain
05/05/2025
Techstars San Diego Powered by San Diego State Year 3 with Misti Cain
Applications are open for the next accelerator program! In this episode, Neal Bloom chats with , the new Managing Director of Techstars San Diego powered by SDSU. They discuss the upcoming Year 3 of the program, the application process, and what makes an ideal founder and company for the accelerator. Misty shares insights into the benefits of the SDSU partnership, the updated investment terms, and the importance of community and mentorship in the Techstars ecosystem. Key Topics: - Introduction of Misty Cain as the new Managing Director - Overview of Techstars San Diego powered by SDSU Year 3 - Application details: Open from April 8 to June 11, 2024 - Ideal founder and company profile - Benefits of the SDSU partnership - Updated investment terms: $220,000 total with $200,000 uncapped MFN safe - Importance of community and mentorship - Shoutout to Ryan Kuder for his contributions to Techstars in San Diego - Misty's favorite taco spot: Puesto in Del Mar Links and Resources: - - Connect with Misty Cain: - LinkedIn: Misti Cain https://www.linkedin.com/in/misticain/ Connect with Neal Bloom: - LinkedIn: Neal Bloom https://www.linkedin.com/in/nealbbloom - Twitter: @NealBloom https://twitter.com/NealBloom
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🎙️ This Week in San Diego Tech (4/21/25 Edition)
04/21/2025
🎙️ This Week in San Diego Tech (4/21/25 Edition)
🔊Listen & Subscribe: Available now on , , , and . 👋 Welcome! Welcome to This Week in San Diego Tech! I’m Neal Bloom from , the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and . Joining me as always is Fred Grier, journalist and author of , covering startups, funding, and M&A across the region. 🗞️Top Headlines This Week: 🎶 Music Tech Meets the Symphony - Interlock Capital hosted 30+ tech leaders for a behind-the-scenes tour of the newly renovated Jacobs Music Center ($150M remodel!) The tech community showed up at the San Diego Symphony’s Discovery Night, featuring jazz, Mardi Gras flair, and remarks by ResMed CEO Mick Farrell The call to action: it’s time for the next generation of founders to support arts, science, and innovation in SD 🚀 Startup 101 & Founders Funnel Kickoff - Neal and Tim Ryan launched Startup 101, a community event for early-stage builders to explore the “car, plane, or rocket ship” path of growth 10 attendees, curated cohort, high demand for more, filling a new cohort each quarter - and Founders Build Day now expanding to 3 monthly locations in May! 💰 Funding Rounds Symphonic Capital raises $13.5M for its debut fund, led by Sydney Thomas (ex-Precursor), focused on fintech and digital health , an aesthetic-focused AR software platform, secures Series A funding (co-founder based in North County) Biolinq raises $90M for non-invasive glucose sensing — originally spun out of UCSD labs and now scaling hard 🧬 NIH Funding Shakeup & Market Headwinds - UCSD sees $150M+ in NIH funding paused or cut, impacting researchers and early-stage startups Federal agency funding delays (FDA, DOD, SBIR) creating ripples in life sciences and defense tech Tariffs, market uncertainty, and reduced VC capital raise concerns for hardware and deep tech founders 🧱 Real Estate & Ecosystem Expansion Pfizer to new Torrey View campus Novartis to a $1.1B San Diego R&D hub Prebys Foundation Wells Fargo Plaza for $40M (previously $148M), signaling interest in downtown tech corridor , , and BioLabs expanding presence in the region EvoNexus UTC set to open new space for medtech/life science founders in May 👟 SDSU Goes Jordan San Diego State men’s basketball team debuts custom Air Jordan 4 PEs — only 50 pairs made! 🗓️ Community Events & Ecosystem News is back! Every Wednesday at 8am @ Ansir Innovation in Convoy Two startup presentations + community feedback Interlock Capital LP + Portfolio Founder Day LPs and founders will be connecting in curated roundtables to move the needle on growth The Social Coyote has your curated event list: 💬 Final Shoutouts Thanks to Michael Robertson and other listeners for your feedback — we’re testing a shorter intro song this week! Follow Fred on and Neal on
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From Cables to Cloud: Floyd Auten’s Top Tech Journey of Innovation
04/16/2025
From Cables to Cloud: Floyd Auten’s Top Tech Journey of Innovation
How a third-generation builder turned a storage-unit startup into a national infrastructure powerhouse—and what’s next for tech’s invisible backbone. Floyd Auten, COO and co-founder of TechNet Partners, joins Neal for an episode that digs deep into the literal and figurative foundations of tech. From punchdowns in high school to powering stadiums and data centers across the country, Floyd shares how his family legacy in electrical work turned into a career designing the infrastructure that keeps the digital world running. They talk about life safety systems, the rise of AI tools in design, the Padres’ Wi-Fi network, and how Floyd’s team at TechNet is scaling services across all 50 states. Floyd also shares what it meant to win the Top Tech Award in 2024—and why he’s excited to help spotlight other behind-the-scenes innovators this year. 🔑 Key Takeaways & Timestamps: [2:00] Floyd’s start: lessons from his grandfather’s Navy electrician days [5:30] How TechNet grew from a storage-unit office to 300+ employees [9:00] Life safety tech: upgrading USC’s 911 system and keeping infrastructure resilient [12:30] Data center growth + designing for sustainability [17:00] From Padres Wi-Fi to MLB partnerships and stadium-scale solutions [21:00] Floyd’s long-running partnership with Cox Business [26:30] Winning a Top Tech Award and inspiring the next wave of tech leaders [29:00] Advice for founders and future tech leaders: love the work, and find mentors [33:00] 🌮 Taco Talk: Floyd’s go-to spot is TJ Tacos in Escondido 🏆 Top Tech Awards: Floyd was recognized at the 2024 Top Tech Awards - and now he’s helping select the next generation of unsung tech heroes. 👉 Know someone making tech magic happen behind the scenes? Nominations are now open for the 2025 Top Tech Awards! Submit yours before May 2 at 🔗 Links: Floyd Auten on LinkedIn: TechNet Partners: Top Tech Awards Nomination: TJ Tacos:
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Living in Your Greatness: Building Empires Through Relationships with Jeff Fenster
04/08/2025
Living in Your Greatness: Building Empires Through Relationships with Jeff Fenster
Meet , a serial entrepreneur, problem solver, and relationship builder who’s scaled multiple businesses by identifying problems worth solving - and assembling the right team to tackle them. Inspired early on by , Jeff set out to become a sports agent, only to pivot right after law school and dive into entrepreneurship. His first venture began with a bold move - calling his employer’s bluff and walking out to start his own company, only to face a major hiccup when payroll checks were accidentally sent to clients. Through trial, error, and big wins, Jeff has honed his entrepreneurial philosophy: “If you can live in your greatness, success is guaranteed.” That philosophy was put to the test when he dreamed up what would become . Despite critics pointing out he wasn’t a chef - and that most restaurants fail - Jeff saw the opportunity. Why? Because business owners, not chefs, build successful restaurant brands. From that insight, he coined: “Experience is the most overrated prerequisite to starting a company.” From the lessons of building Everbowl, Jeff launched his latest venture - - a company that helps others bring their physical business ideas to life by streamlining construction and buildouts. Jeff also shares insights weekly on his podcast, , where he interviews top performers, athletes, entrepreneurs, and creators about what makes them great. In this episode, we talk about: • How Jeff approaches building multiple businesses at once • The role of self-awareness in entrepreneurial success • His 5 core principles for life and business • His latest book, , which dives into the power of networking, mentorship, and building value through people • Business relationships with names like Neil Patel, Drew Brees, Shaq, and the GoFundMe founders • Why he believes investing in people is the ultimate multiplier • His new venture, WeBuild, and what he’s solving next • And the power of storytelling through The Jeff Fenster Show Plus, we get into tacos (of course): Jeff’s favorite taco spot: His taco order: The al pastor, shrimp, and whatever the weekly special is.
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This Week in San Diego Tech Podcast - April 4, 2025
04/04/2025
This Week in San Diego Tech Podcast - April 4, 2025
Listen & subscribe on , , , and Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m from , the , and . My co-hosts in this episode is , journalist and author of substack. He covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world including breaking news, IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter. April 4, 2025 Padres 7-0, Dodgers 8-0 in their starts Fundings: Red markets because of tariffs Qualcomm acquisition news: & Leadership changes Curated Events List – For full list – April 7 April 16 June 3
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Building Together: Growing San Diego's Startup Scene Podcast
03/28/2025
Building Together: Growing San Diego's Startup Scene Podcast
Listen & subscribe on , , , and Join us for a roundtable with three longtime builders of San Diego’s startup scene: of and of of and Designing Events That Actually Build Community In this episode, we dive into the elements that actually make an event meaningful—from location and check-in experience to dress code and follow-up community building. We also talk about the growing energy around co-working gatherings and the potential for turning pop-up events into permanent spaces that foster connection, creativity, and collisions. 🔥 Episode Highlights: • What it would look like to convene the region’s top CEOs—and lessons learned from the • The evolution from to • How events like , , , and s are shaping the ecosystem • Why details like venue vibe, entrance flow, and even what people wear can set the tone for true connection Whether you’re an event host, startup founder, or just love showing up to meet great people, this episode is packed with insights on how we can all keep building together.
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This Week in San Diego Tech - March 27, 2025
03/27/2025
This Week in San Diego Tech - March 27, 2025
Listen & subscribe on , , , and Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m from , the , and . My co-hosts in this episode is , journalist and author of substack. He covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world including breaking news, IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter. 3/27 We recorded this week’s pod live on . What did you think? Neal speaking at Escondido City Council in support of the new AgX Hub NCAA update Pura Vida sold for $1m 23&Me Events.com Natalie Rocha for NYT Fellowship Entos Pharmaceuticals Natilus Curated Events List – For full list – - March 26 - March 28 Bootstrappers Event April 1
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This Week in San Diego Tech - March 20, 2025
03/20/2025
This Week in San Diego Tech - March 20, 2025
Listen & subscribe on , , , and Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m from , the , and . My co-hosts in this episode is , journalist and author of substack. He covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world including breaking news, IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter. Follow Fred on and Follow Neal on and On with the show! 3/20 Exits: Fundings: Curated Events List – For full list – - March 20 - March 24 - March 25 - March 26
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This Week in San Diego - March 7, 2025
03/07/2025
This Week in San Diego - March 7, 2025
Listen & subscribe on , , , and Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m from , the , and . My co-hosts in this episode is , journalist and author of substack. He covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world including breaking news, IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter. In this episode we talk about: San Diego publicly traded life science companies had a 86% increase performance in 2024 compared to 10-20% in SF & Boston - Recent fundraises First IPO in SD of 2025! Acquisitions New venture fund from the Prebys Foundation and leadership changes at Connect Curated Events List – For full list – Debrief - defense tech dinner & pre-sneak of Founder Build Days on March & Dev & Data Night x CTO Talks on
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Building Together: Growing San Diego's Startup Scene
02/26/2025
Building Together: Growing San Diego's Startup Scene
Listen & subscribe on , , , and In Part Two of this roundtable discussion, we go deeper into why tech ecosystem builders of and and of , are building their platforms. We discuss their founder journeys, the problems they each saw worth solving, and how the local startup ecosystem looks different—and better—thanks to their solutions. Highlights: Celebrating The Career Coyote’s exciting milestone: the (a true marker of success!). How the "" is making networking events more impactful and intentional. Why community-focused platforms, like and , are crucial for founders, job seekers, and investors to thrive. Upcoming Events Mentioned: - Feb 26 - March 6 - March 7 Help shape our community: and tell us what events you think San Diego still needs! Other links referenced on the pod:
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Building Together: Growing San Diego’s Startup Scene
02/18/2025
Building Together: Growing San Diego’s Startup Scene
Listen & subscribe on , , , and In this special roundtable episode, we dive into the power of in-person events in building and strengthening the San Diego startup ecosystem. I’m joined by two of my ecosystem-building besties: of and and of . Together, we discuss why community-driven events are essential, how they fuel startup growth, and what it takes to build a thriving local network. Jonah Peake has been a driving force in centralizing and curating San Diego’s startup events through his Social Coyote newsletter. His passion for making connections easy has led him to compile the “” list and build a resource hub for founders, job seekers, and ecosystem players. Hussein Yahfoufi saw a gap in the local event landscape and built Startup Beach, a platform that makes it easier for organizers and attendees to discover, share, and engage with events. The platform just hit 100 live events and recently launched the feature to help the community better support one another. Links & Resources Mentioned: 📌 Jonah’s Who You Need to Know in San Diego List: 📌 Startup Beach – Your hub for local startup events: 📌 Startup Beach Asks & Offers – A new way to connect: Action Item! What events don’t exist in San Diego but should? Let’s make them happen! Submit your event ideas here: 🎧 Tune in to hear how we're building together as Jonah and Hussein are shaping San Diego’s startup scene—one event at a time!
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Scaling Impact: Scot Chisholm on Evolving from Founder to Leader
02/05/2025
Scaling Impact: Scot Chisholm on Evolving from Founder to Leader
Listen & subscribe on , , , and In this episode of the Tacos & Tech Podcast, Neal Bloom sits down with Scot Chisholm, the founder of Highland and co-founder of Classy, to discuss what it truly takes to scale leadership alongside a growing company. After leading Classy from a small startup to its acquisition by GoFundMe, Scot saw firsthand that scaling a company is only possible if you scale its leaders. That insight led to the creation of Highland—a community-driven leadership experience designed for high-growth founders to navigate the challenges of leadership, build better teams, and sustain long-term success. Scot shares the key inflection points in his own journey, the biggest lessons learned, and how founders can avoid the leadership pitfalls that stall growth. 🔥 In This Episode, We Cover: • The hardest challenges Scot faced as a founder and how they shaped his leadership. • Why scaling a company is impossible without scaling leadership. • How Highland is redefining leadership development for high-growth founders. • The “Founder Mode vs. Leader Mode” framework and how to transition effectively. • The mindset shift from running a company to empowering teams to run it with you. • And of course, his favorite taco spots! 🌮 🚀 Resources & Mentions: 🔗 🔗 🔗 🔗 🔗 🌮 Tune in to hear how Scot turned leadership challenges into a playbook for growth—and why Highland is the community every founder needs.
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This Week in San Diego Tech - January 30, 2025
01/30/2025
This Week in San Diego Tech - January 30, 2025
Listen & subscribe on , , , and Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m from , the , and . My co-hosts in this episode is , journalist and author of substack. He covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world including breaking news, IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter. AND Jonah Peake , runs & the Career Coyote newsletters , promoting events and jobs in the San Diego tech ecosystem. Before we dive in, we wanted to thank and ask our listeners to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community! 1/30/2025 Fred’s trip debrief Any SD Super Bowl ad sighting predictions? Fundings: Take on 2025 already - new administration, opportunities for SD Top clicked jobs and companies Curated Events List – For full list – North County Startup Mixer breaks 200! due this Sunday - Feb 2 - Feb 7
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This Week in San Diego Tech - January 24, 2025
01/24/2025
This Week in San Diego Tech - January 24, 2025
Listen & subscribe on , , , and Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m from , the , and . My co-host in this episode is guest host , who previously co-hosted with me and runs , promoting events in the San Diego tech ecosystem. Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community. 1/24/2025 TechCon SoCal debrief Future of Healthcare debrief Fundings Seed $1M Seed $1.5M Series A $7.2M $23.5M Series D $90M Biggest deal of 2024 - Biggest VC fund raise of 2024 - and Top clicked jobs and companies Curated Events List – For full list – - Feb 4
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This Week in San Diego Tech - January 16, 2025
01/16/2025
This Week in San Diego Tech - January 16, 2025
Listen & subscribe on , , , and Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m from , the , and . My co-host in this episode is guest host , who previously co-hosted with me and runs , promoting events in the San Diego tech ecosystem. Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Tech Community. 1/16/2025 Sending love to our friends and family in LA ! Fundings $180M Series A $62M Series A $4M PreSeed CES Announcements - a lot of diverse chip use cases and AI ecosystem building Curated Events List – For full list – Preview - Jan 17 & 18 - Jan 22 - Feb 4 - Feb 6 - Feb 7 From the Pack: - - -
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Energizing the Carlsbad & North County Startup Scene
01/14/2025
Energizing the Carlsbad & North County Startup Scene
Listen & subscribe on , , , and Tacos and Tech Podcast – Episode with Alexandra Renee Poelstra of Startup Grind Carlsbad 🎙️ Guest: Alexandra Renee Poelstra, Chapter Director of Startup Grind Carlsbad 📅 Episode Date: [Insert Date] 📍 Event Mentioned: Startup Grind Carlsbad - SG Global Pitch Battle Carlsbad (Neal will be a pitch judge) 🔗 Links: • • • This Tuesday Jan. 14 • • Episode Overview: In this episode of the Tacos and Tech Podcast, Neal sits down with Alexandra Renee Poelstra, the dynamic Chapter Director of Startup Grind Carlsbad, to discuss the exciting return of Startup Grind events in Carlsbad. Alexandra shares insights into how Startup Grind is reigniting the local entrepreneurial spirit and dives into details about their upcoming SG Global Pitch Battle Carlsbad event, where Neal will be serving as a pitch judge. They talk about the role Startup Grind plays in fostering startup communities globally and locally and how the Carlsbad chapter plans to support founders in the region. Alexandra also shares her own journey into entrepreneurship and community building. Neal reflects on his own past experience being interviewed by Startup Grind San Diego, bringing the conversation full circle as he now returns to the community in a new role supporting emerging founders. Topics Covered: • Alexandra’s journey into the startup world and Startup Grind • Reviving Startup Grind Carlsbad after a hiatus • Details about the SG Global Pitch Battle Carlsbad and how founders can get involved • The importance of community in supporting founders • Neal’s previous experience as a guest on Startup Grind San Diego and now serving as a pitch judge Upcoming Event Details: 📅 Event: SG Global Pitch Battle - Carlsbad - Jan. 14 📍 Location: 📝 Pitch Application Form: Also mentioned Connect with Startup Grind Carlsbad: 🌐 📲 Thank You to Our Partners: This episode is brought to you by Fresh Brewed Tech, serving up tech insights with a side of San Diego flavor, for everyone to savor. Subscribe & Review: Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the Tacos and Tech Podcast on your favorite streaming platform!
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This Week in San Diego Tech - January 9, 2025
01/09/2025
This Week in San Diego Tech - January 9, 2025
Listen & subscribe on , , , and Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m from , the , and . My co-host in this episode is , journalist and author of substack. He covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world including breaking news, IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter. Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community. HAPPY NEW YEAR! 1/9/2025 Top headlines Predictions Neal’s predictions - IPO market, M&A, Fundings, In person M&A news Funding raises $3.5M Seed Round Developments Curated Events List – For full list – Jan 14 on Jan 14 and Feb 18 Rumi AI HH - Jan 16 - Jan 17-18 - Jan 22 - Feb 21-22
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This Week in San Diego Tech - January 2, 2025
01/03/2025
This Week in San Diego Tech - January 2, 2025
Listen & subscribe on , , , and Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m from , the , and . My co-host in this episode is , journalist and author of substack. He covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world including breaking news, IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter. Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community. HAPPY NEW YEAR! 1/2/2025 Top Headlines Join the conversation on Neal bets Luke Sophinos of Coursekey on Fundings - $350m - $25m growth round - $10m seed round on Gen AI Events – For full list – - Jan. 3 CES - San Diego showcase - let us know if you’ll be at CES Join me on Tuesday at or Wednesday at January 13-16 (SF/Bay Area) - Jan 17-18
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Bridging Silicon Valley and San Diego Through TechCon SoCal with Faisal Mushtaq
12/20/2024
Bridging Silicon Valley and San Diego Through TechCon SoCal with Faisal Mushtaq
Listen & subscribe on , , , and In this episode of the Tacos and Tech Podcast, we sit down with , a visionary CTO, serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and the founder of , one of the region’s fastest-growing tech summits. Faisal shares his inspiring journey from the San Francisco Bay Area to San Diego and how his mission to connect the two thriving ecosystems culminated in the creation of TechCon SoCal. What We Covered: • Faisal’s Career Path: From building and scaling Fortune 500 companies to leading startups to successful exits, Faisal shares insights from his extensive experience in digital transformation, operational excellence, and global team leadership. • The Founding of TechCon SoCal: What inspired Faisal to move to San Diego and create a tech summit that bridges the innovation of Silicon Valley with the collaborative spirit of San Diego. • Building Communities Through Tech: How events like TechCon SoCal are fostering partnerships, attracting talent, and sparking innovation between two of California’s most dynamic tech hubs. • Emerging Technologies: Faisal’s thoughts on the transformative potential of IoT and AI, and how these technologies are shaping the future of industries. • Advice for Entrepreneurs: Faisal’s strategies for scaling businesses, building strategic partnerships, and driving impactful go-to-market strategies. • Personal Vision: Faisal’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs through angel investing and mentorship. Key Quotes from Faisal: • “TechCon SoCal is about building bridges—between people, ideas, and ecosystems—to create something larger than any one of us can achieve alone.” • “San Diego is a hidden gem for innovation, and I’m passionate about amplifying its voice on a global stage.” About Faisal Mushtaq: With decades of experience as a technology leader, Faisal has driven transformative growth for public and private companies. His expertise in IoT, AI, and health and wellness innovations, combined with his dedication to fostering the startup ecosystem, makes him a key figure in advancing technology and entrepreneurship. Resources Mentioned: • TechCon SoCal Website: • Connect with Faisal on LinkedIn: Join us for this exciting conversation with Faisal as we dive into his journey and his vision for connecting the Silicon Valley and San Diego tech communities!
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From Ice to Innovation: How Hockey Happens with Colin Loveless of the Vegas Golden Knights
12/16/2024
From Ice to Innovation: How Hockey Happens with Colin Loveless of the Vegas Golden Knights
Listen & subscribe on , , , and In this episode of the Tacos and Tech Podcast, host sits down with of the Vegas Golden Knights, and recent winner at the Top Tech Awards Presented by Cox Business in Las Vegas. Colin shares the behind-the-scenes story of how technology drives performance, fan engagement, and operations for one of the NHL’s most exciting teams. From IT systems to cybersecurity and innovation, Colin explains how he and his team use cutting-edge tools to keep the Golden Knights skating toward success, both on and off the ice. What You’ll Learn in This Episode 1. Colin’s Career Journey: How he went from IT enthusiast to managing the tech infrastructure for an NHL team. 2. Tech Innovations in Hockey: Insights into the tools and systems that power the Vegas Golden Knights’ operations and fan experience. 3. Winning a Top Tech Award: Colin discusses the projects and contributions that earned him the prestigious recognition. 4. Challenges in Sports IT: Balancing cybersecurity, operational excellence, and real-time performance demands in a high-stakes environment. 5. Future of Sports Technology: Colin’s take on how AI, machine learning, and data-driven tools are transforming professional sports. And of course Colin's favorite taco spot! Thanks to our friends at for powering these technology conversations!
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