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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From Failed Kickstarter to Exit with ShredLights’ Eric Birkemeier
09/02/2025
From Failed Kickstarter to Exit with ShredLights’ Eric Birkemeier
In this episode of the Tacos & Tech Podcast, host Neal Bloom sits down with , founder of ShredLights and now part of Meepo Electric Skateboards. Eric’s story is a wild ride - from 3D-printing in the SDSU ZIP Launchpad and selling Jordans out of thrift stores, to building a niche hardware company and ultimately exiting to a global electric skateboard brand. They unpack how Eric turned an early failed Kickstarter into a business with over $1M+ in revenue (with zero ad spend!), the importance of discovering product-market fit through real customer feedback, and the emotional rollercoaster of running and eventually selling a hardware startup during a downturn. From bootstrapping to navigating COVID, tariffs, and copycats - Eric shares what it really takes to get to the finish line (and how the finish line is just another beginning). Key Topics Covered: From basement builds to business: Eric’s early love for inventing and entrepreneurship The SDSU ZIP Launchpad, finding community, and the startup that wasn't a fit Why the wrong customers helped him discover the right market Pivoting from skate culture to the growing micro-mobility movement Scaling from 3D printers to overseas supply chains - and the lessons from doing it the hard way How Kyle and Eric’s founder relationship helped them navigate burnout, illness, and transition Building trust with manufacturers and how one trip to China changed everything Financial forecasting, staying lean, and prepping for an acquisition The gritty, real story behind selling a business - and what Eric’s learned about what comes next Links & Resources: Connect with Eric & Neal
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The Return of a North County Builder
08/26/2025
The Return of a North County Builder
This week on Tacos & Tech, Neal sits down with Drew Wilson, longtime North County founder, designer, engineer, and community builder. From launching products solo to landing a GoDaddy acquisition, Drew’s track record speaks for itself. Now he’s back with a new company, Opacity, and relaunching his beloved creative conference, ValioCon, right in the heart of Oceanside. In this episode, Drew shares his journey from early design days and Flash websites to building Plasso, navigating acquisition, and diving headfirst into GenAI-powered product development. He also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what’s coming with Opacity, why he’s bullish on version control for designers, and how tools like Midjourney and Claude are shaping his build stack. Key Points Building Plasso as a solo founder and selling to GoDaddy Going through YC while still working at GoDaddy Launching (and shutting down) a modern digital bank The origins of ValioCon and why it’s back after 9 years The inspiration behind Opacity and the future of visual coding Building products in the GenAI era — what’s actually different His go-to North County burrito and tales from Cave Week Links & Resources Learn more about Grab your ticket to Connect with Drew & Neal Follow Drew on & Follow Neal: &
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This Week in San Diego Tech – Aug 22, 2025
08/21/2025
This Week in San Diego Tech – Aug 22, 2025
Listen & subscribe on , , , and Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m from , building and investing in community. 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! Aug 22 Defense Tech Founders Event Recap of autonomous tech and military end-users New org leaders: - Naturally San Diego - Techstars - launches Funding - $4M Seed Round M&A Curated Events List – For full list – - Aug 28 - Sept 2 - Sept 16
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Investing in the Freedom Stack with Larsen Jensen of Harpoon Ventures
08/19/2025
Investing in the Freedom Stack with Larsen Jensen of Harpoon Ventures
In this episode of the Tacos & Tech Podcast, Neal Bloom sits down with former Olympian, Navy SEAL, and now Managing Partner of Harpoon Ventures, an early-stage venture firm backing founders building in the national interest. Larsen shares the journey from serving Team USA to launching a venture fund focused on what he calls the Freedom Stack - critical technologies like AI, autonomy, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing that shape not just industry, but national security and global stability. They explore how Harpoon was early to the intersection of tech and geopolitics, why San Diego is uniquely positioned to lead in hardtech and defense innovation, and how founders can better navigate the path to working with the U.S. government through Harpoon’s new initiative: Black Flag Incubator. Key Topics Covered: Larsen’s Olympic and Navy SEAL background, and how it shaped his service-driven mission in venture The original thesis behind Harpoon Ventures - and how the market caught up Defining the "Freedom Stack": AI, cyber, energy, compute, defense, and more The rise of government demand for critical technologies Black Flag Incubator: helping founders navigate government engagement Why San Diego is poised for hardtech and national security innovation Advice for early-stage founders working in dual-use or deep tech The importance of founder communities, ecosystem building, and paying it forward Larsen’s go-to taco spot (hint: it’s inside Petco Park) Links & Resources: Connect with Larsen & Neal: Follow on X
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This Week in San Diego Tech – Aug 15, 2025
08/15/2025
This Week in San Diego Tech – Aug 15, 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! Aug 15 Biotech layoffs: Thermo, Curated Events List – For full list – - Aug 28 - Sept 2 - Sept 16
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Why Gemist Is Betting Big on Customization, AI, and Scalable Design
08/13/2025
Why Gemist Is Betting Big on Customization, AI, and Scalable Design
In this episode of the Tacos & Tech Podcast, Neal Bloom sits down with Madeline Fraser, the dynamic founder and CEO of Gemist, a B2B SaaS and AI company revolutionizing the jewelry industry. Madeline shares how a frustrating search for a custom engagement ring sparked the idea for Gemist, which now powers customization, stone sourcing, and hyper-realistic rendering for jewelry brands and retailers. With deep product insight and two previous startups under her belt - including an appearance on Shark Tank and an exit into the gaming space - Madeline unpacks how her creative background and startup experience led her to build scalable tech that’s reshaping a centuries-old industry. They talk about her time on The Pitch (where she met Neal and landed Gemist’s first investment round), her vision for modernizing the jewelry shopping experience, and why customization is no longer optional for today’s customers. Key Topics Covered: How Madeline turned a personal pain point into Gemist’s founding story Her Shark Tank experience - and why the deal didn’t go through What it’s really like to bootstrap vs. fundraise Why user testing came before writing a single line of code The tech stack behind Gemist’s jewelry customization engine Scaling B2B SaaS in a traditional industry The future of Gemist: watches, new verticals, and profitability Startup lessons from interior design to jewelry tech Why every founder needs grit, agility, and a chip on their shoulder Links & Resources: Connect with Madeline & Neal
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This Week in San Diego Tech – Aug 8, 2025
08/08/2025
This Week in San Diego Tech – Aug 8, 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! August 8 Debrief Startup SD 1st Mondays event at KILN Rancho Bernardo AI products: Fundings: Curated Events List – For full list – - Aug 28 - Sept 2 - Sept 16
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Live from the Innovation Stage: Burbank Startup Pitch Fest 2025
08/06/2025
Live from the Innovation Stage: Burbank Startup Pitch Fest 2025
In this special episode of the podcast, host Neal Bloom takes us inside the Burbank Startup Pitch Fest - an exciting evening of innovation, capital, and community hosted in partnership with the City of Burbank and Rising Tide Partners. We kick things off with a welcome from Burbank’s Economic Development team, highlighting why the city is fast becoming a tech and media hub. Neal then moderates a candid conversation with early-stage investors Amy Harmon (Innovent Capital) and Ben Kahan (Pegasus Angel Accelerator) about today’s venture landscape - from what they look for in a pre-seed deal to how AI and founder-market fit are shaping startup success. Then, five founders take the stage to pitch their startups: : A frictionless, passwordless biometric identity platform : Sensory tools supporting cognitive wellness in dementia and neurodivergent populations : Drone-powered logistics, imaging, and defense systems : Digital wellness programming helping families build mindful relationships with tech (Winner): A modern, non-traumatic alternative to the gynecological tenaculum, improving IUD and reproductive care From pitch insights to early-stage investing frameworks, this episode is packed with startup wisdom and a strong dose of real talk from the entrepreneurial front lines. Recorded live at Burbank Startup Pitch Fest 2025.
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How Puesto Built a Taco Empire by Blending Tradition, Tech, and Family Roots
07/22/2025
How Puesto Built a Taco Empire by Blending Tradition, Tech, and Family Roots
In this episode of the Tacos & Tech Podcast, host Neal Bloom sits down with Alex Adler, co-founder of Puesto, to talk about how a family with no restaurant background built one of the most beloved modern taco brands in the country. From its La Jolla beginnings to an expanding restaurant group that includes Marisi and Romana Norte, Puesto has grown through a mix of culinary authenticity, operational innovation, and cultural conviction. Alex shares the origin story of Puesto, early pivots that reshaped their entire concept, how Toast and DoorDash changed the game for their operations, and how they’ve kept taco trends and consumer tastes at the heart of their menu. Plus, we talk about non-alcoholic innovation, building culture at scale, and yes—his all-time favorite taco. Key Topics Covered The family roots of Puesto and why hospitality was a leap of faith How Puesto went from food stand concept to a multi-state operation The early pivot from fast-casual to full-service that changed everything Why crispy cheese and house-made tortillas are non-negotiables How Puesto adapted during COVID—and doubled down on delivery Tech tools that transformed operations (Toast, DoorDash integrations) Balancing menu staples with taco trend experimentation Why they built their own non-alcoholic tequila alternative Expansion news: new Puesto location, new concepts, and out-of-state growth Filet mignon taco, pistachio-serrano salsa, and why they still ring the bell Links & Resources Connect with Alex Adler Connect with Neal Bloom
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This Week in San Diego Tech – July 19, 2025
07/18/2025
This Week in San Diego Tech – July 19, 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! July 11 Funding: AI Launches: Curated Events List – For full list –
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Friendraising: Angel Academy Conference Keynote by Cody Barbo
07/18/2025
Friendraising: Angel Academy Conference Keynote by Cody Barbo
In this special recorded event episode, Neal Bloom sits down with Trust & Will co-founder and CEO Cody Barbo in front of a live audience at SDSU’s Angel Academy. It’s an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation on what it really takes to back founders at the earliest of stages especially when they are bouncing back from tragedy. Cody and Neal reflect on startup missteps, co-founder breakups, raising from friends and angels, and how real trust (and real checks) get built over breakfast, not pitch decks. From being fired from his last venture to scaling Trust & Will to tens of millions in ARR, Cody shares a decade's worth of hard-won lessons with humor, humility, and insight. Whether you're a first-time founder, active angel, or just startup-curious, this candid session is packed with real talk about how relationships, not just revenue, power great companies. Key Topics Covered Cody’s path from SDSU student to three-time founder The co-founder breakup that led to Trust & Will Lessons from getting fired as a CEO Why Neal invested in Cody before a product even existed Raising from 26 angels with $10K–$40K checks What great investors do before they wire money The power of monthly updates and founder–investor trust Behind the scenes of Techstars, Series A/B, and scaling to tens of millions in ARR Advice for founders on protecting themselves and choosing aligned investors How angels can create value before, during, and after the check clears Links & Resources Connect with Cody Connect with Neal
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The Future of Podcast Production
07/16/2025
The Future of Podcast Production
In this episode of the Tacos & Tech Podcast, host Neal Bloom sits down with Arman and Andrew, of Podhaus, a full-service podcast production studio based in Burbank, CA. From launching just before COVID to building one of LA’s most sought-after recording spaces, the duo shares how they went from music engineering and tech backgrounds to building a creative business in the heart of the media capital, Burbank, CA. We dive into what makes a podcast studio succeed, how to think about production versus authenticity, and why audio always matters more than video. Plus, we get real about gear recommendations for on-location podcasting, changes in podtech like Substack and Spotify, and what it takes to attract the right clients - from beginners to corporate teams. Key Topics Covered The unexpected origins of Podhaus - and how it pivoted from a music studio to podcast-only The difference between polished production and authentic podcasting - and why authenticity wins Why good audio trumps everything else (yes, even video) Three studio setups Podhaus offers and how creators pick their aesthetic Who the ideal client is (hint: it’s not always beginners) Studio tips for on-location recording (gear, lighting, and sound) Tech trends: Substack’s clip editor, Spotify’s new comment features, and the race to own podcaster workflows Favorite LA taco spots from classic lengua to artisanal lamb Links & Resources Connect with Arman & Andrew Connect with Neal Bloom
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This Week in San Diego Tech - July 7, 2025
07/07/2025
This Week in San Diego Tech - July 7, 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! July 7 Events debrief - Andy Ballester/SD Tech Founders event Macro market is feeling positive - International expansion through MetroConnect Fundings: - $18M - $14M Curated Events List – For full list – July 8 - July 29 - Dev & Data x CTO Talks: Healthtech Night - link coming soon
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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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