Tacos And Tech Podcast

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

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m Neal Bloom from Rising Tide Partners, building and investing in community. My co-host in this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego 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: Connect - James Z. Naturally San Diego - Renee Solares Techstars - Misti Cain BuyBack Ventures launches   Funding Srt Therapeutics - $47M Ceresti $11M Ilundent - $4M Seed Round   M&A GroGuru acquired by Goa

In this episode of the Tacos & Tech Podcast, Neal Bloom sits down with Larsen Jensen, 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 Def

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m Neal Bloom from Rising Tide Partners and the Tacos and Tech Podcast. My co-host in this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego 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 SDEE event debrief Biotech layoffs: Thermo, Poseida Therapeutics Equillium raise Scale Bio acquired by 10X Genomics Plantible opens a 100-acre manufacturing module in Texas BAE Shipyard Gains Defense Build Contracts Prebys Foundation Donates $1M to support grant medical research   Curated Events List – For f

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 Shar

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m Neal Bloom from Rising Tide Partners and the Tacos and Tech Podcast. My co-host in this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego 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 New Connect CEO AI products: Seismic AI Metro MOIC Fundings: Equip Health $47M Trovata $9M Extension Series B Saronic moves into SD AgX Food Hub moves forward   Curated Events List – For full list – check The Social Coyote SD Defense Bu

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: KATSHID: A frictionless, passwordless biometric identity platform Geri Gadgets: Sensory tools supporting cognitive wellness in dementia and neurodivergent populations Blip Industries: Drone-powered logistics, imaging, and defense systems Health-e-Habits: Digital wellness programming helping familie

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 cr

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms.   Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m Neal Bloom from Rising Tide Partners and the Tacos and Tech Podcast. My co-host in this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego 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: Firestorm $47m Series A Field Medical raises again Tang Capital acquires SoftEye acquired   AI Launches: Trust & Will launches new AI platform Wealth tech Copia AI new partnership Comma AI valued at $1B Clickup’s AI Agent gets top ranking by G2 Atrium Energy powering

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 gettin

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,

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m Neal Bloom from Rising Tide Partners and the Tacos and Tech Podcast. My co-host in this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego 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 Carlsmed files for IPO Capstan Thera acquired Aquacycl - International expansion through MetroConnect Blossomhill Therapuetics moves in new HQ   Fundings: Gallant Therapeutics - $18M Arialys Therapeutics - $14M Kelly Slat

In this episode of the Tacos & Tech Podcast, host Neal Bloom chats with Jeremy Yamaguchi, 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

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m Neal Bloom from Rising Tide Partners and the Tacos and Tech Podcast. My co-host in this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego 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 acq again, this time for $2B IPOs - Chime, Coreweave, eToro, Circle doing well and Wealthfront just filed. Quidel acquired LEX New Insulin results Fundings: Clearspeed series D Firestorm raised new funds, according to SEC filing Lilo of Carlsbad wins a Michelin Star Deloitte Fast 500 nominations op

In this episode of the Tacos & Tech Podcast, host Neal Bloom chats with Andrew Albert, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Channel Equity Partners. 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., C

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms.   Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News!    I’m Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. My co-host in this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego 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 Startup activity in SD Recent Carta funding data in relation to San Diego and by stage Fundings Retrorate - podcast & Seaside Equity raises $723M for two funds   Cadre AI coming out of stealth Qualcomm acquisition o

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

In this episode of Tacos & Tech, Neal welcomes a longtime friend, Andy Taylor, Co-Founder and CEO of RetroRate. 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 decidi

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Rising Tide Partners. My co-hosts in this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego 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? General Atomics Fusion Reactor Tour Funding Roundup – Q2 So Far 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 Mark Fields named Chief Information & Innovation Officer at Illumina AI Spotlight Personal AI partners with NVIDIA and launches an AI receptionist tool Headquarters moving to SF, but SD

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 innov