Advertise on podcast: Tacos and Tech Podcast

The 2026 San Diego Angel Conference (SDAC) kicks off with Angel Academy Session 1, hosted at SDSU's ZIP Launchpad. Neal Bloom walks a room of aspiring and returning angel investors through the fundamentals — what angel investing actually looks like, how the SDAC's group diligence process works, and why a portfolio approach matters more than picking one winner. With 135 startup applications on the table and a Decision Day set for May 29, the session lays out the full arc from learning to deploying capital. Key Topics * What angel investing is and why it's a learned muscle * The SDAC's group diligence model: applications to investment * Portfolio approach: deploying into 3–5 companies * Why in-person founder pitches change the calculus * The "Super Bowl" — May 29 Decision Day and what it means * Fund structure: $200K–$2M raise range, SPV side vehicles * Last year's fund: $440K deployed into three companies Links & Resources * San Diego Angel Conference (SDAC): https://sdangel.com * SDSU ZIP Launchpad: https://ziplaunchpad.sdsu.edu * Rising Tide Partners: https://risingtidepartners.co This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit risingtidepartners.substack.com/subscribe

In this weeks episode, I sit down with Grayson LaFrenz and Chad Lohrli, two of the co-founders of Cadre AI, the San Diego-based AI strategy and integration firm helping mid-market companies turn AI hype into P&L impact. They get into why 99 out of 100 business leaders still can’t point to measurable ROI from AI, how Cadre’s pod model mirrors the playbook Grayson used to build Power Digital into a record-setting exit, and why change management - not technology - is the real bottleneck. The taco question made an appearance. Key Topics * Why most companies have no real AI strategy * Grayson’s path from Power Digital’s PE exit to Cadre AI * Chad’s journey from hackathons and SDX to co-founding Cadre * How Cadre’s pod system verticalizes AI delivery * The maturity index that exposes C-suite blind spots * Why services businesses lose operating leverage at scale * Building reusable AI blocks across clients * Turning call recordings into an autonomous client intelligence system * Why change management is harder than the technology Links & Resources * Cadre AI * SDx Community * Power Digital Connect on LinkedIn * Grayson LaFrenz * Chad Lohrli * Neal Bloom This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit risingtidepartners.substack.com/subscribe

Episode Summary Neal Bloom takes the stage at the 2026 San Diego Angel Conference Knowledge & Networking Event at SDSU to walk a room full of aspiring and active angel investors through the four questions he uses to evaluate early-stage companies. Using live audience exercises - pitching Uber, Airbnb, and Palantir in one sentence, debating whether Viori was a pass or a miss - he turns startup evaluation from an abstract skill into something visceral and personal. This isn’t theory. It’s how the sausage gets made when real capital is on the line. Key Topics * The four-question framework for evaluating startups * Why clarity is a test of the founder, not the investor * One-sentence pitching exercises with Uber, Airbnb, and Palantir * Venture scale outcomes vs. good small businesses * Salt Couture vs. Reef vs. Vuori - three paths from the same starting point * How EBITDA, CAC, and growth get valued differently across business types * Excitement as signal, not hype * The calendar test: would you spend one more hour on this company? Links & Resources * San Diego Angel Conference (SDAC) * SDSU Fowler College of Business * Evo Nexus * NuFund * Vuori * Rising Tide Partners Connect on LinkedIn * Neal Bloom This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit risingtidepartners.substack.com/subscribe

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m Neal Bloom from Rising Tide Partners. 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! April 2 Manifold Security Raised $8M Rybodyn Raised $10 Funding Shield AI Raises $2B Condor Software Series A Q1 2026 Funding Report 2026 Cool Companies Curated Events List – For full list – check The Social Coyote 2026 SD Hardtech 50 Release Event - April 30 TechCon SoCal May 21-23 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit risingtidepartners.substack.com/subscribe

Blueprint Equity just closed a $333M Fund III - and they’re doubling down on a thesis that feels increasingly contrarian in today’s AI-fueled world. In this episode, Neal sits down with Sheldon Lewis and Bobby Ocampo, co-founders and managing partners of La Jolla-based Blueprint Equity, to unpack their “early growth equity” strategy - investing in bootstrapped SaaS companies doing $1–7M in ARR and growing fast. They share their journey from 2008 investment banking crash, near-billion-dollar exits, to building Blueprint from scratch. Along the way, they break down why they call themselves “anti-VC,” how AI is reshaping SaaS economics, and why raising less capital can actually create better founder outcomes. If you’re building in SaaS - especially outside Silicon Valley - this is one to study. Key Topics * What is Early Growth Equity? * From I Banking in 2008 to Building a Fund * The PayLease Story * Why They Call Themselves “Anti-VC” * How AI Is Changing SaaS (But Not Killing It) * Hands-On Portfolio Support * Fund III: $333M Closed * Why Great Companies Can Be Built Anywhere Links & Resources * Blueprint Equity Connect on LinkedIn * Sheldon Lewis * Bobby Ocampo This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit risingtidepartners.substack.com/subscribe

Matt Holman, founder of Commerce Catalyst and Subscription Prescription, joins Neal to unpack what’s really happening inside modern e-commerce and subscription-driven CPG brands. From Utah’s fast-growing “Silicon Slopes” ecosystem to AI-powered personalization, Matt shares how founders are building durable revenue in a post-hype e-commerce world. They explore the tension between acquisition and retention, why subscription is often misunderstood, and how community-driven ecosystems accelerate operator learning faster than content ever could. In this episode, they cover: * Why the best subscription brands win on acquisition first * The difference between real personalization and surface-level tactics * How AI is improving research, CX, and performance marketing * Why e-commerce multiples compressed - and what that means for founders * The power of Utah’s Commerce Catalyst community * Balancing growth targets with long-term subscription LTV Resources & Links: * Commerce Catalyst * Subscription Prescription * Sign up for Matt’s Newsletter Connect on LinkedIn * Matt Holman * Neal Bloom This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit risingtidepartners.substack.com/subscribe

Susie Harborth joins the pod to share her journey from refugee immigrant and first-generation college student to biotech operator, ecosystem builder, and now founder-investor behind Inspirafund and Sencie. After building early-stage life science companies, launching BioLabs in San Diego, and working across venture and banking, Susie is now placing focused bets in overlooked but meaningful spaces - starting with sleep, rest, and recovery in hospitality. We dive into why sleep is emerging as a foundational performance lever, how design and “invisible care” shape human experience, and why Susie is building at the intersection of science, hospitality, and wellness. We also unpack her next venture concept, SuperHRO - an offboarding support platform for professionals navigating career transitions. This episode is about investing with conviction, building from lived experience, and designing for how humans actually feel - not just how systems operate. Key Topics * Growing up in San Diego as a refugee immigrant and discovering venture capital during the dot-com era * Why Susie chose to support scientists curing disease instead of becoming a doctor herself * Building BioLabs and designing physical hubs for “maximum human collision” * The difference between luxury and “invisible care” * Why sleep is the most underleveraged performance tool in modern life * The science behind circadian rhythms, REM quality, and cognitive performance * Sleep tourism and the opportunity in hospitality wellness * Launching Sencie and partnering with The Bower in Coronado * Why some opportunities are too niche for traditional VC — but perfect for focused capital * Introducing SuperHRO: rethinking HR and support during job transitions Links & Resources * Inspirafund - Personal investment platform backing overlooked, high-impact ideas * Sencie - Sleep and well-being experiences for hospitality and travel Connect On LinkedIn * Susie Harborth * Neal Bloom This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit risingtidepartners.substack.com/subscribe

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m Neal Bloom from Rising Tide Partners. 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! 3/12 * Seasats visit debrief * BlueNalu tasting debrief * SD Angel Academy Debrief * $100 Genome by Element Bio * New fundings: * Candid Therapeutics reverse merger of $500M+ * Spinogenix * Qureator * NuFund Ventures Closes Most Successful Year Since 2021 * BAE Systems wins support contract for F-16 * Carlsbad proposed for undersea hub for cables between US and Australia Curated Events List – For full list – check The Social Coyote Longevity Innovation Forum 2026 March 11 San Diego AgTech Gathering March 19 March Mingle March 25 SD AI x Bio March 26 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit risingtidepartners.substack.com/subscribe

Episode Summary In this episode of the AI Builders Roundtable, the builders cross a line. Instead of just discussing AI-native companies, they use one - Polsia AI - to start new businesses live on the show. Neal, Craig, and Greg spin up real ventures, fund them, and watch agents begin executing tasks in real time. MVPs get scoped. Outreach campaigns get drafted. Websites get built. Autonomous execution starts. What begins as a demo turns into a deeper conversation about ownership, liability, trust, agent-to-agent commerce, and what happens when company creation becomes a commodity. This isn’t a thought experiment. It’s builders testing the edge. Key Topics * Launching AI-native companies live with Polsia AI * Funding autonomous agents to build and operate startups * When execution collapses toward zero * Agent-run outreach, marketing, and MVP development * Who holds liability when agents transact autonomously * Micro-venture economics and short business life cycles * Building for agents, not just humans * Why emotional trust may become more valuable in an autonomous world Links & Resources * Polsia AI Connect on LinkedIn * Neal Bloom * Craig Lauer * Greg Moser This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit risingtidepartners.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Tacos & Tech, Neal Bloom sits down with Peter Goldsborough, co-founder and CTO of Rune, to unpack one of the most overlooked but decisive factors in modern warfare: logistics. Peter shares how his background in software and defense tech led him to a simple realization-while billions have been spent on weapons and command systems, military logistics still runs on spreadsheets, whiteboards, and paper. The conversation explores why future conflicts will be won or lost on decision speed, not firepower, and how Rune is turning logistics into a real-time, data-driven decision system used by the Army and Marines today. This episode dives into defense innovation, software in degraded environments, and why fixing logistics isn’t just a military problem-it’s a cognitive one. Key Topics * Why logistics decides wars * The problem with spreadsheets and whiteboards in the DoD * Turning logistics into a real-time decision system * Defense tech speed vs legacy procurement * Software for disconnected and high-stress environments * Lessons from Ukraine and the Pacific theater * When logistics becomes the bottleneck * Building resilient software for the physical world Links * Rune Connect on LinkedIn * Peter Goldsborough * Neal Bloom This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit risingtidepartners.substack.com/subscribe

Episode Summary In Episode 3 of the AI Builders Roundtable, the conversation jumps right into deployment. Craig, Greg, and Derrick break down what it actually looks like to run AI agents inside real companies - from shipping production code with Cursor to publishing crowdsourced sports data on-chain, to experimenting with autonomous bots that learn in public. This isn’t a hype conversation. It’s builders comparing notes while actively rewiring their businesses around AI-native workflows. The throughline:The interface is changing. The architecture is changing. The buyer may not even be human anymore. Key Topics * Why founders can’t afford to “wait and see” on AI * Edge models vs. cloud models - and why local compute is resurging * OpenClaw, Claude Code, GLM, and the new agent toolchain * Publishing data to blockchain as an AI settlement layer * Turning APIs into agent-friendly microtransactions * How AI compresses feedback loops inside product teams * SEO in a world where agents, not humans, query first * Building for networks vs. building for agents Links & Resources * ScoreStream Connect on LinkedIn * Neal Bloom * Craig Lauer * Greg Moser * Derrick Oien This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit risingtidepartners.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Neal sits down with Samantha Pantazopoulos, co-founder of Vizer, to unpack the company’s pivot from a consumer fitness rewards app to a B2B retail demand engine used by brands like Olipop and Health-Ade. What started as a mission-driven app tying workouts to food bank donations evolved - through COVID, retailer shutdowns, and customer pull - into a platform helping brands drive measurable retail velocity across Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, and beyond. This conversation dives into what it really takes to pivot, how offers power demand generation, and why grocery may be one of the most complex - and fascinating - battlegrounds in tech today. Key Topics * How Vizer pivoted from consumer app to enterprise CPG platform * Why COVID forced a rethink of the original marketplace model * The fragmented world of grocery offers: paper, rebate, retailer apps, and beyond * Turning marketing impressions into measurable retail conversions * Compressing the funnel with QR codes, paid media, and off-site offers * The tension between DTC, Amazon, and in-store retail strategies * Why data in CPG has historically lagged behind DTC * How brands are thinking about AI in retail * What drives trial and long-term retention in grocery * Creative campaigns: sweepstakes, surprise-and-delight, and experiential activations Links & Resources * Vizer Connect on LinkedIn * Samantha Pantazopoulos This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit risingtidepartners.substack.com/subscribe

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I’m Neal Bloom from Rising Tide Partners. 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! 2/22 * SD Wind Tunnel Debrief * Biotech Mixer Debrief * Cal AI acquired * Atrium Spins out from Novartis with $270M * Tandem Diabetes bests $1B in sales * Software programs decline except at ucsd * https://x.com/aakashgupta/status/2024710361950384531?s=20 * Fred named to SDBJ Black Leaders of Influence Curated Events List – For full list – check The Social Coyote * SDAC Founder Applications are due this Thursday March 5 * SD Founders Hike March 6 * SD Angel Academy March 6 * Alliance Societal Impact - Family Office Summit March 15-16 * March Mingle March 25 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit risingtidepartners.substack.com/subscribe

A short audio reflection on what changes when context stops resetting. And what happens when it starts compounding instead. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit risingtidepartners.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Tacos & Tech, Neal Bloom sits down with Troy Helming, founder and CEO of EarthGrid, to explore one of the most ambitious infrastructure plays of our time: building an underground super grid. Troy shares how a chance conversation about Navy SEAL plasma cutters sparked the idea for plasma-based tunnel boring, and how EarthGrid is now using that technology to dramatically reduce the cost, time, and friction of underground infrastructure. The conversation spans Troy’s decades-long journey through clean energy, wind, solar, and transmission, the real bottlenecks slowing the energy transition, and why underground infrastructure may be the fastest path to unlocking renewable power, AI data centres, water systems, and broadband at scale. From melting granite with plasma to navigating regulation as a registered utility, this episode is a masterclass in deep tech, systems thinking, and building for generational impact. Key Topics Covered * The origin story of EarthGrid and plasma-based tunnel boring * How a Navy SEAL plasma cutting torch inspired a new approach to excavation * The 10–20 year reality of permitting overhead power lines * How underground infrastructure cuts permitting timelines dramatically * Troy’s background in wind and solar and building multi-billion-dollar energy platforms * Plasma excavation vs traditional drilling, blasting, and tunneling * EarthGrid’s patented “Thunderdome” spoils removal system * Trenching vs tunneling use cases for data centers, utilities, and substations * Why EarthGrid operates as both a contractor and a utility * The BOOM model: Build, Own, Operate, Maintain * Underground infrastructure as long-term, cash-flowing real estate * AI-driven data center demand and the infrastructure crunch * Why regulation can be a competitive advantage, not a blocker * Troy’s long-term vision for quality-of-life improvements through infrastructure Links & Resources * EarthGrid Connect on Linkedin * Troy Helming * Neal Bloom This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit risingtidepartners.substack.com/subscribe