Tacos and Tech Podcast

Neal Bloom
  • 5.0 (37)
  • TECH NEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Tacos and Tech Podcast highlights the builders of companies, technologies, ecosystems with a local flair for our lifestyle as well. risingtidepartners.substack.com

  1. How SDSU Became a Startup Connector

    10H AGO

    How SDSU Became a Startup Connector

    In this episode of Tacos & Tech, Neal Bloom sits down with Cathy Pucher, Executive Director of Entrepreneurship Initiatives at San Diego State University, to trace the roots and the future of San Diego’s startup and early-stage investing ecosystem. From Cathy’s early career in semiconductor sales at Texas Instruments and front-row seat to Qualcomm’s rise, to founding the EvoNexus startup incubator and helping SDSU become a central connector for founders and investors, this conversation is a masterclass in ecosystem-building. Together, Neal and Cathy unpack how San Diego’s culture differs from Silicon Valley, why experiential learning matters for both founders and investors, and how the San Diego Angel Conference (SDAC) has become a critical on-ramp for new angel investors while putting meaningful capital to work in local startups. The episode also marks the kick off of SDAC Fund VIII, with applications now live for both startups and aspiring angels. Key Topics Covered * Cathy’s journey from electrical engineering at UCSD to global semiconductor sales at Texas Instruments * Early San Diego wireless startups and Qualcomm’s role in shaping the ecosystem * Why San Diego’s startup culture feels fundamentally different from Silicon Valley * The leap from big tech to startup leadership at PacketVideo * Creating EvoNexus as a free incubator for serial entrepreneurs * How SDSU transitioned from an “island” to an active startup ecosystem connector * Student-led startups and the power of founder–market fit * Why SDSU focuses on connecting founders to existing accelerators instead of duplicating them * The evolution of local angel investing in San Diego * How the San Diego Angel Conference trains and activates new angel investors * What makes SDAC a “learn by doing” model for early-stage investing * The structure, timeline, and goals of SDAC Fund VIII * Why local capital pipelines matter for long-term ecosystem health * How students are now being embedded directly into the angel investing process San Diego Angel Conference (SDAC) Highlights * Applications for startups are now open * Startups from across the U.S. are eligible (with in-person requirements later in the process) * Investor Knowledge & Network Event: February 10 at C3 Bank * SDSU 2026 Angel Academy: March 6 SDSU SDAC program is designed for accredited investors who want: • A structured way to learn early-stage investing • Exposure to real startups and real diligence • A peer group to learn alongside • Deeper connection to the San Diego startup ecosystem * Meetings kick off week of March 9th thru late May If you’re curious, SDSU is hosting a 2026 SDAC Information Sessions: Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 4:00 pm * Zoom link: https://SDSU.zoom.us/j/89569142579?jst=2 Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 12-1 pm * Message me for the link Links & Resources * San Diego Angel Conference * Lavin Entrepreneurship Center Connect on LinkedIn * Cathy Pucher * 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

    1h 2m
  2. This Week In San Diego Tech News

    JAN 26

    This Week In San Diego Tech News

    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! 1/24/2026 * Blueprint Equity new fund 3 $333M * Seasats wins $24 million DoD award * Trust & Will new product * New hires at mPower and funding? Curated Events List – For full list – check The Social Coyote * 2026 VC Outlook - Jan. 29 * Farmers Open - Jan 29 - Feb 1 * AFCEA West - Feb. 10-12 * TechCon - Feb. 12-13 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

    23 min
  3. On The Radar — Episode 5

    JAN 23

    On The Radar — Episode 5

    A short audio reflection I recorded after noticing where momentum actually comes from. It’s not from more events. It’s from proximity, repetition, and trust. 🎧 On The Radar — Episode 5 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

    2 min
  4. AI for Main Street, Not Just Big Tech

    JAN 20

    AI for Main Street, Not Just Big Tech

    In this episode of Tacos & Tech, Neal Bloom sits down with longtime friend, founder, and self-described “Maine Melon,” Jared Ruth, founder of Ripcurrent. What starts as a walk down memory lane through San Diego’s early startup ecosystem turns into a wide-ranging conversation about entrepreneurship, marketing, AI, and the human moments technology should protect - not replace. Jared shares his journey from decades in telecom and corporate innovation to building Ripcurrent, a marketing and automation agency focused on Main Street businesses. Together, Neal and Jared unpack how generative AI and no-code tools have radically lowered the barrier to building, why small businesses are both overwhelmed and empowered by tech, and how the next era of marketing isn’t about shouting louder - it’s about removing friction so humans can show up where it matters most. Key Topics Covered * Jared’s path from telecom and corporate innovation to founding Ripcurrent * Early days of San Diego’s startup ecosystem, Founder Dinners, and CTO roundtables * Building “startups inside big companies” and why that experience matters * The moment GenAI unlocked solo building and rapid experimentation * Vibe coding, no-code tools, and the rise of AI-native workflows * Why small and Main Street businesses struggle with modern marketing tech * Google Business Profiles, search, and what visibility means in an LLM-driven world * Automation as a way to remove transactional work - not human connection * Where AI agents help brands and where they can quietly destroy trust * Why trust and brand moments matter more than the underlying technology * Parallels between AI adoption and autonomous driving trust curves * Using technology to give business owners their time - and humanity - back * The optimism (and responsibility) that comes with building in the AI era Links & Resources * Ripcurrent Connect with Jared & Neal * Jared Ruth * 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

    57 min
  5. On The Radar - Episode 4

    JAN 16

    On The Radar - Episode 4

    A short audio reflection I recorded after noticing a familiar pattern while reading rock band autobiographies over the holidays. It’s not about music. It’s about how talent develops -slowly, quietly, over time. 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

    1 min
  6. This Week in San Diego Tech News

    JAN 15

    This Week in San Diego Tech News

    Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube. 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! 1/15/2026 * CES debrief * JPM happening now * Fundings & Acquisitions: * Ventyx acquired by Lily for $1.2B * Mirador Therapeutics Raises $250M Series B * ibio $26M in Private Placement Funding * BlueNalu Funding * Cubic & Palantir teaming up * Resmed gets FDA approval on AI CPAP * Air Surgical Lands $2.6M Grant Curated Events List – For full list – check The Social Coyote TechCon Austin - Feb 12-13 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

    24 min
  7. Omnitron: From Self-Driving Cars to AI Data Centers

    JAN 14

    Omnitron: From Self-Driving Cars to AI Data Centers

    In this episode of Tacos & Tech, Neal Bloom sits down with Eric Aguilar, co-founder and CEO of Omnitron Sensors, to unpack the deep tech powering the next wave of robotics, autonomous systems, and AI infrastructure. From Eric’s early days working on defense sensors and his journey through Google and Tesla, to building one of the most powerful MEMS-based micro-machines on the market, this conversation explores why physical AI is finally having its moment - and what it takes to solve real-world reliability problems at scale. Eric breaks down why LiDAR has struggled to reach mass adoption, how Omnitron rethought the problem from first principles, and why the same core technology is now attracting attention from trillion-dollar hyperscalers looking to radically reduce data center power consumption. Along the way, they dive into biomimicry, energy efficiency, manufacturing constraints, and what it really means to build a “painkiller, not a vitamin.” Key Topics Covered * Eric’s path from Navy research labs to Google, Tesla, and founding Omnitron Sensors * Why LiDAR reliability - not hype - has been the biggest blocker to autonomous systems * How MEMS-based silicon micro-machines replace failure-prone mechanical LiDAR components * The “war on LiDAR” and why cameras alone still fall short in autonomy * Omnitron’s breakthrough in building large, high-force, highly reliable MEMS mirrors * Why physical AI and robotics are converging right now * How Omnitron’s technology extends beyond automotive into AI data centers and optical switching * Saving massive amounts of energy by keeping data optical instead of electrical * The hidden challenges of scaling hardware, manufacturing, and global supply chains * Why MEMS has historically been underfunded - and why that’s changing * Biomimicry as a tool for engineering breakthroughs * Advice for engineers and operators thinking about taking the leap into startups * Why the best startups solve urgent pain, not “nice-to-have” problems * Eric’s very non-consensus taco pick (hint: it’s a legendary San Diego burger) Links & Resources * Omnitron Sensors – https://www.omnitronsensors.com Connect with Eric * Eric Aguilar on LinkedIn 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

    50 min
  8. On The Radar - Episode 3

    JAN 9

    On The Radar - Episode 3

    I’ve been noticing something lately about what happens after meetings - and what changes when the work doesn’t stall anymore. 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

    3 min
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5
out of 5
37 Ratings

About

The Tacos and Tech Podcast highlights the builders of companies, technologies, ecosystems with a local flair for our lifestyle as well. risingtidepartners.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Neal Bloom
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    173
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Neal Bloom
  • Show Website
    Tacos and Tech Podcast

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