Tacos and Tech Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Navigating Regulation and Startup Investing Sep 11, 2025

Show notes

This week on Tacos & Tech, Neal sits down with Rose Bowlus - lawyer, founder, and angel investor - whose journey from trading floors to startup boardrooms brings a rare blend of Wall Street experience and founder empathy.

Rose shares how her legal career evolved from the capital markets and energy sectors to launching her own firm, Rose Bowlus Law, where she now advises early-stage startups and funds. They talk legal tech, Web3, fintech moats, and what founders often overlook when raising capital. Plus, Rose unpacks her growing role as an investor, how she’s empowering other lawyers through her Angels in the Law network, and what she looks for in the next generation of legal innovation.

Key Topics

* Rose’s career path from Berkeley to in-house counsel to founding her own law firm

* Legal insights for fintech, Web3, and capital markets

* How regulation shapes - and lags - innovation in financial services

* Trends in legal tech adoption and where traditional firms are falling behind

* Her philosophy of “give first” investing and building a founder-friendly syndicate

* The origin story of Angels in the Law and the rise of lawyer-investors

* Why clarity is everything when supporting (or funding) founders

* Rose’s controversial taco take: Islands, North County edition

Links & resources

* Rose Bowlus Law

* Rising Tide Partners

* Women’s Venture Summit

Connect on LinkedIn

* Connect with Rose on LinkedIn

* Connect with Neal 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

Skating Through Startups Sep 02, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Tacos & Tech Podcast, host Neal Bloom sits down with Eric Birkemeier, 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:

* ShredLights

* Meepo Electric Skateboards

* Physics Girl on YouTube

Connect with Eric & Neal

* Connect with Eric Birkemeier

* Connect with 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

The Return of a North County Builder Aug 26, 2025

Show notes

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 & ResourcesLearn more about OpacityGrab your ticket to ValioCon

Connect with Drew & NealFollow Drew on Linkedin & XFollow Neal: LinkedIn & X

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

This Week in San Diego Tech – Aug 22, 2025 Aug 22, 2025

Show notes

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 Goanna Ag

Gatsby acquired Klayvio

Curated Events List – For full list – check The Social Coyote

Defense Tech Build Day - Aug 28

Gaming Gathering Build Day - Sept 2

SD Defense at SoCal Deep Tech - Sept 16

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

Investing in the Freedom Stack with Larsen Jensen of Harpoon Ventures Aug 19, 2025

Show notes

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

* 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:

* Harpoon Ventures

* Black Flag

Connect with Larsen & Neal:

* Larsen Jensen on LinkedIn

* Neal Bloom on LinkedIn

* Follow @NealBloom on Twitter

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

This Week in San Diego Tech – Aug 15, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Show notes

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.

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 full list – check The Social Coyote

Defense Tech Build Day - Aug 28

Gaming Gathering Build Day - Sept 2

SD Defense at SoCal Deep Tech Week - Sept 16

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

The Jewelry Tech Revolution Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

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:

* Gemist

Connect with Madeline & Neal

* Madeline on LinkedIn

* Neal Bloom on LinkedIn

* @NealBloom on Twitter

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

This Week in San Diego Tech – Aug 8, 2025 Aug 08, 2025

Show notes

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.

August 8

Debrief Startup SD 1st Mondays event at KILN Rancho Bernardo

AI products:

Fundings:

* 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 Build Day - Aug 28

Gaming Build Day - Sept 2

SD Defense at SoCal Deep Tech - Sept 16

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

Burbank Startup Pitch Fest 2025 Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

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 families build mindful relationships with tech

* Aspivix (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.

Join us at the next Burbank Tech Talks on October 14 during #LATechWeek.

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

Friendraising: SDSU Angel Academy Conference Keynote by Cody Barbo Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

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

* Trust & Will

* Rising Tide Partners

* San Diego Angel Conference

Connect with Cody

* Cody Barbo on LinkedIn

Connect with Neal

* Neal Bloom 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

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