Neal Bloom

Backing exceptional founders who change our world
GP @RisingTidePtr

[Neal Bloom @NealBloom]

Whoa! I'm back from the dead! After being hacked, then apparently account getting deleted, I'm back!
What'd I miss?

[Neal Bloom @NealBloom]

A year ago, I sat in the audience.

This year, I stood on stage as emcee.

135 startup applications became 6 finalists and ultimately 3 companies backed.

I wrote about what most people never see between a startup application and an investment decision.

🔗 in bio

[Neal Bloom @NealBloom]

https://t.co/xRy2aXcXbg

[Neal Bloom @NealBloom]

Link to 10 lessons I shared with students https://t.co/MiMms58Sak

[Neal Bloom @NealBloom]

Returned to @UCSanDiego @RadySchool this week to speak with students about entrepreneurship, venture capital & career building.

Big takeaway:

Build real skills.
Build real relationships.
Build things that matter.
& as fellow UCSD alum @msuster says: turn dots into lines.

[Ben Haldeman @ben_haldeman]

Excited to be on this live podcast on Thursday with @balerionspace. Join in!

📅 Date: 05.14.26
🕒 Time: 1 PM EST
🔗 Register here:
https://t.co/zY9qCgCvMB

[Firestorm @Firestorm_Labs]

Firestorm FPV BUILD CONTEST at #SOFWeek

Competitors will assemble flyable Firestorm FPV drones (Squalls) using xCell printed parts. The fastest builder wins a prize and eternal glory.

220 S Franklin St. just outside the Tampa Convention Center.

Tues 5/19 2pm – 4pm
Wed 5/20 10am – 12pm and 2pm – 4pm
Thurs 5/21 10am – 12pm

Think you can win?

Sign up here: https://t.co/bhH3DOuIkX

Stay tuned for a livestream!

[Neal Bloom @NealBloom]

On May 29, investors will decide which companies receive funding. You can join in person too.

Read the behind-the-scenes look at how angel investors evaluate startups at link in bio

[Neal Bloom @NealBloom]

The SDSU 2026 San Diego Angel Conference has selected its Final 6 startups.

Now the real work begins: customer calls, founder meetings, diligence memos, and investment debates.

Finalists:
@Cytodyme
@PolyVascular
Sesh
Shezza
Vayim
My Village Innovations

[Neal Bloom @NealBloom]

@fortworthchris @jamesbeshara So refreshing to hear James say this. Most investors don't get it but that's the empathy of a founder/operator-turned-investor 💪

[Chris Powers @fortworthchris]

I keep coming back to something @jamesbeshara said about angel investing.

The bar to become a founder's favorite investor is much lower than people think. James has invested across 150+ companies and reviews around 1,700 deals a year. His take: most investors show up like they're auditing a 10-K. For the founder, it's the 50th non-encouraging conversation of their day.

In this clip from this week's episode, James on why a dose of encouragement is the difference between a founder quitting and not quitting.

[Firestorm @Firestorm_Labs]

San Diego is the hardtech hub nobody talks about.

$10.1 billion in collective funding, top-tier talent, and hardware powerhouses solving critical problems.

Firestorm is building the CONOPS and manufacturing infrastructure to bring the factory to the frontlines because the next conflict will be won in the supply chain.

Thank you @RisingTidePtr and @NealBloom for recognizing Firestorm on the 2026 SD Hardtech 50 list alongside companies across defense & autonomy, energy, medtech, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, agtech, and more.

#SDHardtech50

Read about it: https://t.co/oMDMdjLmgb

[Ben Haldeman @ben_haldeman]

LifeShip named to San Diego's Hardtech 50 🚀
Building permanent archives designed to outlast civilizations. Space monuments for cosmic timescales.

Thanks @RisingTidePtr & @NealBloom for hosting!
https://t.co/STVUVlYPAE

[Luke Barbara @LukeBarbara]

Stellar way to start the day at First Friday Founders Hike 🥾by @NealBloom of Rising Tide Partners 🌊 San Diego founders and co-creators of the entrepreneurial ecosystem show up at 6:30am to connect, share experiences, and find ways to support each other. We all rise together! 🚀

[Firestorm @Firestorm_Labs]

Firestorm is proud to announce an $82M Series B raise, led by @WashingHarbour.

This funding will support our transition to scaled production and expanded fielding across operational theaters for the @DeptofWar.

Press release:
https://t.co/EayqUIyGH6

[Y Combinator @ycombinator]

AI has stopped being a feature and started being the foundation.

We're excited about a new wave of startups rebuilding software, services, and silicon— and pushing AI into the physical world.

https://t.co/QCIz6DnQnN

[Neal Bloom @NealBloom]

Read the full signal here
https://t.co/ws6mcVSerA

[Neal Bloom @NealBloom]

Fresh off a panel at TEVCON on what VCs are actually funding in defense tech.

Wrote up the key takeaways below 👇

[Luke Barbara @LukeBarbara]

Shoutout to @NealBloom of @RisingTidePtr for his First Friday Founders Hike which is stellar and ➡️ led me to discover @HusseinYahfoufi's @eventshiphq platform (and his monthly Hussein's North County SD Startup Mixer) whose weekly 1:1 "mystery match" feature connected me with...

[Fred Grier @fredmgrier]

Great time hanging w/

Bobby Ocampo, Founder and Managing Partner at Blueprint Equity on Friday.

Recently raised $333M fund III backing B2B software startups.

Highly recommend checking out a @SDGullsAHL game.

6-3 win over @Condors

Was a great time!