The SoCal Edge

What happens when two Marine Corps veterans and USC alumni decide to bring AI into one of Washington, D.C.'s most traditional, relationship-driven industries? In this episode of The SoCal Edge , host Art Dicker speaks with Jordan Clayton and Neo Martinez, co-founders of Capiro, an AI-native operating system designed to transform how government affairs professionals work. Jordan's experienc...

In this episode of The SoCal Edge , Art Dicker sits down with Robin Park, founder and CEO of Chaparral Labs , a San Diego bioinformatics company developing software and AI tools for proteomics research. Robin has spent his career at the intersection of computer science and biology. After working at UC San Diego, he spent more than 16 years at Scripps Research, where he worked with pioneering prote...

What makes a business truly ready to sell? And why should founders start thinking about an exit years before they actually want one? In this episode of The SoCal Edge, Art Dicker sits down with Shaaya Sharifi, founder and CEO of Isle Ventures, to discuss how founders can build enterprise value and prepare their companies for a successful exit. Drawing on his experience in private equity, venture-b...

What if an ultrasound machine could become small enough to wear—and continuously monitor what’s happening inside the body? In this episode of The SoCal Edge , Art Dicker sits down with Sai Zhou, founder and CEO of CircuCare , a San Diego medtech startup developing wearable ultrasound technology. Sai traces his journey from studying materials science in China to biomedical engineering research at U...

What happens when a growing company outgrows its bookkeeper—but isn’t ready for a full-time CFO? How does having a private equity owner change how management looks at the financials? In this episode of The SoCal Edge , Art Dicker sits down with Erin Ludwig, founding partner of Blue Bird Partners , a fractional CFO firm focused on founder-owned and private-equity-backed technology companies. Erin e...

Alice Kao never planned to build a chain of climbing gyms. After starting her career in investment banking and the toyindustry, Alice discovered rock climbing while living in London during a difficult period in her life. What began as a way to find community and rebuild her confidence eventually became the inspiration for Sender One Climbing . In this episode of The SoCal Edge , Alice shares thest...

What happens when a startup grows faster than its systems can handle? Art Dicker speaks with Rob Gaudio, CEO of Gaudio Growth Partners, about helping early-stage companies bring order to financial and operational chaos. They discuss cash flow, founder bottlenecks, 90-day planning, KPI tracking, investor readiness, and when it makes sense to bring in a fractional CFO or COO. Rob also explains how t...

In this episode of The SoCal Edge , Art Dicker sits down with longtime friend and fractional CFO Arman Zand to discuss the financial realities behind startup growth, fundraising, and scaling. Drawing on nearly three decades of experience working with venture-backed startups, Arman shares the mistakes founders repeatedly make, what investors actually care about, and why storytelling remains one of...

In this episode of SoCal Edge, we sit down with technology and business transformation leaders Elisa Henry and Allen Kim to explore what founders should really be doing 18–24 months before trying to sell their company. Drawing on decades of experience in technology, AI, product management, and operational scaling, Elisa and Allen explain why many founders leave millions on the table during an acqu...

In this episode of SoCal Edge, we sit down with Adam Watson, co-founder and CEO of MeCo Diagnostics, a San Diego-based biotech startup developing the only clinically validated biomarker test designed to match breast cancer patients with anti-fibrotic therapy. Adam shares the remarkable journey from cancer biology PhD student to startup founder, explaining how his dissertation research evolved into...

In this episode of SoCal Edge , we sit down with Sunny Webb , a veteran AI product leader with more than 30 patents and deep experience across Apple, Pager Health, and healthcare AI standards, alongside Wei Li Tan , partner at Informed Ventures focused on early-stage digital health. Together, we unpack one of the biggest questions inhealthcare today: what actually happens after the AI demo ends? F...

In this episode of The SoCal Edge , Art Dicker and co-host Alessandro Rinaldi sit down with Sumeet Parekh , founder and managing partner of HP Investors , to discuss the current state of the San Diego commercial real estate market . Sumeet shares insights from his background in investment banking and private equity, including how those experiences shaped his approach to real estate investing. The...

How do top startups actually succeed—and why do most fail? In this episode, Gene Dantsker of EvoNexus breaks down the real mechanics behind startup success: from founder mindset to fundraising strategy to product-market fit. With nearly $6B in startup impact, EvoNexus offers a rare inside look at what works—and what doesn’t—in building high-growth companies. Gene shares how EvoNexus has helped lau...

In this episode of The SoCal Edge , Art Dicker and co-host Alessandro Rinaldi speak with Brian Lamb , founder and CEO of Promissory , a company helping startup founders maximize the tax benefits of Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) through specialized trusts. Brian previously co-founded Trust & Will , one of the leading venture-backed estate planning platforms, and after partiallyexiting t...

In this episode of The SoCal Edge , Art Dicker and co-host Alessandro Rinaldi sit down with Bill Lennon , founder and CEO of Ollie AI , to explore how artificial intelligence is beginning to solve one of the most overlooked problems in modern life — the “mental load” of running a household . Bill shares his journey from studying neural networks under AI pioneer Robert Hecht-Nielsen , to founding m...

Strategic Exits and Venture Success in Deep-Tech: Insights from Jack Bell Welcome to another insightful episode of the SoCal Edge podcast. In this episode, hosted by Art Dicker, we explore the intricate world of strategic investment in the deep tech sector. Our guest, Jack Bell, founder and managing director of Pantek Partners, takes us on a journey through the complexities of international invest...

Revolutionizing DNA Sequencing: Insights from SWAN Genomics Welcome to our latest exploration into the world of pioneering companies at the forefront of technology. Today, we're delving into the innovative endeavors of SWAN Genomics, a company making significant strides in the field of DNA sequencing. Join us as we explore how SWAN Genomics is transforming the genomics industry, featuring insights...

AI Made Simple with Rajeev Kapur In this episode of the SoCal Edge, we are thrilled to host Rajeev Kapur, President and CEO of 1105 Media, and acclaimed author of "AI Made Simple" and "Prompting Made Simple." Together, we explore the transformative power of AI and its implications across various sectors. Introducing Rajeev Kapur   Connect with Rajeev 1105 Media Rajeev Kapur stands at the forefront...

Building Bridges: Alessandro Rinaldi on Launch Factory's Role in San Diego's Startup Ecosystem In today’s episode of the SoCal Edge Podcast we’re joined by Alessandro Rinaldi, Partner at Launch Factory. Our host, Art Dicker, delves into the journey and expertise of Alessandro, who has been instrumental in fostering startups through a unique blend of innovation and strategic guidance since 2019. Di...

Nick Edwards: From Neuroscience to AI Innovation On today’s episode of the SoCal Edge podcast, we’re joined by Nick Edwards, the dynamic CEO and founder of Potato, to explore his intriguing journey from a PhD candidate in neuroscience to an innovative entrepreneur in San Diego. This insightful conversation sheds light on Edwards' career trajectory, his passion for scientific discovery, and the inn...

Community, Innovation, and Advocacy: Betsy Brennan's Journey Welcome to the SoCal Edge Podcast! In this episode, we delve into the vibrant world of urban development with a special focus on Downtown San Diego. Today, we have the pleasure of talking with Betsy Brennan, the President, and CEO of the Downtown San Diego Partnership. Betsy offers an in-depth look at her organization's efforts to enhanc...

Venture Wisdom: Daniel Ziegler's Insights on Startups and Innovation Welcome to another enriching episode of the SoCal Edge podcast, where we bring you insights from leading experts bridging cutting-edge innovations and business strategies. In this episode, our host, Art Dicker, is joined by the exceptional Daniel Ziegler, a seasoned professional in securities, operations, and strategic planning w...

Embracing Humility and Service: Dr. Hector Cabrera's Inspiring Path In a riveting episode of the SoCal Edge podcast, host Art Dicker sits down with Dr. Hector Cabrera, a remarkable individual whose journey from an immigrant upbringing to becoming a cybersecurity partner at Cisco tells a story of resilience, leadership, and authenticity. Throughout the engaging conversation, Dr. Cabrera shares pers...

From Toronto to SoCal: Delilah Panio’s Perspective on Market Opportunities Welcome to a detailed exploration of the capital markets through the lens of Delilah Panio, Vice President at TMX Group, the owner of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange. Delilah brings her extensive expertise to the SoCal Edge Podcast, where she shares insights on unique exit opportunities for startups...

Powering Profits with Gareth Evans: The Future of Energy Deployment Welcome to the SoCal Edge Podcast, where we dive deep into the business world with inspiring leaders and changemakers of Southern California. Today, we are thrilled to welcome Gareth Evans, CEO of VECKTA—a pioneering enterprise tech platform revolutionizing the energy sector by facilitating on-site energy deployment at scale. Intr...