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
ZIP Launchpad's role in San Diego's startup ecosystem
Links & Resources
San Diego Angel Conference (SDAC): https://sdangel.com
SDSU ZIP Launchpad: https://ziplaunchpad.sdsu.edu
Rising Tide Partners: https://risingtidepartners.co
