Notes From The Room

October’s San Diego County Startup Mixer brought another full room to Bay Park, along with two firsts for the event: our first sponsor and our first taco truck. A small step forward, without changing the low-pressure atmosphere I want to keep building.

For our 9th San Diego Hardware Meetup, we focused on the path from an early medtech idea to something ready for real users — through mobility, industrial design, product development, and genomics.

For our February San Diego Hardware Meetup, we focused on defense tech through three very different products: exoskeleton footwear, tactical communications, and counter-drone technology.

For our 10th San Diego Hardware Meetup, we focused on the road from an early hardware idea to something that can actually scale — bringing together perspectives from product design, manufacturing, sales, and company building.

I went to Embedded World North America to see how the Anaheim show compared with the European edition. The floor was smaller and quieter than expected, but the technology and quality of exhibitors showed a lot of potential.

127 registrations, more than 80 people showed up, and it made me realize how important the low-pressure, no-pitch side of these events has become.