This week on the Tacos & Tech Podcast, we dive into San Diego’s growing Bluetech ecosystem with Vanessa Scott, Director of Industry Relations, Innovation, and the StartBlue Accelerator at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UCSD. Vanessa shares how StartBlue helps launch and scale ocean-focused startups - from wave-powered sensor platforms to coral reef restoration biotech - and why San Diego is uniquely positioned to lead the future of the blue economy.
From mentoring early-stage companies to securing a $14M NOAA grant, Vanessa is building the bridge between science, startups, and global sustainability right here on the California coast.
Key Topics
What is Bluetech? And why it goes far beyond just the ocean
The origin and evolution of the StartBlue Accelerator
Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s century-long legacy of innovation
Why Bluetech needs business minds and scientists
How San Diego became a hub for ocean startups and blue data infrastructure
The importance of community, collaboration, and programs like I-Corps
What to expect at Blue Tech Month, including in-water demos and tall ship meetups
Startup highlights: Hybrid Reef, Del Mar Oceanographic, Ocean Motion, Kaipono, and more
