This week on the Tacos & Tech Podcast, Neal sits down with Mike Sims, Marine Raider turned venture builder, to talk about how his experience across the military, VC, and global battlefields shaped his mission with Imperium, a trusted marketplace for critical goods and the industrial base.
They explore how modern warfare is redefining innovation cycles, why our national supply chain needs a rethink, and how San Diego is quietly becoming the epicenter of U.S. defense tech.
Key Topics Covered:
* Mike’s journey from blue-collar trade school to Marine Corps Special Operations
* What most people misunderstand about military tech adoption and procurement
* How frontline innovation - like in Ukraine - reveals deeper supply chain insights
* Why the defense supply base is aging, fragmented, and missing credit infrastructure
* The role of marketplaces and automation in rebuilding America’s industrial edge
* How Imperium is working to reduce friction and increase trust between buyers and suppliers
* Why we need more engineers at the front lines, not just HQ
* San Diego’s unique strengths: hard tech talent, military end-users, and lifestyle advantage
* The difference between building tech for persistent problems vs. fleeting missions
* Thoughts on labor, robots, AI, and the human cost of “re-industrialization”
* What’s next for the defense tech ecosystem and how founders, veterans, and investors can plug in
Links & Resources:
* Learn more about Imperium
* Read more about Lux Capital
Connect with the Guest:
* Mike Sims: LinkedIn
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