Neal Bloom graduated with an engineering degree at the height of the recession in 2008 and went to work on NASA's Space Shuttle program while its astronauts were building the Space Station.

 Later, he co-founded Portfolium to help new grads brand themselves with existing classwork as work experience in a visual format. After incubating at EvoNexus and finishing his MBA, he then  launched Hired.com in San Diego to help import the needed skilled talent to assist local companies in growing faster. 

He has since joined the San Diego Venture Group and Startup San Diego boards to continue to foster investment & entrepreneurship education to the region. He has been an organizer of Startup Week for 4 years. In his off time, Neal is an avid trail runner.