Tai is this year's lead organizer of Startup Weekend San Diego, motivated by a builder’s mindset and a deep appreciation for community-driven innovation. Tai spent 9 years in mechanical engineering before pivoting into cybersecurity, and now works as a senior consulting engineer focused on network security. His diverse technical background spans mechanical design, thermal analysis, structural analysis, statistical analysis, IT infrastructure and frontend development. His Startup Weekend journey began in 2012 as a participant in Syracuse (NY) where he gained a lasting appreciation for entrepreneurial thinking. Years later, after relocating to San Diego and shifting careers, he began searching for that same energy again. When Tai asked around the local startup scene after the pandemic, the response was simple: if you want to see it happen, you’ll have to lead it. So here we are — and now, you’re part of that story. Tai is not a startup founder, but he is a builder. He has hands-on experience of building, not just ideas, but working prototypes. Thanks to his combined experience in engineering, IT, and software, he can help teams move from concept to execution quickly. And with the rise of AI and no-code/low-code tools, Tai is passionate about showing people how they can automate workflows, build apps, and test business ideas without writing a single line of code. Whether it's helping teams troubleshoot a tech stack or sketch out MVPs in a weekend, he's here to help makers of all backgrounds turn ideas into reality. Oh, and when he’s not orchestrating startups, Tai is in the local improv scene, because if you can think on your feet and make stuff up on the spot, you can survive pretty much anything. Tai also spent time volunteering with the North Park Farmers Market, local dog rescues, and the University of San Diego. Basically, he’s all about community. Startup Weekend helped shape his mindset in 2012. Now, he’s creating that opportunity for others.