In this episode of Tacos & Tech, Neal welcomes a longtime friend, Andy Taylor, Co-Founder and CEO of RetroRate. to talk about building a company around an idea few people even know exists: assumable loans. They dig deep into Andy’s journey from building software at Electronic Arts and Apple to leading product at Redfin, launching mortgage startup Approved, and now tackling a hidden opportunity in real estate finance: assumable loans. Andy shares his personal founder journey, lessons learned across big tech and startups, and why he's committed to building in San Diego.
Key Topics:
A walk through Andy’s product career—from EA to Apple to Redfin
Why assumable loans are the key to unlocking a stuck real estate market
The origin story behind RetroRate and solving a problem most people don’t know exists
The impact of locked-in low rates on buyer power and seller mobility
Lessons learned building, scaling, and selling a mortgage startup (Approved)
Navigating startup life post-acquisition and deciding to build again
The evolving San Diego startup landscape and why it’s a great place to build
Real talk on balancing work, life, and entrepreneurship with family in tow
Leveraging AI and design thinking in modern proptech
Links & Resources:
Connect with Andy:
LinkedIn: Andy Taylor
Connect with Neal:
LinkedIn: Neal Bloom
Twitter: @NealBloom
