Sleep Is the Last Unprotected Hour

Neal sits down with co-founders John Sjolund (CEO) and Jon Brilliant(CFO) of Luna Diabetes, two serial diabetes tech founders building what they call “sleep only automation” - the world’s smallest patch pump designed to automate insulin delivery while you sleep. With over 1700 nights of real-world wear and a pivotal study on the horizon, Jon and John make the case that nighttime is where the biggest gains in diabetes management are hiding - and almost no one is solving for it. Neal shares a personal connection through his father’s decades-long journey with Type 1, and the conversation closes with taco picks spanning a hidden Sorrento Valley gem and an upscale Palo Alto staple.Key Topics* Why 80%+ of glucose-lowering automation benefit happens at night* The founding story: from a Hannah Montana watch to the world’s smallest patch pump* Sleep disruption as the #1 reported issue among people with diabetes* Building trust through consistency in an intimate use case* Capital efficiency in medtech: $40M to market vs. the $200M industry average* The disconnect between what clinicians prioritize and what patients actually need* Consumerizing medical devices - why diabetes tech still feels like a Game Boy* WellDoc, Bigfoot Biomedical, and the lineage of connected insulin deliveryLinks & Resources* Luna Diabetes: lunadiabetes.com* WellDoc: welldoc.com* Bigfoot Biomedical: bigfootbiomedical.com* The Craft Taco (Sorrento Valley, San Diego)* Reposado (Downtown Palo Alto)Connect on LinkedIn* Neal Bloom* Jon Brilliant* John Sjolund This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit risingtidepartners.substack.com/subscribe