Episodios

  • CaroRhythm: Can This Wearable Detect a Stroke Before It Happens?
    Feb 26 2026
    Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States suffers a stroke. But what if stroke risk could be continuously monitored, not just diagnosed after the fact? In this episode of Capital Calling, Lokesh Sharma, Founder and CEO of CaroRhythm, pitches a non-invasive wearable platform designed to transform how stroke risk and carotid artery health are monitored outside the hospital. CaroRhythm is building a continuous vascular monitoring system focused on the carotid artery — the critical blood vessel supplying the brain — using advanced sensor technology and machine learning-driven analytics to detect changes in blood flow and stroke risk in real time. Unlike traditional episodic imaging methods such as ultrasound or CT scans, CaroRhythm’s approach aims to provide longitudinal data, enabling clinicians to track trends, identify early warning signs, and intervene before catastrophic events occur. The company is positioned at the intersection of medical devices, digital health, AI diagnostics, and preventative care, targeting secondary stroke prevention and high-risk cardiovascular patients who currently lack continuous outpatient monitoring solutions. Across the table, investors René Bastón of Covenant Venture Capital, Sabriya Stukes of SOSV, and Doug Hayes of Junto Health and Hubble engage with the pitch as it unfolds. They probe the regulatory pathway, reimbursement strategy, clinical validation plan, competitive landscape in stroke monitoring and cardiovascular wearables, and whether CaroRhythm can build a defensible, FDA-cleared medical device company in a space dominated by legacy diagnostics. 0:00 Introduction 0:39 Investor Introductions 1:51 Founder Pitch 3:40 Live Demo 5:11 Investor Q&A 19:14 Investor Debrief 25:53 On-Call Room 33:11 Investor Verdict 39:22 Closing Capital Calling provides a behind-the-scenes look at a real pitch from both sides of the table. Each episode begins with a live founder pitch and product demo, followed by direct investor questioning. After the pitch, investors enter into a private debrief conversation where they debate the opportunity openly: without the founder present. The founder, on the other hand, enters the On-Call Room to discuss the pitch one-on-one from their perspective. Then, the investors give their verdicts, where feedback is delivered candidly and decisions are made. Produced by Coeus Collective in partnership with the NYU Stern Berkeley Center for Entrepreneurship, Capital Calling offers founders, operators, students, and investors an unfiltered look at how early-stage investment decisions actually happen, and what separates compelling ideas from fundable companies. Founders pitch live. Investors decide. 🔔 Subscribe to Coeus Collective on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoeusCollective 📰 Early Access newsletter: https://coeuscollective.beehiiv.com/ 📲 Follow us everywhere: @CoeusCollective Special thanks to the NYU Stern School of Business Berkeley Center for Entrepreneurship. Follow @nyuinnovation for updates on their programs. Hosted by Antonio Di Meglio and Leon Li DISCLAIMER: The Capital Calling podcast, and any related media properties produced by Coeus Collective, are provided solely for informational and educational purposes. Nothing presented in this episode should be construed as an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, investments, or financial products. Coeus Collective does not provide investment advice, and all opinions expressed are those of the hosts or guests at the time of recording.
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    34 m
  • Rift: The GPS-Free Positioning Platform Pitching the Future of Spatial Intelligence
    Feb 19 2026
    Algorithms and location systems power virtually every smart device on the planet. But can a next-generation positioning platform built without cameras or GPS convince investors it’s the future of spatial computing? In this episode of Capital Calling, Karolina Kaylani (Fedorowicz), Founder and CEO of RIFT Spatial Technologies Inc., pitches a privacy-first geolocation infrastructure that delivers high-precision 3D positioning without relying on GPS, cameras, or external hardware. RIFT leverages machine learning and multi-sensor fusion to enable precise indoor and outdoor positioning in complex, GPS-challenged environments; from industrial facilities and autonomous machines to logistics operations and mobility systems, with privacy and security at its core. Across the table, investors Zac Geinzer of Commonweal Ventures, Ella Molony Cook of DFX, and Max Rivera of GHOST Angels engage with Karolina’s pitch as it unfolds. They examine the technology’s positioning in the location stack, product-market fit across robotics and mobility, go-to-market strategy, monetization potential, and whether a GPS-independent approach to spatial intelligence can scale into a defensible venture-backed platform. Capital Calling provides a behind-the-scenes look at a real pitch from both sides of the table. Each episode begins with a live founder pitch and product demo, followed by direct investor questioning. After the pitch, investors enter into a private debrief conversation where they debate the opportunity openly: without the founder present. The founder, on the other hand, enters the On-Call Room to discuss the pitch one-on-one from their perspective. Then, the investors give their verdicts, where feedback is delivered candidly and decisions are made. Produced by Coeus Collective in partnership with the NYU Stern Berkeley Center for Entrepreneurship, Capital Calling offers founders, operators, students, and investors an unfiltered look at how early-stage investment decisions actually happen, and what separates compelling ideas from fundable companies. Founders pitch live. Investors decide. 🔔 Subscribe to Coeus Collective on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoeusCollective 📰 Early Access newsletter: https://coeuscollective.beehiiv.com/ 📲 Follow us everywhere: @CoeusCollective Special thanks to the NYU Stern School of Business Berkeley Center for Entrepreneurship. Follow @nyuinnovation for updates on their programs. Hosted by Antonio Di Meglio and Leon Li DISCLAIMER: The Capital Calling podcast, and any related media properties produced by Coeus Collective, are provided solely for informational and educational purposes. Nothing presented in this episode should be construed as an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, investments, or financial products. Coeus Collective does not provide investment advice, and all opinions expressed are those of the hosts or guests at the time of recording.
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    35 m
  • Athlitix: Can Data Become the Backbone of College Sports?
    Feb 12 2026
    College athletics is becoming a data-driven business. But can a platform built to help teams make smarter decisions convince investors it belongs at the center of the sports ecosystem? In this episode of Capital Calling, Sachin Dasari, Founder and CEO of Athlitix, pitches a company building modern analytics and performance infrastructure for collegiate athletic programs. Athlitix provides athletic departments with data-driven tools to better evaluate athletes, optimize training, and improve decision-making across recruitment, development, and program strategy in an increasingly competitive and commercialized landscape. Across the table, investors Jennifer Wolf of Initialized Capital, Jeremy Kagan of Textbook Ventures, and Neel Murthy of Rippling engage with the pitch as it unfolds. They assess the size of the college sports market, customer buying behavior within athletic departments, data defensibility, and whether Athlitix can scale into foundational infrastructure for teams navigating NIL, performance optimization, and resource allocation. Capital Calling provides a behind-the-scenes look at a real pitch from both sides of the table. Each episode begins with a live founder pitch and product demo, followed by direct investor questioning. After the pitch, investors enter into a private debrief conversation where they debate the opportunity openly: without the founder present. The founder, on the other hand, enters the On-Call Room to discuss the pitch one-on-one from their perspective. Then, the investors give their verdicts, where feedback is delivered candidly and decisions are made. Produced by Coeus Collective in partnership with the NYU Stern Berkeley Center for Entrepreneurship, Capital Calling offers founders, operators, students, and investors an unfiltered look at how early-stage investment decisions actually happen, and what separates compelling ideas from fundable companies. Founders pitch live. Investors decide. 🔔 Subscribe to Coeus Collective on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoeusCollective 📰 Early Access newsletter: https://coeuscollective.beehiiv.com/ 📲 Follow us everywhere: @CoeusCollective Special thanks to the NYU Stern School of Business Berkeley Center for Entrepreneurship. Follow @nyuinnovation for updates on their programs. Hosted by Antonio Di Meglio and Leon Li DISCLAIMER: The Capital Calling podcast, and any related media properties produced by Coeus Collective, are provided solely for informational and educational purposes. Nothing presented in this episode should be construed as an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, investments, or financial products. Coeus Collective does not provide investment advice, and all opinions expressed are those of the hosts or guests at the time of recording.
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    34 m
  • Roam: Can the #1 Marketplace for International Students Scale?
    Feb 5 2026
    International students face one of the most fragmented and confusing service ecosystems in education. But can a marketplace built to support them become big enough to attract venture scale conviction? In this episode of Capital Calling, Krish Bajaj, Founder and CEO of Roam, pitches a company positioning itself as the number one marketplace for international student services. Roam helps international students navigate critical needs such as banking, insurance, SIM cards, and onboarding services, all through a single platform designed to reduce friction during one of the most complex transitions in a student’s life. Across the table, investors Michelle Kwok of Draper Associates, Michael Nogen of Overton Venture Capital, and Vansh Langer of Pioneer Fund engage with the pitch as it unfolds. They examine marketplace dynamics, international student acquisition, trust and compliance, monetization pathways, and whether controlling the international student onboarding layer can grow into a defensible venture backed platform. Capital Calling provides a behind-the-scenes look at a real pitch from both sides of the table. Each episode begins with a live founder pitch and product demo, followed by direct investor questioning. After the pitch, investors enter into a private debrief conversation where they debate the opportunity openly: without the founder present. The founder, on the other hand, enters the On-Call Room to discuss the pitch one-on-one from their perspective. Then, the investors give their verdicts, where feedback is delivered candidly and decisions are made. Produced by Coeus Collective in partnership with the NYU Stern Berkeley Center for Entrepreneurship, Capital Calling offers founders, operators, students, and investors an unfiltered look at how early-stage investment decisions actually happen, and what separates compelling ideas from fundable companies. Founders pitch live. Investors decide. 🔔 Subscribe to Coeus Collective on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoeusCollective 📰 Early Access newsletter: https://coeuscollective.beehiiv.com/ 📲 Follow us everywhere: @CoeusCollective Special thanks to the NYU Stern School of Business Berkeley Center for Entrepreneurship. Follow @nyuinnovation for updates on their programs. Hosted by Antonio Di Meglio and Leon Li DISCLAIMER: The Capital Calling podcast, and any related media properties produced by Coeus Collective, are provided solely for informational and educational purposes. Nothing presented in this episode should be construed as an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, investments, or financial products. Coeus Collective does not provide investment advice, and all opinions expressed are those of the hosts or guests at the time of recording.
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    43 m
  • Loopini: The Frozen Pizza With 50g Protein
    Jan 29 2026
    This pizza has 50 grams of protein. But is that enough to build a venture-backed brand, or just a better frozen meal? In the debut episode of Capital Calling, Damiano Messineo, Founder and CEO of Loopini, steps into the arena to pitch a frozen pizza that challenges long-held assumptions about nutrition, taste, and convenience. Loopini is a lupini bean–based frozen pizza delivering 50g of protein, 20g of fiber, and just 560 calories per pie, without sacrificing restaurant-quality flavor. Damiano argues that pizza doesn’t need to be a guilty pleasure, and that protein density can meaningfully reshape consumer behavior in one of the most competitive categories in food. Built on a naturally high-protein, high-fiber dough, Loopini sits at the intersection of health, convenience, and sustainability. The product also supports regenerative farming practices in Italy, using crops that require fewer inputs and significantly less water than conventional alternatives. The central question: can this level of nutritional differentiation justify a premium price point and scale into a defensible consumer brand? Across the table, investors Johnnie Yu of Listen Ventures, Christian McKenzie of Lofty Ventures, and Horace Madison of The Haven evaluate the business in real time: digging into unit economics, pricing power, consumer psychology, distribution strategy, and whether protein alone can change how people buy pizza. About the show Capital Calling takes you behind the curtain of early-stage investing. Each episode features: A live founder pitch and product demo Direct, unfiltered investor questioning A private post-pitch investor debrief (without the founder present) The founder’s candid reaction to their pitch from the On-Call Room Final verdicts: where real feedback is delivered, and real decisions are made Produced by Coeus Collective in partnership with the NYU Stern Berkeley Center for Entrepreneurship, Capital Calling offers founders, operators, students, and investors an unfiltered look at how early-stage investment decisions actually happen, and what separates compelling ideas from fundable companies. Founders pitch live. Investors decide. 🔔 Subscribe to Coeus Collective on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoeusCollective 📰 Early Access newsletter: https://coeuscollective.beehiiv.com/ 📲 Follow us everywhere: @CoeusCollective Special thanks to the NYU Stern School of Business Berkeley Center for Entrepreneurship. Follow @nyuinnovation for updates on their programs. Hosted by Antonio Di Meglio and Leon Li DISCLAIMER: The Capital Calling podcast, and any related media properties produced by Coeus Collective, are provided solely for informational and educational purposes. Nothing presented in this episode should be construed as an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, investments, or financial products. Coeus Collective does not provide investment advice, and all opinions expressed are those of the hosts or guests at the time of recording.
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    42 m