CaroRhythm: Can This Wearable Detect a Stroke Before It Happens?

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.