Protein snacks are everywhere. But can a chocolate brand built on buckwheat, high protein, and indulgence convince investors it has what it takes to break through in a brutally crowded category?

In this episode of Capital Calling, Tatyana Jones, Founder of DEFI Snacks, pitches a better-for-you snack brand built around what she calls “Delicious Energizing Fitness Indulgence.” DEFI makes chocolate-covered crispy superfood bites using sprouted buckwheat, whey, and casein protein, delivering 25g+ of protein per bag while remaining naturally gluten-free and grain-free. The company is betting that consumers no longer want to choose between indulgence and function — and that snacks can be both nutritionally dense and genuinely craveable.

Rooted in Tatyana’s Ukrainian background, where buckwheat is a staple ingredient, DEFI is positioning itself at the intersection of functional nutrition, premium snacking, and cultural authenticity. With over 15 years of experience across companies like Mars Wrigley, Johnson & Johnson, and Bausch + Lomb, Tatyana brings a deep understanding of product innovation, brand building, and consumer behavior into a category dominated by legacy players.

Across the table, investors Johnnie Yu of Listen Ventures, Christian McKenzie of Lofty Ventures, and Horace Madison of The Haven engage with the pitch as it unfolds. They assess DEFI’s differentiation in the crowded protein snack market, pricing power, consumer demand for indulgent functional foods, and whether a buckwheat-based product can scale into a venture-backed consumer brand.

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 then enters the On-Call Room for a one-on-one conversation from their perspective before final verdicts are delivered.

Produced by Coeus Collective in partnership with the NYU Stern Berkley 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.