Most flour today is milled for shelf life, not flavor or nutrition. Cairnspring Mills set out to flip that script. Co-founder & CEO Kevin Morse explains how the company created a premium craft flour category by contracting regeneratively grown, higher-margin grains directly from farmers and stone-milling to retain flavor and nutrients, winning over top chefs and bakeries nationwide. We cover the growth story ($5.1M → $6.4M → pacing $7.9M), why demand is pulling them to expand capacity, and the plan to build a dramatically larger mill in Pendleton, OR (with the Umatilla Tribe) as part of a future network of regional mills. Kevin breaks down how “regional at scale” works (quality, resilience, and local grain identity), the sales playbook (foodservice-led; DTC and retail ramp), and opportunities in co-branded “Milled by Cairnspring” products. If you care about better bread—and better agricultural economics—this is a blueprint for rebuilding a staple industry.

Highlights include…

• Why industrial roller milling strips flavor & nutrition—and how stone milling restores both
   
• Direct farmer contracts, regenerative practices, and paying for milling/baking quality (not just protein)
   
• Growth: $5.1M (2023) → $6.4M (2024) → ~$7.9M (2025E)
   
• Capacity expansion: Pendleton, OR mill (with Umatilla Tribe) targeting ~110M lbs/yr
   
• Long-term vision: distributed network of regional mills (CapEx ≈ $40M per mill + granary)
   
• Go-to-market: foodservice first (~80%), plus DTC, retail, and co-brand opportunities
   
• Influencer flywheel: chef/baker adoption (e.g., Bianco, Tartine) → organic demand

Founded in 2013, Crowd Street helped popularize online access to commercial real estate. Now CEO John Imbriglia is steering a 2.0 strategy: an institutional-grade private markets platform spanning private equity, private credit, venture capital, and CRE—with lower minimums, improved IRA flows, and heavy investment in education, diligence, and UX. John details Crowd Street’s scale to date (~300K members, ~30K investors, ~$4.5B raised in CRE), the “supply–demand–loyalty” framework driving the rebuild, a new omnichannel acquisition push, and partnering with Callan (advisor to >$4T AUM institutions) to help source and select managers. We cover feeder/registered fund structures (1099s, no capital calls) that bring minimums to five figures for accredited investors, the evolving role of direct CRE deals, and how better IRA integrations reduce friction. If you want a practical roadmap to accessing institutional-style alternatives—from mid-market credit to diversified PE/VC—this one’s for you.

Highlights include…

• Crowd Street’s evolution: CRE pioneer → full private-markets platform
• Supply–Demand–Loyalty: the 2.0 operating model
• Why education & diligence lead the funnel (with Callan as advisor)
• Product access: feeder/registered/interval funds, 1099s, five-figure mins
• Keeping direct CRE while adding PE, credit, and VC options
• Omnichannel growth: targeted campaigns in Pittsburgh & Boston
• Better IRA experience via an integrated self-directed partner

MoviePass became a cultural phenomenon—then imploded under new ownership. Founder Stacy Spikes bought the brand out of bankruptcy for ~$140K, relaunched, and delivered profitable 2023 and 2024—now unveiling Mogul, a fantasy-sports-style game for movies that could 10x ARPU versus subscriptions. In this episode, Spikes recaps the original data behind movie subscriptions (111% lift in theater attendance; concessions tailwind), what broke during the $10-per-month era, and why MoviePass 2.0 pairs a sustainable, any-theater subscription with a knowledge-based gaming platform (salary cap, leaderboards, seasonal play). We cover unit-economics realities (why exhibitors can subsidize with F&B and MoviePass can’t), core user behavior and demographics, state-by-state fantasy rules, and the thesis that theatrical is still the #1 out-of-home entertainment globally. Investors get the scale path; founders get lessons on resurrecting a beloved brand—this time with the right business model.

Highlights include…

• The rise, fall, and return: why the $10 unlimited era failed—and what’s different now
• Data that started it all: subscription → +111% moviegoing; concessions economics
• Why Mogul (fantasy/prediction game) = higher ARPU, stickier engagement
• Subscriptions vs. exhibitors: pricing power, F&B offsets, and sustainable margins
• Core user profile & frequency patterns; seasonality
• State-by-state rules for knowledge-based contests (daily fantasy analog)
• Building a bigger ecosystem: MoviePass + Mogul

Chapters
00:00 Intro & why MoviePass still matters
00:28 The cultural phenomenon & collapse
01:20 Buying the brand back (~$140K) and relaunch
03:22 Founding logic: subscription → more attendance
04:42 What went wrong with $10 unlimited
07:28 Fraud era, bankruptcy, and reset
08:01 Profitable 2023/2024; what changed
11:22 Unit economics vs. theater F&B
12:38 Pivot to Mogul (fantasy/prediction)
14:46 Knowledge-based contests, ARPU potential
17:33 Current sub business: usage, demos, seasonality
20:46 Growth plan & ecosystem vision
22:52 Why theatrical is still king
28:37 How to learn more & invest

BabyQuip helps families travel lighter by delivering clean, vetted baby gear—like cribs, car seats, and strollers—right to your hotel or vacation rental. CEO Fran Maier (co-founder of Match.com) shares how the company hit its first profitable quarter and keeps growing through strong word of mouth and a new Vrbo partnership that puts BabyQuip in front of more travelers. The team is also expanding beyond baby gear into beach, pet, and mobility equipment under the GoQuip brand to serve seniors and people with disabilities. We dig into how the marketplace works (trusted local providers, insurance, and safety standards), why partnerships are the biggest growth lever, and where BabyQuip is headed next—including selective international expansion and deeper integrations with travel platforms.

Chapters
00:00 Why BabyQuip (and why now)
01:00 Fran’s track record & revenue trajectory
02:19 Profitability & Q3 inflection
03:33 Vrbo partnership—scope & impact
04:55 Beyond baby: beach, pet & GoQuip mobility
05:55 Growth mix: organic/direct ≈ 68%
06:45 Marketplace unit economics (take rate, churn, AOV)
08:06 International & airport/car-seat opportunities
09:12 Provider network, insurance, safety moats
10:30 Capital plan: $3M to scale partnerships & GoQuip
11:40 Big-picture TAM and long-term scale targets
13:00 Closing & how to invest

Early detection saves lives, but today’s tools are often invasive, slow, or used too late. In this episode, Breath Diagnostics CEO Ivan Lo explains how a non-invasive breath test can detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with disease—positioning breath as a first-line screen for early-stage lung cancer and potentially pneumonia and TB. We cover the science (why breath can capture near real-time biological change), sensitivity/specificity signals from 800+ patients, and a go-to-market/regulatory plan that prioritizes post-op pneumonia (shorter trials, no entrenched standard of care) before lung cancer screening. We also discuss platform economics (low-cost disposables, existing LC-MS infrastructure), trial scale and cost, and how breath could support ongoing monitoring after treatment. Investors get a clear view of timelines, risks, and upside; founders get lessons on platform positioning, capital efficiency, and sequencing indications.
 

Highlights include...

Why breath (VOCs) can surface disease signals minutes–hours after biological change

First-line screening thesis vs. liquid biopsy and CT workflows

Early data: ~94% sensitivity / 85% specificity across 800+ patients (lung cancer context)

Regulatory path: post-op pneumonia first (faster FDA route), lung cancer next

Unit economics: low-cost cartridge + existing LC-MS labs (hub-and-spoke)

Clinical design: trial scale, costs, and companion-diagnostic “cocktail” potential

Platform beyond oncology: pneumonia, TB, inflammation, RUO for pharma

Chapters
00:00 Intro & why early detection needs a rethink
00:47 What Breath Diagnostics does (the “breath bag”)
03:34 VOCs 101: why breath can be earlier than blood
06:41 First-line screen vs. confirmatory tests
08:19 Will this be ubiquitous at annual visits?
11:53 Commercialization path & funding realities
12:37 Pneumonia first: faster FDA route
14:09 Lung cancer timeline & business model
15:34 Hospital economics & pneumonia savings
18:24 Trial scale/costs; disposable chip economics
20:34 Team, funding strategy, and sequencing
22:08 Early data and a “false negative” biopsy case
24:12 TAM & eligibility (20M Americans qualify)
25:06 What success looks like (2–3 years)
27:00 Investor closing thoughts

Most older adults want to age in place, but families and caregivers can’t be there 24/7. wisdom.io uses edge computing + radar + computer vision to detect falls and anomalies without wearables—keeping data inside the home and only sending alerts. CEO Cathy Minter shares:
• Market reality & unmet needs in home care
• Tech stack, privacy, and why edge > cloud for seniors
• B2B2C go-to-market (home-care agencies, hospital discharge, 55+ communities)
• Pricing, unit economics, and pilot accuracy targets
• Samsung partnership: Wisdom on the Go (outside-home safety & gait insights)
• Competition (Sensi.AI, SafelyYou) and empathy-led design

Chapters:
00:00 Intro & the aging-in-place gap
03:23 Founder story & market stats
05:45 Product overview (edge hub, sensors)
06:04 Privacy & on-device AI
08:33 Hardware/installation Q&A
10:08 Sensor fusion & smart-home vision
11:25 GTM & channels
14:02 Pricing model
17:14 Home-care market size
18:27 Pilot design & accuracy
20:00 Competitors & differentiation
23:10 Scale strategy & Samsung
26:42 Closing & investor notes

In this episode, we catch up with Justin Giuffrida, CEO and co-founder of Citizens Coffee, to hear how the company’s Australian-style café model is performing as it scales beyond New York into Texas. The update? Citizens is thriving. After record openings in Houston, the team has now launched Austin, which became the best-performing opening in company history—hitting profitability in just six weeks and trending toward Citizens’ most profitable locations to date.

Citizens runs a high-margin breakfast & coffee model, pairing chef-driven, fresh food with third-wave coffee, best-in-class hospitality, and local community partnerships. Their stores open at roughly $500K per unit—a fraction of the cost of many national chains—and achieve a 24-month payback period, with stores averaging 21% four-wall EBITDA. The company plans to scale to 40 locations in five years, targeting $120–$150 million in revenue, with CPG (retail) launching in parallel to expand the brand’s reach and potential exit pathways.

With the brand’s strongest performance now outside NYC—specifically in Austin and Houston—Citizens is executing a scalable entry into Tier 2 markets with lower cost structures and equal (or better) unit economics.

02:14 – What’s Brewing in 2025
Justin shares current momentum and milestones—record openings in Texas

03:36 – Proving Portability Beyond NYC
How Citizens performed in Houston and Austin vs. NYC; why Texas was the bet

07:40 – The Risk of Scaling Retail
Chris on the risk of new locations; Justin on build costs ($500K), efficiency, and payback (24 months)

10:26 – Local Marketing & “Local Legends”
Citizens’ launch playbook: grassroots, partnerships, and charity-based LRM

14:01 – ICW Announcement
Chris plugs Investment Crowdfunding Week (Sept 29–Oct 2)

14:46 – Differentiation vs. Starbucks
Australian café model: chef-driven food + third-wave coffee + hospitality & frequency

19:42 – Growth Plan: 40 Locations in 5 Years
Texas expansion strategy and the path from 3 openings/year to 10/year

22:31 – Managing Debt & Investor Protection
How Citizens balances debt and equity while remaining cash-flow positive

25:16 – Why CPG (Retail) Fits the Brand
CPG strategy to extend brand trust and boost exit optionality

28:19 – Localization & Shelf Strategy
Chris on go-to-market for CPG; Justin on sequencing markets with brand equity

29:50 – Projections & Exit Comps
$120–$150M revenue target with CPG; comps like Blue Bottle & La Colombe

31:55 – Final Message to Investors
Proof of concept in 3 major markets & the 5-year plan

In this episode, we talk with Rob Creighton, founder and CEO of Windlift, a deep tech company developing airborne wind energy systems and tethered flight platforms that can both generate power and serve as elevated sensing platforms for defense and commercial applications.

Windlift’s core platform is a tethered winged UAV—a cross between a quadrotor and a high-lift airfoil—that can autonomously fly patterns to extract energy from wind, delivering power to the ground via tether. Their current small demonstrator (about 25 lbs) can supply 1–3 kW (enough for a household in windy regions), while planned systems around a 40-foot wingspan aim to produce around 75 kW—all container-portable for microgrid and remote deployments. With over $24 million in support from the U.S. Department of Defense, Windlift has built a capability that extends beyond energy: tethered, stable, high-altitude platforms for communications, radar, and maritime sensing (e.g., towed behind ships to detect piracy or drone threats at ranges of 40–50 miles).

Underlying their hardware is a software-first approach: Windlift develops its systems using autonomously directed synthetic evolution (AI-guided design optimization) and high-fidelity physics—allowing rapid iteration, mission-specific tailoring, and steep cost-down potential as systems mature.

Defense is the first go-to-market, where mobility, weight, and autonomy matter. But commercial energy applications, especially remote microgrids, islands, and areas with wind/solar complementarity, present significant medium-term opportunity. Looking ahead, Windlift believes its technology can reach cost-competitive or lower-cost wind power within 3–5 years—with the right capital and execution.

In this episode, we sit down with Jeremy McCool, founder and CEO of HEVO, a company building wireless charging systems for electric vehicles. Think of a garage-floor charging pad—pull in, align, and your car charges automatically. HEVO has been solving the physics, standards and automotive integration work for over a decade, and now stands at the front line of commercial adoption.

HEVO is underway with two major global automakers, including Stellantis (Jeep, Dodge, Fiat, Peugeot, and more), to integrate wireless charging into up to seven EV platforms beginning 2027–2028. This isn’t a small bolt-on—the company has achieved UL certification and alignment with SAE wireless charging standards, clearing essential hurdles for true automotive-grade integration.

Beyond the OEM opportunity, HEVO is partnering with Steer Tech to enable autonomous parking + wireless charging for fleet yards—a use case that eliminates manual charging attendants and enables round-the-clock operation. Wireless charging isn’t just convenient—it’s the missing piece for scaling autonomous fleets.

HEVO’s cost and efficiency discipline makes this more than a vision. The company’s target pricing for on-vehicle components aims to be competitive with plug-in equipment, while the 11 kW bidirectional home charger is priced at $1,200, enabling vehicle-to-home (V2H) power during outages. With grid-to-battery efficiency in the low-to-mid 90%, 85 kHz universality, and a 12-inch air gap tolerance, HEVO is designed for scale.

The most striking part: once an OEM launches, the curve goes from flat to 50,000+ units in year one—across multiple vehicle programs. HEVO expects to be profitable on hardware and software at volume from day one of scaling production.

In this episode, we speak with Groomit co-founders Sohel Kapadia and Lars Rissmann about building a mobile, on-demand pet grooming platform designed for convenience, quality, and scale. Unlike typical marketplace models (e.g., Rover/Wag), Groomit vets groomers, provides fully outfitted mobile vans, manages logistics/technology, and delivers a consistent standard of service—for both pet parents and groomers.

After bootstrapping for years, Groomit has achieved $7.4M in 2024 revenue (up from $5.8M in 2023), with over 150,000 pets groomed and an average rating of 4.8 stars. The company now operates in 17 states and 50+ cities, with a repeatable playbook for entering new markets and building recurring revenue, including auto-scheduling that now accounts for ~30% of bookings.

Groomit’s hybrid model—supporting independent groomers with vans, bookings, payments, and software—has unlocked earnings potential for groomers (often earning ~$117 per appointment) and a premium, convenient service for pet owners. The vans are third-party investor-owned, minimizing Groomit’s capex, and groomers operate as independent contractors who can keep vans at home for efficiency.

If you’re interested in how to scale a premium services marketplace with high operational complexity, tight quality control, and strong unit economics, this episode offers a clear blueprint.