Dan Cataldi is the founder and CEO of Groov, a footwear technology company based in New York City. Groov develops personalized insoles using data captured through an at-home scan. Its ShapeSense technology captures more than 30,000 data points to create a surface based on how an individual foot functions. The personalized insole can be used across different types of footwear, including sneakers, cleats, ski boots, and dress shoes. Groov focuses on improving comfort, stability, and control by personalizing the surface between the foot and the shoe.
Dan Cataldi is the founder and CEO of Groov, a footwear technology company based in New York City. Groov develops personalized insoles using data about how an individual foot functions rather than relying only on standard shoe sizing.
Cataldi grew up on Long Island, New York, in the same home where his mother was raised. His father sold orthotics. This gave Cataldi early exposure to orthotics, footwear, and the ways people addressed foot discomfort.
Cataldi attended Brown University, where he studied theoretical mathematics and poetry. He also competed as an NCAA Division I wrestler. After Brown, he spent several years working with the founder of a Fortune 100 company.
Cataldi later enrolled in the MBA program at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The concept for Groov began in Serguei Netessine’s Innovation class at Wharton. Groov later won the Penn Launch Award and secured Alabama Football as a pilot customer. Cataldi left the MBA program before graduating to build Groov full-time.
Groov focuses on surface personalization. Its ShapeSense technology captures more than 30,000 data points through an at-home scan. The data is used to create a personalized insole based on how an individual foot functions.
The Groov system is designed for use across multiple types of footwear. The personalized surface can be placed inside sneakers, cleats, ski boots, dress shoes, and other footwear. Rather than requiring the body to adapt to a standard interior surface, Groov adjusts the surface inside the shoe to the individual.
Groov has expanded from its early pilot with Alabama Football into professional sports. Super Bowl MVP Von Miller became an investor and brand ambassador after using the product. Groov later became an official product partner of the NFL Players Association.
Cataldi’s experience as an NCAA Division I wrestler informs his interest in movement, balance, and repeated physical stress. His work at Groov combines his background in mathematics, athletics, and footwear with an approach centered on individual data.
Outside Groov, Cataldi has worked as a line cook and playwright. His interests include surfing, music, stand-up comedy, ancient history, human psychology, horseback riding, and building things by hand.
Cataldi approaches footwear as an interface between the body and the ground. Through Groov, he is developing technology designed to personalize that interface for each individual rather than relying solely on conventional footwear categories and standard sizing.
Dan Cataldi talks about something people deal with every day but rarely question. Shoes. Not in a surface-level way, but in a way that makes people stop mid-conversation and go, “wait… that actually makes sense.” The shift happens quickly. What starts as a simple topic turns into something bigger, and that is what keeps audiences engaged.
Key Talking Points:
Why the current shoe sizing system is outdated — He explains how sizing was built around manufacturing efficiency, not individual fit, which is why so many people fall outside what “standard” can actually support.
What surface personalization really means — He breaks down how the surface inside the shoe matters more than people think, and how adjusting that surface changes comfort and performance.
How poor shoe fit affects the body over time — He connects everyday discomfort to bigger issues like instability, fatigue, and long-term strain that often go unnoticed until later.
Why people adjust to their shoes instead of the other way around — He highlights how common habits like breaking in shoes or changing the way you walk have become normalized, even though they should not be.
How biometric data is changing footwear — He explains how data can capture the way each foot actually functions, allowing for a more accurate and personal fit inside any shoe.
The role of fit in performance and injury prevention — He shares how better alignment and support can improve movement and reduce the risk of injury, especially for athletes and active individuals.
What the future of footwear looks like — He paints a clear picture of where the industry is heading, where personalization becomes the baseline instead of an upgrade.
Why Groov is trusted by professionals — He touches on how athletes and medical experts rely on more precise solutions, which is why they are early adopters of this approach.
Conversations with Dan usually start with something familiar and end somewhere people did not expect. That shift is what makes it interesting.
“Dan Cataldi is the founder and CEO of Groov, a footwear technology company based in New York City. Groov uses ShapeSense technology and more than 30,000 data points from an at-home scan to create personalized insoles. Dan studied theoretical mathematics and poetry at Brown University, where he competed as an NCAA Division I wrestler. He later attended The Wharton School, where Groov originated in Serguei Netessine’s Innovation class. After winning the Penn Launch Award and securing Alabama Football as a pilot customer, Dan left his MBA program to build Groov full-time. Groov is an official product partner of the NFL Players Association, and Super Bowl MVP Von Miller is an investor and brand ambassador.”
