Inaugural Investor-in-Residence Brings the Venture Capital World to the Close School
The Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship is proud to welcome Empactful Capital as its inaugural Investor-in-Residence.
Empactful Capital is a leading healthcare-focused investment firm that backs high-potential companies solving major challenges in value-based care, consumer-focused healthcare, and behavioral health. Their investment strategy blends private equity discipline with venture innovation, typically investing between $5 million and $10 million in companies positioned to scale beyond $100 million in revenue.
With support from senior leaders Eleni Kytzidis, senior analyst; Megan Snyder, vice president; and Sal De Trane, managing partner, Empactful will bring valuable, real-time insights from the venture capital landscape directly into the Close School’s classrooms and community.
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For Students: The residency provides hands-on exposure to investment strategy, deal sourcing, and portfolio management. Through office hours and direct mentorship, students will gain a clearer understanding of how companies achieve product-market fit and attract institutional capital.
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For the Classroom: Empactful’s participation enhances the Close School’s experiential learning model and will serve as a practical teaching tool for exploring company-building and early-stage investing.
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For the Investor Community: Empactful’s residency fosters deeper connections between the Close School and the broader venture and healthcare investment ecosystem. Their approach to co-investment, diligence processes and limited-partner (LP) communications provides a real-world perspective on how successful firms create value beyond capital deployment.
“Empactful is excited about the opportunity to partner with the Close School to expand access to the VC ecosystem,” says Kytzidis. “With deep ties to Philadelphia, we’re passionate about accelerating opportunity and supporting rising entrepreneurial and investment talent.”
The Close School’s partnership with Empactful Capital reinforces our commitment to preparing students for leadership at the intersection of innovation, entrepreneurship, and institutional investment.
