First Close Partners
Enke Bashllari, Ph.D., is a founder and managing director at Arkitekt Ventures, an early-stage venture firm focused on advancing human health, since January 2017. In addition, Enke serves as a board observer at Nanite, a biotech company specializing in polymer nanoparticles for gene delivery, and holds multiple investment roles at various health-focused companies including Parsley Health, CertifyOS, Sollis Health, Handspring Health, Cofertility, and Tia, among others. Enke is a limited partner at First Close Partners, which supports underrepresented managers in the venture capital space. Enke's academic background includes an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Ph.D. from Columbia University, complemented by a BS in Biology-Chemistry from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania.
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First Close Partners
First Close Partners backs venture funds owned by underrepresented managers (“URMs”) -- especially to help them get to a “first close.” The company invests in venture capital firms owned and operated by URMs who are people of color, women, LGBTQIA+, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, and members of other groups that have been historicallyunderrepresented, especially (but not solely) in the venture capital industry. The venture capital funds into which they have invested are predominantly located in the US, Europe, and Africa.