Kristin King, Angel Investor and Yale University Entrepreneur-In-Residence Spotlighted

A Yale University Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) since 2018, Kristin King is currently Vice President, Corporate Development & Strategy at Defibtech, a Nihon Kohden company based in Guilford.

With over 20 years’ experience across a variety of commercial and technical functions as well as responsibilities for strategic business development, Kristin has worked on healthcare solutions within both startup ventures as well as within multinational companies.   She is an active angel investor with Boston Harbor Angels and serves on the Executive Board of Boston Entrepreneurs’ Network.

Her category expertise includes advanced wound care, infectious disease, diabetes, cardiovascular and other surgical specialties across EMS, Hospital, Alternate Site and Consumer channels.

As part of her role as an EIR, Kristen said: "I am thrilled to work with Yale helping brilliant entrepreneurs transform scientific discoveries into early-stage ventures and guide business strategies for a successful bridge into the investment, startup and corporate ecosystem.  It's exciting and personally rewarding to participate in Yale's EIR program sharing expertise as well as networks to empower teams along their journey commercializing innovation.

James Boyle, who leads the EIR program commented, “We are extremely fortunate to have an EIR with as broad a range of healthcare experience as Kristen’s. What’s equally remarkable is her ability to listen to faculty and student innovators, understand their vision, and identify the missing pieces of the product story that need to be more developed. Her experience in both Defibtech as well as her being a member of Boston Harbor Angels has made her an invaluable resource to the Yale community”.

For questions regarding Yale Venture's EIR program, please contact Dr. Boyle, Executive Director, Faculty Entrepreneurship & Venture Development.

Currently, the Yale Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs) roster includes 65 industry professionals that specialize in various areas. Each has deep operational experience and has gone through the process of turning new technologies to new businesses. These experts act as an early “sounding board” for Yale innovators contemplating a new startup. In a logical, stepwise fashion, EIRs help frame both the risks and the benefits of starting a new company, asking relevant questions about everything from the science, to the business, to the market and helping faculty chart a successful path forward. Each EIR has decades of practical private-sector experience in building their own companies and valuable connections with industry and investor communities.