Stepful announced a $55 million Series C funding round led by Oak HC/FT, with participation from Foresite Capital, Hearst Ventures, the Citi Impact Fund, and existing investors including SemperVirens, Y Combinator, Intermountain Health, and the ECMC Education Impact Fund. The new funding will support the expansion of the company’s AI-powered healthcare training platform and the launch of additional degree programs.
Founded by Carl Madi, Tressia Hobeika, and Edoardo Serra, Stepful provides healthcare workforce training through partnerships with hospitals and health systems. The company said it has graduated more than 32,000 practice-ready healthcare workers since its inception and currently serves more than 35 healthcare systems, including Mount Sinai, Ochsner, and Providence.
Stepful has developed a vertically integrated school-as-a-service platform designed to address workforce shortages and reduce dependence on contract staffing. The company replaces traditional manual processes with an AI-enabled education and workforce planning system that supports instruction, simulation, assessment, and talent development. Through employer-sponsored, debt-free pathways, students can pursue healthcare careers without leaving the workforce or taking on significant debt.
The company plans to use the new capital to deepen relationships with health systems, enhance its artificial intelligence capabilities, and introduce advanced degree programs in nursing, respiratory therapy, imaging, and other healthcare disciplines. Oak HC/FT said the investment reflects its confidence in Stepful’s platform and leadership as the company seeks to establish itself as a leader in healthcare talent infrastructure.
KEY QUOTES:
“Stepful is not just a training platform, we are the foundational infrastructure for the future of the healthcare workforce. This capital allows us to expand our partnerships with hospitals and health systems, launch advanced degree programs in nursing, respiratory therapy, and imaging, and accelerate our AI capabilities.”
Carl Madi, CEO and Co-Founder, Stepful
“Stepful is the only company we have seen that combines online education with a sophisticated AI engine to solve the talent supply problem at scale. This team has sustained an extraordinary pace of growth, with 35+ major healthcare system clients, including Mount Sinai, Ochsner, and Providence. Our continued investment reflects our conviction in both the leadership and the platform they’ve built.”
Vig Chandramouli, Partner, Oak HC/FT
