Virent Capital has made its first platform investment in Kanahoma, a San Diego-based higher education marketing and enrollment services company, supporting plans to build a broader full-service enrollment growth platform.
Kanahoma founder Seth Odell will continue serving as CEO and will retain a meaningful ownership position in the company.
Chip Paucek, co-founder and former CEO of education technology company 2U, has joined Kanahoma’s board as co-chairman. During his tenure at 2U, Paucek helped scale the higher education partnership platform to nearly $1 billion in annual revenue.
Kanahoma was founded in 2020 by Odell, a former higher education chief marketing officer. The company has grown to nearly 50 full-time employees and supports more than 20 colleges and universities nationwide.
Its services span enrollment strategy, brand positioning, performance marketing, creative production, web development, search engine optimization, and prospective student engagement.
Kanahoma was also named to the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies in both 2025 and 2026.
Virent plans to support investments in data analytics, artificial intelligence, technology, and additional services that connect marketing more closely with enrollment execution.
The investment represents the first platform under Virent’s create-and-build strategy, through which the firm partners with founder-led companies relatively early in their growth and adds capabilities through organic investment and complementary acquisitions.
Virent Drive, the private equity firm’s in-house digital platform, provides portfolio companies with resources in AI enablement, application development, performance marketing, automation, data analytics, and other technology areas.
Salem Investment Partners provided debt financing and co-invested in the transaction.
Garnet Partners served as exclusive financial advisor to Kanahoma, while Lippes Mathias served as legal advisor. Troutman Pepper Locke advised Virent Capital.
KEY QUOTES:
“The lines between marketing and enrollment are blurring, and our partners need more than a campaign or a channel. They need one team that understands higher education from the inside, connects every stage of the student journey, and gives them clear visibility into what’s actually driving enrollment.”
Seth Odell, Founder And CEO Of Kanahoma
“Enrollment has never mattered more to colleges and universities, and institutions need a strategic partner focused entirely on helping them reach and enroll the right students. We believe Kanahoma is that partner.”
Connor McMahan, Founder And Managing Partner Of Virent Capital
“Kanahoma stood out in our research for its deep higher education expertise and the trust it has built with its partners. We’re excited to work alongside Seth and the team to put new capabilities, data and technology behind that foundation.”
Bryan Hall, Vice President At Virent Capital
