Interview with Chris Maclin, CEO of Empyrean

The interview with Chris Maclin, CEO of Empyrean, highlights a flagship success story in private equity within the financial software sector focused on risk and performance management. With 30 years of experience in fintech, he joined the company in 2017 to transform a three-founder startup operating out of a garage into a key market player. In less than ten years, the company has grown from fewer than ten clients to a portfolio of 700 to 800 banks and credit unions. Financially, the company has demonstrated remarkable growth: after surpassing $1 million in ARR in 2018 and reaching $10 million in 2024, it is on track to exceed $50 million in ARR this year.  

Empyrean is developing a technology platform designed for the CFO’s office. Its value lies in creating a dynamic decision-making tool that enables CFOs to test complex strategies and scenarios rather than simply reviewing static reports. This approach helps secure the North American financial system by helping to anticipate and prevent major bank failures. The company now relies heavily on artificial intelligence to accelerate its innovation cycles. The integration of AI, supported by dedicated investments, has reduced the development and launch time for new products from 12 to 18 months to just 3 months.  

Hg investment Hg company in November 2024 marked a major strategic turning point for the organization. Highly profitable, the company did not need capital to finance its operations but was seeking a partner capable of helping it scale up to achieve $100 million to $200 million in ARR. Beyond capital, Hg valuable operational expertise through industry experts and an operational partner from Microsoft. This case illustrates the role of private equity as a catalyst for growth, combining strategic vision and technological expertise to build a sustainable market leader.  

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