Experience

Educated Ventures LLC

• United States
• Investment Banking
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Strategic Advisor and Angel Investor

  • Dec 2011 - 12 years 1 month

  Chicago; New York; Dubai; Singapore; London; Paris Educated Capital: Founder, Education Industry Seed Fund • Exited: All Campus (EdGrowth), Kira (ETS), Presence (TPG Rise), Wilo Labs (Follett) • Remaining: cielo24, GetSet, Learning.com, Marco Learning, N2N, Safer Schools • Failed: DecisionDesk, Learnmetrics, MentorMob, Nuro, ScheduleSMART, Sokikom Educated Advisors: Founder, Strategic and Investment Banking Advisory Firm. • Built a leading global education advisory team including US, East Asia and India education… Show more Educated Capital: Founder, Education Industry Seed Fund • Exited: All Campus (EdGrowth), Kira (ETS), Presence (TPG Rise), Wilo Labs (Follett) • Remaining: cielo24, GetSet, Learning.com, Marco Learning, N2N, Safer Schools • Failed: DecisionDesk, Learnmetrics, MentorMob, Nuro, ScheduleSMART, Sokikom Educated Advisors: Founder, Strategic and Investment Banking Advisory Firm. • Built a leading global education advisory team including US, East Asia and India education experts • Advised on over $200 million in M&A for education companies since 2018 • Raised over $200 million in capital for edtech start-ups since 2012 Specific advisory clients include: • All Campus (2012 - 2019): founding, invested and raised $10M of capital; $30M+ private equity recap • Actively Learn (2018): advised on sale to Insight portfolio company Achieve 3000 at 7x ARR • Best Merchant Banking (2017 - 2018): raised $15M for South African OPM spinout from AP • ClassTag (2023): strategic sale to School Status (PSG Equity) • Clean Edison (2013-2014): strategic sale to Kaplan to form Kaplan CleanTech • Emeritus (2018-2019): advised on US online Higher Ed market entry for Indian edtech unicorn • eSpark Learning (2012-2020): advised on $6M capital raise and sell-side M&A process • iTutor Group (2016 - 2017): advised on Global ELL market assessment and expansion strategies • Kide Science (2023): advised on sale to Accelerate Learning (Providence Equity) • Loudoun School (2021): advised on sale to Endeavour Schools (Leeds Equity) • Orbis Education (September 2012): $20M raise for healthcare OPM from LLR • Impact Science (2020): advised on sale to Weld North • Sylvan Learning (2013 - 2014): advised on new US pathways business and China market entry • US University (2017): $12M sale to Aspen Education Group (NASDAQ: ASPU) • Wellspring (Dec 2013, Nov 2015): $11M Series A & B raises for university tech transfer SAAS • Whooo's Reading (2022 - 2023): strategic sale to Savvas Learning (former Pearson K-12) Show less


Open Campus
• E-Learning Providers
• Investor

  • Oct 2023 - 3 months

Marco Learning
• United States
• E-Learning Providers
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Investor

  • Mar 2021 - 2 years 10 months


Analog

• Iraq
• Advertising Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Co-founding Investor

  • Nov 2020 - 3 years 2 months

• Chief of Staff (interim)

  • Dec 2022 - May 2023

  Bangkok, Bangkok City, Thailand


SoFi
• Information Technology & Services
• Investor

  • Nov 2020 - 3 years 2 months


Bright Scholar Education Holdings Ltd.

• China
• Education Administration Programs
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Investor

  • May 2020 - 3 years 8 months

  Investor. Got to know company management after they bid on a former China based education company I was engaged to sell (2020-2021).


2U
• Germany
• Advertising Services
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Investor

  • Apr 2020 - 3 years 9 months

Bright Horizons
• Education Administration Programs
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Investor

  • Apr 2020 - 3 years 9 months

N2N Services Inc. - The Illuminate Platform
• Investor, Advisor

  • Aug 2018 - 5 years 5 months


GetSet Learning

• United States
• E-Learning Providers
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Board Member, Investor

  • Apr 2013 - 10 years 9 months

  Greater Chicago Area One of three board members along with founder and lead venture fund, Chicago Ventures. Helped secure several million dollars of investment, including my own direct investment through Educated Capital LLC. Introduced much of initial school partner pipeline at start. Deliver on-demand, 24-7 review, feedback and introductions for business, hiring and strategy.


Learning.com
• United States
• E-Learning Providers
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Investor, Advisor

  • Jan 2013 - 11 years


Luminus Education Group

• Jordan
• Education Management
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Global Strategy & Corporate Development

  • Nov 2021 - Jun 2022

  Dubai, United Arab Emirates


Course Hero
• United States
• Technology, Information and Internet
• 700 & Above Employee
• Investor

  • Aug 2020 - Oct 2021


Emeritus

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Strategic Advisor

  • Jan 2019 - Mar 2019

  Boston, Massachusetts, United States Advised on US market expansion following its $49M Series C raise and 2 years prior to its $650M venture capital raise at $3BN valuation cementing status as a unicorn startup.


All Campus
• United States
• Security and Investigations
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Investor, Advisor

  • Jan 2012 - Mar 2019


Educelerate, Inc.

• United States
• Defense and Space Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Founder

  • Jun 2012 - Jan 2019

  Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Denver, Phoenix Educelerate, Inc. is a not for profit education industry network. In addition to our monthly panel discussions and workshops serving over 5,000 "Educelerants" in Chicago, Twin Cities, LA and Colorado, we have organized Chicago StartupWeekend EDU (SWEDU) in September 2013 and 2014, Twin Cities SWEDU in May 2014, Phoenix SWEDU in 2014 and LA SWEDU in January 2014. Lean more at Educelerate.com or Accelerator.Education. Educelerate is supported by Educated Ventures LLC.



Best Associates

• Education Administration Programs
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Corporate Development

  • Oct 2017 - Jun 2018

  Dallas, Texas, United States Engaged to advise leading education industry focused family office investor on the spin out and outside capital raise for, separately, the UK and Africa focused online program management assets of Academic Partnerships. Also advised on the preparation of the American College of Education for a sale process. Responsibilities included detailed financial modeling, preparation of offering materials and deal structuring support for both a NewCo asset spin-out as well as an existing company sale.



DecisionDesk

• United States
• IT Services and IT Consulting
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Board Observer, Investor

  • May 2015 - Nov 2017

  Observer status for Board of Directors. Helped secure several million dollars of investment, including my own direct investment through Educated Ventures LLC. Supported company up through asset sales to, separately, Embarq and Kira.



Sylvan Learning

• United States
• Education Administration Programs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Strategic Advisor

  • Aug 2013 - May 2014

  Baltimore, Maryland, United States



Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA

• Germany
• Media Production
• 700 & Above Employee

• Corporate Development Advisor (Education Industry)

  • Oct 2010 - Mar 2011

  Various Advisory to corporate development team as part of the company's efforts to build a new $1 billion education business unit. Advised on actionable opportunities across Asia, US and Europe. Culminated in investment University Ventures Fund and my former Apollo Group colleague's new edtech start-up, Synergis Education.



Apollo Global Management, Inc.

• United States
• Financial Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Vice President, Education Industry Corporate Development & Global Strategy

  • Feb 2007 - Dec 2010

  Chicago, IL; London, UK; Phoenix, AZ Led $750mm of acquisitions and investments around University of Phoenix and beyond, including: • Apollo Global: founding member of $1bn JV PE fund with Carlyle focused on global education; • BPP: led overall $600mm buyout of publicly-traded UK legal and finance education provider; • ULA: led financial analysis in $50mm acquisition of diversified Mexican university; • Uniacc: led financial analysis on $50mm acquisition of Chilean arts university; • Insight Schools: led add-on… Show more Led $750mm of acquisitions and investments around University of Phoenix and beyond, including: • Apollo Global: founding member of $1bn JV PE fund with Carlyle focused on global education; • BPP: led overall $600mm buyout of publicly-traded UK legal and finance education provider; • ULA: led financial analysis in $50mm acquisition of diversified Mexican university; • Uniacc: led financial analysis on $50mm acquisition of Chilean arts university; • Insight Schools: led add-on acquisition activities, spanning over a dozen targets; • Aptimus: led financial analysis of $50mm acquisition of publicly-traded online marketing agency. Show less



LLR Partners

• Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Education Industry Private Equity

  • Jul 2005 - Aug 2005

  Evaluated investments in education markets for $600mm business services-focused growth private equity fund, including the $26mm growth-equity investment in beauty school Regency Beauty Institute.



Janus Capital Group

• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Associate Intern

  • May 2005 - Jul 2005

  Covered financial services industry, focusing on mid-cap banks and asset management firms, including: • Affiliated Managers Group: recommended investment after researching industry and sustainability of business model, meeting management, and constructing detailed operating model by distribution channel and investment strategy and DCF analysis. • Commerce Bancorp: advised against investment in this retail-focused bank after management meetings, researching sustainability of above-market… Show more Covered financial services industry, focusing on mid-cap banks and asset management firms, including: • Affiliated Managers Group: recommended investment after researching industry and sustainability of business model, meeting management, and constructing detailed operating model by distribution channel and investment strategy and DCF analysis. • Commerce Bancorp: advised against investment in this retail-focused bank after management meetings, researching sustainability of above-market growth and cost accounting analysis into true store-level profitability and ROI. Show less


IA Global Capital
• United States
• Investment Banking
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Associate

  • 2002 - 2004


Credit Suisse

• Switzerland
• Banking
• 700 & Above Employee

• Technology and Education Industry Investment Banking

  • 2000 - 2002

  Started analyst program with tech services coverage team at DLJ, finishing with CSFB (now Credit Suisse), working with Global Services coverage team, including the market leading education industry team.