Leeds Equity Partners Acquires Big Blue Marble Academy from Avathon Capital

Big Blue Marble Academy Acquires Odyssey Early Schools

October 6, 2023

Education

Big Blue Marble Academy, a portfolio company of Avathon Capital, has acquired Odyssey Early Schools, a premium early childhood education provider based in Birmingham, Alabama. The transaction brings Odyssey into BBMA’s platform of early care and preschool centers and was advised by Founders Advisors; Odyssey was owned by Bob Mitchell and his family.

Big Blue Marble Academy Acquires The Cedarhouse School (Midlothian, VA)

March 11, 2025

Education

Big Blue Marble Academy (BBMA) has acquired The Cedarhouse School in Midlothian, Virginia, marking BBMA’s first school in the Commonwealth and the organization’s 92nd school nationwide. The confidential transaction, brokered by HINGE Early Education Advisors, transfers ownership from founder Elizabeth Bale to BBMA, supporting the operator’s geographic expansion and continued delivery of its early childhood curriculum and resources.

Avathon Capital Acquires Yellow Brick Road

February 6, 2025

Education

Avathon Capital, a private equity firm focused on education and workforce businesses, has acquired Yellow Brick Road Early Childhood Development Center, a founder-owned network of 25 early childhood centers serving Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. The transaction will keep Jessica Johnsen as CEO and adds an experienced board to support growth as Avathon expands its early childhood education platform across the Midwest.

Avathon Capital Acquires Magical Beginnings Learning Centers

January 31, 2024

Education

Avathon Capital, a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on education and workforce investments, has acquired Magical Beginnings Learning Centers, a Massachusetts-based network of seven early childhood education centers operating in the Greater Boston area. Avathon named Mark Donovan as CEO, formed a new board chaired by Sarah Clabby, and the founder Linda Hassapis Bonfanti will move to a board director role as part of the transaction.

Queen's Park Equity Backs MBO of Blue Ribbon

March 14, 2022

Healthcare Services

Queen’s Park Equity (QPE) is supporting a management buyout (MBO) of Blue Ribbon, a specialist provider of adult residential care and supported living services for adults with high-acuity autism and learning disabilities. Management (Mark Fuller, Paul Carter and Sam Leonard) will continue to lead the business as QPE provides capital to accelerate geographic expansion, invest in people, quality and systems, and scale service delivery across the Northwest of England.

Leeds Equity Partners Invests in eLuma

July 20, 2021

Education

Leeds Equity Partners has made a significant growth investment in eLuma, a two-sided marketplace providing live, online special education and mental health services and software to K-12 districts. The capital will support eLuma's expansion into school-based mental health services and further development of its proprietary school software platform while founder Jeremy Glauser remains CEO.