Education Acquisitions in Colorado

CoreTrust has acquired BuyQ, a group purchasing organization serving charter and private schools, expanding CoreTrust’s procurement platform into a $22+ billion segment serving more than 4,000 schools. BuyQ will retain its brand and leadership (President Daniel Casselli; founders Marco and Christine Rafanelli remain involved) and the acquisition closed on November 18, 2025, with CoreTrust positioning the deal as a strategic entry into the K–12 charter and private school market.

Digital Capital Partners (DigiCap) has acquired PAIRIN, an AI-powered workforce development software company best known for its My Journey platform. PAIRIN's management will remain in place while DigiCap provides oversight, executive leadership and resources to accelerate product development and expand its public-sector and education-focused go-to-market.

ZRG, a PE-backed global talent advisory and executive search firm, has acquired Aspen Leadership Group (ALG), a specialist in placing fundraising and senior leaders in higher education and the nonprofit sector. The add-on expands ZRG’s education practice and strengthens its capabilities across executive search, interim leadership, consulting, and embedded recruiting for academic and nonprofit clients.

Elsmere Education and Human Capital Research Corporation (HCRC) have merged to form Human Capital Education, a provider of marketing, enrollment and retention solutions and CRM expertise for colleges and universities. Haven Capital Partners has made a minority growth equity investment to support the combined company's product development and strategic growth in higher education enablement.

200x85 has acquired the USJDP Junior Prep Hockey Camp and the CCM Hockey Showcase from longtime owner and operator Mike Gempeler. The acquisitions expand 200x85's youth development and exposure offerings, with 200x85 planning to continue the Colorado Springs camp and expand the showcase series to multiple U.S. cities in 2025.

BridgeAthletic has acquired Game Plan, a mobile-first learning management system for athletic organizations, and raised strategic growth capital led by W3, a Colorado-based family office. The transaction integrates Game Plan's eLearning capabilities into BridgeAthletic's strength and conditioning platform to create a combined athlete development solution for professional, collegiate and other sports organizations.

Leeds Equity Partners has acquired TouchMath, a Colorado Springs-based provider of multisensory K–8 math curriculum and services, from Millpond Equity Partners. The transaction terms were not disclosed; Leeds said the acquisition builds on its preK–12 curriculum platform and represents a platform investment for Leeds Equity VII.

Coastline Academy, a national driving school operator, acquired the Arvada Driving School from longtime owner Ben Pyatt on February 5, 2024. The acquisition expands Coastline's presence into the Denver area while retaining the local instructors and modernizing the location with the company's tech-enabled platform.

Salt Creek Capital’s portfolio company, Electronics Manufacturing Training Holding (owner of EPTAC), has acquired Blackfox Training Institute. The transaction combines EPTAC and Blackfox to form one of the largest IPC training and certification providers in the U.S., expanding in-person and online training capabilities and geographic reach.

Exeter Street Capital Partners led a majority recapitalization of Creative Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a SmartLab) in partnership with IBC Funds, Siguler Guff, and members of SmartLab's leadership team. The investment will support SmartLab's growth plans to expand its national footprint and scale its turnkey, tech-enabled STEM learning environments for K-12 schools.

Vector Solutions, the Tampa-based provider of training and education software, has acquired PATHWAYos, a work-based learning and Career and Technical Education (CTE) platform. The deal expands Vector's capabilities and presence in the K-12 CTE market, enabling the combined company to connect industry customers with trained student talent and offer CTE courses and industry-recognized credentials.

Genius SIS, a Leeds Equity Partners portfolio company, has acquired LiteracyPro Systems, a provider of student information system software for adult basic education, correctional education and community literacy programs. The acquisition is an add-on to Genius designed to expand its capabilities and presence in adult education and workforce development markets; terms were not disclosed.

PeopleGrove has acquired jobZology and its PathwayU assessment product; the deal is an add-on to PeopleGrove, which is part of The Riverside Company portfolio. The acquisition integrates PathwayU's science-based career assessment capabilities into PeopleGrove's Career Access Platform to strengthen career exploration, advising, and alumni engagement for higher education customers.

Emler Swim School, a Dallas-based operator of children's swim schools, has acquired Donna's Dolphins Swim School in Colorado Springs. The acquisition marks Emler’s 43rd location and expands the company's presence into its 10th U.S. state as Donna's Dolphins is rebranded to Emler Swim School Colorado Springs.

Bitwave, an enterprise digital asset accounting platform, acquired Multisig Media, a crypto accounting CPE provider and newsletter publisher, to expand its educational offerings for finance and accounting professionals. The deal, announced April 25, 2023 at the Enterprise Digital Asset Summit, will keep Multisig’s Triple Entry newsletter and extend opportunities for CPE-accredited courses under Bitwave’s platform.

K1 Investment Management invested $117 million in Ocelot, a Boulder-based edtech AI communications and student engagement platform. The growth capital will be used to fuel expansion, build new functionality, and develop additional solutions for colleges and universities to improve student engagement and retention.

KinderCare Learning Companies announced it will acquire Crème de la Crème, a national premium early childhood education and child care provider with 47 centers across 14 states. The acquisition expands KinderCare's portfolio by adding a higher-end early learning offering and enables the combined company to serve more families across the U.S.

WeVideo, a Thompson Street Capital Partners portfolio company, has acquired PlayPosit to integrate interactive learning layers and measurable analytics into its cloud-based video creation platform. The acquisition expands WeVideo’s capabilities for K-12, higher education and corporate training customers by adding learner engagement, assessment and analytics features; terms were not disclosed.

Polaris Growth Fund has acquired Amplifire (Knowledge Factor, Inc.) from Leeds Equity Partners; terms were not disclosed. Amplifire is a Boulder, Colorado–based SaaS provider of adaptive learning, assessment, and analytics serving healthcare, higher education, and corporate customers; several customers also participated in the investment and Amplifire’s existing management (CEO Bob Burgin) will remain in place.

Eurazeo has signed an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Scaled Agile, Inc., the provider of the SAFe framework, investing approximately $300 million alongside existing investors. Leeds Equity Partners will remain an investor and continue to serve on the board; the deal is expected to close in late 2021, and Scaled Agile will continue to scale its training, certification and digital platform for enterprise agility.

Top Hat has acquired Morton Publishing Company, adding more than 600 lab manuals and science course materials to Top Hat’s digital teaching platform. The deal (terms not disclosed) will convert Morton’s best-selling labs into interactive, customizable digital courseware to broaden access and enhance active learning for higher education instructors and students.

SchoolMint has completed the acquisition of Schoolrunner, adding Schoolrunner's data and analytics capabilities to SchoolMint's Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) platform. The deal expands SchoolMint's Positive Classroom offering and will keep the Schoolrunner platform available while integrating its analytics to advance SEM capabilities for K-12 customers.

360training, a PE-backed online training provider headquartered in Austin, Texas, has acquired VanEd (Van Education Center), an established online real estate, appraisal, and broker licensing school headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. The acquisition will expand 360training's real estate education offerings and extend its reach for pre-license, post-license, continuing education, broker, and appraiser courses across additional states.

Endeavor Schools, a Miami-based education management company, acquired The Academy Early Childhood Education Center's two locations in Arvada and Westminster and Parker Landing Child Development Center in Parker, Colorado. The acquisitions mark Endeavor's expansion into Colorado and bring the company's operations to 59 schools across 13 states.

MindEdge Learning has acquired Acuity Institute, a Denver-based provider of Lean Six Sigma, change management and operational excellence training. The deal expands MindEdge's online and blended learning catalog and adds Acuity's portfolio of professional development courses and corporate clients to MindEdge's Expanded Content Network.

Waud Capital Partners has completed a growth capital partnership with The CE Shop, a Greenwood Village, Colorado–based digital provider of compliance-driven professional education. Waud will commit new equity to support The CE Shop's organic growth initiatives, enable a robust acquisition pipeline and help expand the company's presence into new end markets; management will remain meaningful shareholders and continue to run day-to-day operations. Terms were not disclosed.

TrueFire Studios has acquired FaderPro, the leading online EDM and electronic music production tutorial platform, expanding TrueFire's music education offerings beyond guitar into dance and electronic production. FaderPro will operate as a standalone unit within the TrueFire portfolio, and existing investor Growth Catalyst Partners will continue to support TrueFire's strategy.

Science Interactive Group (SIG), a portfolio company of Millpond Equity Partners and Wasena Capital Management, has acquired eScience Labs, a provider of hands-on science lab kits, virtual learning tools, and customized digital curriculum for higher education and K-12. The acquisition expands SIG's Hands-on Labs capabilities and scale, enabling the combined company to offer a more complete set of STEM lab solutions to colleges, universities and online/blended learning programs.

Leeds Equity Partners has made an equity investment in Scaled Agile, Inc., the developer of the SAFe framework, partnering with founder Dean Leffingwell, the management team, and existing investor Rubicon Technology Partners. The investment will support expansion of Scaled Agile's core solutions, broader enterprise implementation services, and a deeper membership and certification offering; financial terms were not disclosed.

MIS Training Institute (a portfolio company of Boathouse Capital) has acquired LeaderQuest, a provider of cybersecurity and IT certification training with multiple U.S. campuses. The add-on expands MISTI's cybersecurity training curriculum and supports LeaderQuest's campus and program growth, including continued focus on veteran job placement and virtual training delivery.

Brass Ring Capital purchased a majority equity interest in Creative Learning Systems, a Longmont, Colorado-based provider of turn-key STEM SmartLabs for K-12 schools. Cherry Tree advised Creative Learning Systems’ owners, Gary Nelson and Matt Dickstein, on the ownership transition as founder Gary Nelson planned for retirement.