Middle market private equity firm focused on education and human capital management
Excolere Equity Partners
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, CA S1
- Founded2022 S4
- Websiteexcolerepartners.com
- Last verifiedNovember 8, 2026
At a glance
| Deal types | Platform S4 |
|---|---|
| Sectors | Education |
What Excolere Equity Partners buys
Excolere Equity Partners is a Los Angeles private equity firm that invests only in education and human capital management, meaning businesses that teach, train or upskill people, or that help employers hire, develop and keep workers. Managing partner Tony Miller, a co-founder of The Vistria Group and a former US Deputy Secretary of Education, launched it in 2022 with partners Pete Davis and Marcelus DeCoulode. The firm calls itself a middle market buyout investor and works with management on strategy, hiring and operations.
All five current companies sit in its first fund, and all are in education: EPS Learning (K-12 literacy), Acceleration Academies (dropout recovery), Lantern Learning Group (early childhood centers), AeroGuard Flight Training Center (pilot training) and Harbor Education Group (special education for children with autism). Excolere publishes no revenue, EBITDA or check size. Harbor, its newest holding, says it is looking for special education schools to join its network, so a smaller school operator may meet Excolere as an addition to Harbor rather than as a new platform.
Recent deals
Announced in the 24 months before November 8, 2026.
| Date | Company | Type | Sector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2025 | Harbor Education GroupFund I investment in a New York special education and behavioral health provider for school-age children with autism; stake not stated | Investment | Education | Source |
| August 2025 | AeroGuard Flight Training CenterFund I investment in a Phoenix pilot training academy with campuses in the Southwest and a fleet of more than 120 aircraft; stake not stated | Investment | Education | Source |
Portfolio by sector
From the firm's portfolio page S2.
Excolere Equity Partners Fund I
- Harbor Education Group Current
- AeroGuard Flight Training Center Current
- Acceleration Academies Current
- Lantern Learning Group Current
- EPS Learning Current
Greymont’s take
How Excolere Equity Partners fits a seller
Excolere suits owners of education businesses: early learning centers, school and program operators, literacy and curriculum providers, career training academies and special education schools. Its partners came from the US Department of Education, McGraw-Hill Education and The Vistria Group, so they know school district buyers, public funding and education policy, which matters for a company that sells to districts or depends on public money. Owners of HR and workforce companies fit its stated focus too, though it holds none today.
The firm is young, investing from its first fund, and publishes no size range, so an owner should ask early what revenue or EBITDA it needs and whether it would buy control or a minority stake. Owners of special education schools may hear first from Harbor Education Group, which says it is looking for schools to join its network and aims to keep each school's own identity.
Questions owners ask
What kinds of companies does Excolere Equity Partners invest in?
Only education and human capital management businesses. Its current holdings run from early childhood centers and K-12 literacy programs to dropout recovery academies, special education schools and a commercial pilot training academy.
Who runs Excolere?
Managing partner Tony Miller co-founded The Vistria Group and was US Deputy Secretary of Education from 2009 to 2013. He launched Excolere in 2022 with partners Pete Davis, a former president of McGraw-Hill Education, and Marcelus DeCoulode, who was also at Vistria.
What has Excolere invested in recently?
Its portfolio page lists Harbor Education Group, a New York special education provider focused on children with autism, in November 2025, and AeroGuard Flight Training Center, a Phoenix pilot academy, in August 2025. Both are in its first fund.
What size company does Excolere look for?
Excolere does not publish a revenue, EBITDA or investment size range. It describes itself as a middle market buyout firm, and its holdings include sizable operators such as AeroGuard, which trains more than 1,000 cadets a year.
Sources
- S1Excolere Equity Partners home page (focus, team and Los Angeles address) Accessed November 8, 2026
- S2Excolere Equity Partners: Portfolio, Fund I (investment dates and status) Accessed November 8, 2026
- S3Excolere Equity Partners: Meet Our Team Accessed November 8, 2026
- S4Excolere Equity Partners Announces Firm's Launch (October 25, 2023) Accessed November 8, 2026
- S5Harbor Education Group: About (partnerships with special education schools) Accessed November 8, 2026
Compiled by Greymont Advisors from public sources, including the firm’s own website and press releases. Greymont is not affiliated with Excolere Equity Partners. Figures are as reported on the dates shown and may have changed. Request a correction