Eleva Educação

About Eleva Educação

Eleva Educação originated in 2013 as an educational holding company, backed by Gera Venture Capital, which counts prominent Brazilian businessman Jorge Paulo Lemann among its key investors. The group was co-founded by individuals including Bruno Elias and Marcio Cohen. The company's strategy centered on acquiring distinguished K-12 schools across Brazil and developing its own educational platforms, growing into a significant player in the country's private education sector.

The business operates through a dual model: directly managing a network of private K-12 schools and providing licensed curriculum systems to other educational institutions. This approach allowed Eleva to serve a broad market, from affordable private schools to premium, globally-oriented institutions. Revenue is generated from school tuition fees and the licensing of its proprietary Learning Management System (LMS) and educational content. A significant milestone was the acquisition of 51 schools from Grupo Cogna in 2021, which substantially increased its student base and market presence. This move was part of a larger transaction that also saw Cogna's subsidiary, Vasta Educação, acquire Eleva's LMS platform.

In a major strategic shift in May 2022, the premium division of the company, known as Eleva Global Schools, was acquired by the UK-based Inspired Education Group for a reported R$ 2 billion. This sale included the flagship Escola Eleva campuses and other premium brands like Gurilandia, Batutinhas, and Leonardo da Vinci. The schools under Inspired's ownership focus on a full-day, bilingual curriculum that incorporates both Brazilian educational standards and the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, targeting families seeking a global education model. The remaining network of schools, along with the innovation and technology hub called Pátio, continued under the control of the original shareholders and was set to be rebranded. Following the acquisition, Marcio Cohen assumed the role of CEO for Inspired Education in Brazil, spearheading expansion efforts, including a significant R$ 170 million investment to launch new schools in São Paulo.