Tierra Encantada, a leader in Spanish immersion early education, announced a significant minority growth investment from Susquehanna Growth Equity (SGE), an entrepreneur-centric growth equity firm. And this milestone marks Tierra Encantada’s first institutional investment since its founding in 2013 and underscores their accelerated influence in the youth enrichment market.
Headed by CEO and Founder Kristen Denzer, Tierra Encantada offers Spanish immersion childcare to children ages six weeks through six years. And its premium early education environment includes on-site commercial kitchens to provide children with an elevated culinary experience, including global meals made from scratch with organic ingredients.
For over a decade, Tierra Encantada provided a vital service to communities across the United States, responding to the pervasive challenge countless families face: a lack of high-quality childcare. And with the childcare industry expected to grow into a $90+ billion industry by 2030, this funding emphasizes a shared vision for new market expansion and continued innovation in the youth enrichment industry.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are on a strong growth trajectory thanks to our amazing team, and we are thrilled to have found the ideal, founder-friendly partner in SGE. Their patient capital and operational resources will be incredibly valuable during this next stage of growth. This investment validates the strength of the brand, allowing us to deepen our proven ability to provide a premier experience for families and franchisees, while accelerating our nationwide expansion.”
– Kristen Denzer, CEO & Founder of Tierra Encantada
“We’ve been thoroughly impressed with Tierra Encantada and their relentless commitment to details in everything from industry-leading safety protocols and bilingual curriculums to the nutritious, carefully prepared meals they serve children and the development of their own employees. Tierra Encantada is the clear leader in Spanish immersion early education, and we believe their differentiated model represents the future of childcare. We are proud to be partnering with a proven founder in Kristen and eager to support Tierra Encantada’s continued growth through the opening of new franchise-owned learning centers and leveraging our own experience across the evolving education sector.”
– Kyle Squillario, Managing Director of SGE
