Crux Capital Partners with Drew and Jennifer McWilliams to Recapitalize Ivybrook Academy, the Nation’s Leading Half-Day Preschool Franchise

Original Article: Business Wire - April 07, 2026

DALLAS, TX – Crux Capital, a growth-oriented private equity firm that partners with family- and founder-owned businesses across the Sunbelt, today announced its investment in Ivybrook Academy (“Ivybrook” or “the Company”), the nation’s leading franchised half-day preschool, with more than 70 schools open or in development and an additional 40 locations awarded to franchise partners across 22 states.

Founded in 2007 by Jennifer and Drew McWilliams in Weddington, North Carolina, Ivybrook has grown into a nationally recognized early childhood education platform and has been named to Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for five consecutive years, most recently ranking #429 in the 2026 list. The company launched its franchising program in 2017, with support from Steve Beagelman of SMB Franchise Advisors, helping to accelerate its national expansion.

From its founding, Ivybrook was built around a simple belief: early childhood is the most formative window in a child’s development. The Company’s mission is to create an environment that ignites curiosity, fosters confidence, and builds a lifelong love of learning.

Jennifer McWilliams, a former first-grade teacher, spent two years developing Ivybrook’s proprietary curriculum, which draws from Montessori principles, Reggio Emilia philosophy, and Multiple Intelligences theory. Delivered through a flexible half-day model, the program nurtures the whole child – academically, socially, and emotionally – through small class sizes, individualized attention, and enrichment programming spanning music, movement, language, and cultural exploration.

Jennifer and Drew McWilliams will retain a meaningful ownership stake and continue leading the Company alongside the existing Ivybrook leadership team. Crux’s partnership will support Ivybrook’s next chapter of growth through investments in franchisee support, curriculum development, technology, and expansion of its national footprint, with a continued focus on delivering exceptional experiences and outcomes for Ivybrook students and their families.

This marks Crux’s third partnership with a franchisor, following prior investments in Buff City Soap and HTeaO.

“We have tremendous admiration for what Jennifer and Drew have built with Ivybrook,” said James Kay, Partner at Crux Capital.

“The Company has built a truly differentiated approach to early childhood education, and the impact Ivybrook has on students, families, franchisees, and communities is remarkable. We’re excited to support the exceptional team already in place and invest behind the brand as it enters its next phase of growth. We couldn’t be more excited to partner with the Ivybrook team.”

“When we began looking for a partner, our priority was finding a team that truly understood Ivybrook’s mission,” said Drew McWilliams, Co-Founder and CEO of Ivybrook Academy.

“Crux immediately stood out because of their experience with franchise brands and their genuine desire to maintain our core value of quality early education which is what makes Ivybrook special. This partnership allows us to continue doing what we love – supporting children, families, franchisees, and educators – while investing in the growth and long-term success of the brand.”

Of Impact Advisors served as exclusive sell-side financial advisor to Ivybrook Academy in connection with the transaction, with Chris Bodnar leading the engagement.

About Crux Capital

Founded in 2019, Crux Capital is a Dallas-based private equity firm that partners with founder- and family-owned consumer and commercial services businesses across the Sunbelt. The Firm focuses on multi-unit, franchise, route-based, tech-enabled, and membership-model businesses, providing capital and operational support to help companies scale while preserving their core identity.

About Ivybrook Academy

Founded in 2007 by Jennifer and Drew McWilliams in Weddington, North Carolina, Ivybrook Academy is a nationally recognized half-day preschool franchise offering a proprietary, research-backed curriculum for children ages 18 months to 6 years in age. Rooted in Montessori and Reggio Emilia philosophies, Ivybrook’s program focuses on nurturing the whole child through individualized learning, small class sizes, and enrichment-based programming.

About Of Impact Advisors

Of Impact Advisors is an M&A and corporate finance advisory firm serving founder-owned and entrepreneur-led businesses in the lower middle market. The firm advises privately held companies on mergers and acquisitions and other strategic alternatives. Led by Chris Bodnar, a seasoned transaction professional with more than 25 years of experience across hundreds of public and private company transactions, the firm provides institutional-caliber advisory services to founders and business owners.