My First Million

The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.

Build a multi-billion dollar international education empire through systematic school acquisition

Private equity firms and education entrepreneurs targeting wealthy expatriate families

20-30 years to build significant scale

What Success Looks Like

Creating a global network of premium international schools serving wealthy families, achieving $1B+ revenue with strong unit economics

Steps to Execute

Start with single school or education service in one market

Prove the unit economics and replicable model

Identify fragmented international school markets

Acquire schools in strategic locations (major expat destinations)

Standardize curriculum, operations, and branding across portfolio

Target companies that relocate executives internationally

Expand into adjacent markets (sports academies, specialized programs)

Build brand recognition that commands premium pricing

Checklist

Verify target schools serve high-income families

Confirm corporate relocation packages will pay tuition

Assess regulatory requirements in each country

Evaluate quality of existing school leadership and facilities

Understand local competition and market saturation

Calculate unit economics per student

Plan for 7-10 year payback periods per school

Inputs Needed

Significant capital for school acquisitions ($50M-500M)
Education industry expertise
International regulatory knowledge
Relationships with multinational corporations
Operational expertise in running schools

Outputs

Network of premium international schools
Predictable tuition revenue streams
Brand that commands premium pricing
Multiple exit opportunities (strategic buyers, IPO)

Example

“Nord Anglia started in the 1970s teaching English, expanded to operating their own international schools, systematically acquired schools across continents, and built a $14B education empire serving wealthy expat families”