INICIA Education Managers is an asset management and advisory firm specializing in the education sector, with a strategic focus on the Northern Latin America (NOLA) region.

As an affiliate of INICIA, we have, since 2010, consolidated a proven track record in advising, investing in, and managing educational assets, along with initiatives focused on social impact.

Our Governing Principles

  • A mixed-return strategy that balances social impact with economic value creation.
  • A dedicated focus on the NOLA region, addressing its unique opportunities and challenges.
  • A long-term investment horizon aimed at generating sustainable and transformative impact.
  • A team of passionate and committed individuals devoted to advancing the education sector.

NOLA EDUCATION FUND

The NOLA Education Fund is an impact-driven investment vehicle that employs three strategic approaches to deliver meaningful outcomes, guided by the following principles:
  • Education is the most powerful catalyst for long-term value creation.
  • It has a direct, profound, and positive impact on society by enhancing quality of life, fostering social mobility, increasing productivity, promoting sustainable economic growth, and strengthening political stability in the region.
The Fund's mission is to drive the growth and development of the NOLA region by transforming educational systems and cultivating ethical, capable, and visionary leaders.

Strategy 1

Our investments through Fundación Inicia Educación focus on improving educational access and quality, with impact measured through our Education Improvement Index (IME).
These investments directly benefit students, teachers, school leaders, communities, and institutions that manage the public education system.

Education Improvement Index (EII)

The EII (Education Improvement Index) measures the impact of investments in education through a robust framework that combines key metrics:
  • Number of Students: Tracks the total number of students enrolled in elementary and secondary education system, encompassing both public and private institutions.
  • Educational Quality: Assessed through standardized assessment results, providing insights into student performance and learning outcomes.
Niñas Pintando en una escuela.

Would you like to learn more about how the factors measured by the EII influence the economy?

This paper examines the relationship between the factors measured by the EII and key macroeconomic and social indicators in the Dominican Republic. The analysis highlights how improvements in education, as reflected by the EII, contribute to economic growth, foster human development , and promote a more equitable income distribution.

EII PAPER

Would you like to explore real-time EII data?

This interactive dashboard provides real-time insights into the Dominican Republic’s education sector, enabling you to analyze and manage information with ease.

EII Dashboard

Fundación Inicia Educación es el brazo orientado al impacto del Fondo Educación NOLA, utilizando su capital para transformar el panorama educativo de la República Dominicana hacia un futuro más equitativo y sostenible.

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Strategy 2

Distinctive Educational Institutions

We invest to build a distinctive talent network.
We focus on talent-driven institutions that create lasting impact in the NOLA region. Our investments span preschool, K-12, higher education, and vocational-technical education, with a commitment to identifying exceptional individuals dedicated to transforming education, one student at a time.

Strategy 3

Enablers and EdTech

We invest to reinvent education.
Our focus in on innovative companies that transform the education value chain. These companies strive to make education more efficient, accessible, and scalable, while continuously improving student outcomes both inside and outside the classroom.

We believe that education is an essential engine for collective progress, with a deep and positive impact on society.

Our team

 Antonio holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from PUCMM in Santo Domingo. He earned an MBA from ICADE and completed the PLDA at Harvard Business School. Before joining INICIA Educación, he built his career across industrial operations, strategic consulting, and the education sector. 

Passionate about the transformative power of education, he has served as Executive Director of INICIA Educación since 2010, leading innovative initiatives to strengthen and reimagine the education system.

In his more than 30-year professional career, Ryan has combined his corporate experience in the retail, financial and telecommunications sectors with his experience as an entrepreneur leading innovative projects in different industries including the first Virtual Marketplace in the Dominican Republic.

He has a deep passion for education, serving as university rector, teacher, lecturer and author of multiple publications. Ryan joined INICIA Educación as a partner in 2024 with the hope of making an impact on the improvement of the education system in the NOLA region.

Ana María is an Industrial Engineer from the University of the Andes in Bogotá, with over 15 years of experience in investment banking and private equity funds. She has led various strategic initiatives, including capital raising, investment and divestment processes, and corporate reorganizations.

Prior to joining INICIA Educación, she worked at the Terranum Private Equity Fund as VP of Business Development and previously at JPMorgan as an associate in the Latin America M&A team. She joined INICIA Educación in 2021, aiming to improve NOLA’s Children access to high quality education.

Fernando is a technology and education executive with over 30 years of experience leading multinational organizations in the telecom, financial services, and education industries. He has held leadership roles at ILUMNO, Grupo AMPER, DESCA, and eLandia International, driving innovation and high-performance teams.

With degrees in Systems Engineering, Organizational Development, and Corporate Finance from top Venezuelan universities, he brings a strategic approach to leveraging technology for educational impact. He joined INICIA Educación to help drive innovation and sustainable growth in the education sector across the NOLA region.

Antonio Caparros

Managing Partner

 Antonio holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from PUCMM in Santo Domingo. He earned an MBA from ICADE and completed the PLDA at Harvard Business School. Before joining INICIA Educación, he built his career across industrial operations, strategic consulting, and the education sector. 

Passionate about the transformative power of education, he has served as Executive Director of INICIA Educación since 2010, leading innovative initiatives to strengthen and reimagine the education system.

Ryan Larrauri

Managing Partner

In his more than 30-year professional career, Ryan has combined his corporate experience in the retail, financial and telecommunications sectors with his experience as an entrepreneur leading innovative projects in different industries including the first Virtual Marketplace in the Dominican Republic.

He has a deep passion for education, serving as university rector, teacher, lecturer and author of multiple publications. Ryan joined INICIA Educación as a partner in 2024 with the hope of making an impact on the improvement of the education system in the NOLA region.

Ana María Palaez

Associate

Ana María is an Industrial Engineer from the University of the Andes in Bogotá, with over 15 years of experience in investment banking and private equity funds. She has led various strategic initiatives, including capital raising, investment and divestment processes, and corporate reorganizations.

Prior to joining INICIA Educación, she worked at the Terranum Private Equity Fund as VP of Business Development and previously at JPMorgan as an associate in the Latin America M&A team. She joined INICIA Educación in 2021, aiming to improve NOLA’s Children access to high quality education.

Fernando Rodríguez

Advisor

Fernando is a technology and education executive with over 30 years of experience leading multinational organizations in the telecom, financial services, and education industries. He has held leadership roles at ILUMNO, Grupo AMPER, DESCA, and eLandia International, driving innovation and high-performance teams.

With degrees in Systems Engineering, Organizational Development, and Corporate Finance from top Venezuelan universities, he brings a strategic approach to leveraging technology for educational impact. He joined INICIA Educación to help drive innovation and sustainable growth in the education sector across the NOLA region.

DeParEnPar

DeParEnPar, a network managed by the Iniciativa Empresarial por la Educación Técnica, connects students and educational institutions in the Dominican Republic with the productive sector. The program creates opportunities for young people to complete their studies in real working environments. By encouraging public and private institutions to participate, DeParEnPar facilitates internships for high school seniors, enabling them to gain practical experience and successfully complete their education.

Scholarships from Fundación Inicia Educación

In 2015, Fundación Inicia Educación launched a scholarship program to support and develop talent in the education sector. This initiative funds master’s and graduate studies for exceptional candidates committed to advancing their careers in education. To date, more than 40 scholarship recipients have completed their studies at prestigious institutions in the Dominican Republic, the United States, and Europe.

Inteligencia Quisqueya – IQ

Inteligencia Quisqueya (IQ) is a free online platform managed by Instituto 512. Launched in 2014, its primary goal is to support students in preparing for national standardized tests and provide academic reinforcement to enhance learning. Since its launch, IQ has become an essential educational resource, benefiting over 300,000 students across the Dominican Republic.

Faro Project

The FARO project, managed by the Instituto 512, aims to transform elementary and secondary schools into models of educational excellence. Through a comprehensive approach, it enhances school management, improves instructional practices, and fosters the development of the entire educational community. FARO focuses on four key dimensions: pedagogy, health and prevention, socio-emotional well-being, and continuous improvement driven by data. To date, the project has directly benefited over 148,000 students in 229 public schools across the Dominican Republic.

Instituto 512

Instituto 512 is a comprehensive initiative focused on transforming and developing leadership capabilities among students, teachers, and schools across the NOLA region. Guided by the belief that schools are at the heart of educational transformation, the institute designs professional development programs tailored to all roles within the educational process. Its approach prioritizes building sustainable capacity within schools and their communities, ensuring the scalability of our interventions and outcomes. 

American School of Santo Domingo (ASSD)

The American School of Santo Domingo is an innovative learning community committed to educating students with a strong sense of identity, a dedication to environmental sustainability, and mastery of 21st-century skills. Within a supportive, family-like environment, the school strives to graduate global citizens, self-motivated learners, and effective communicators equipped to achieve their goals successfully.

Centro de Tecnología y Educación Permanente (TEP)

The Centro de Tecnología y Educación Permanennte (TEP) is an initiative led by PUCMM and the NOLA Education Fund through a strategic partnership. TEP focuses on expanding access to programs equivalent to technical degrees, specialized courses, and professional training. Its primary goal is to enhance the competitiveness of professionals and institutions in both the public and private sectors by ensuring high technical standards and a curriculum aligned with the current and future needs of the Dominican Republic.

BARNA Management School

Founded in 1999, BARNA Management School specializes in leadership development with a distinctive humanistic approach. Its educational programs are designed to transform managerial thinking and equip professionals from both the public and private sectors to lead with purpose and vision. BARNA graduates stand out for their managerial excellence, global perspective, and commitment to driving meaningful long-term change.

Kids Create

Kids Create is an educational community that brings children, families and teachers together to foster academic excellence while cultivating ethical and moral values. Our programs draw inspiration from the Reggio Emilia educational philosophy, which celebrates the culture of childhood, respects children’s rights, and emphasizes the importance of this critical stage of development.

Kuepa

In Latin America, the gap between the skills demanded by companies —professional, technical, and socioemotional—and those demonstrated by youth and adults remains a significant barrier to individual success and regional economic progress. Kuepa Edutech has emerged as a regional leader in addressing this challenge, expanding its impact from Colombia to 18 countries across Latin America.

To date, over 200,000 students have benefited from Kuepa’s programs, which include school placement, technical-vocational training, and the development of essential skills for the workplace and interpersonal relationships. Kuepa’s innovative approach combines accessibility, quality, and a hybrid learning model designed to help individuals improve their competencies.

Iniciativa Empresarial para la Educación Técnica (IEET)

The mission of the Iniciativa Empresarial para la Educación Técnica (IEET) is to foster partnerships and collaborative initiatives between the educational and productive sectors to enhance technical education. Its goal is to develop the country’s human potential and strengthening its competitiveness.

Global Edupass

Global Edupass is an EdTech startup committed to streamlining university admissions and scholarship management processes. It provides comprehensive guidance to students at every stage of the admissions journey, whether for undergraduate studies or specialized programs such as master’s and doctoral degrees, both domestically and internationally.