Thesis Announces Acquisition and Growth Investment by SilverTree Equity

• SilverTree’s investment will accelerate Thesis’ investments in product and people and support its trajectory in becoming the leading SaaS student management provider in the UK, US and Canada
• Gary McIlraith, experienced software Chairman and CEO, joins Thesis Software as Chairman

Thesis, a provider of cloud-based, next generation university administration software, announced that SilverTree Equity, a leading private equity firm with deep expertise in technology and software businesses, has completed the acquisition of the company from Advent International.

As part of the transaction, Thesis has secured significant growth funding and a value-add partner to accelerate Thesis’ investments in product and talent and enhance the company’s customer value proposition.

Thesis has a long history of delivering student information systems that enable colleges and universities to efficiently manage their student processes from registration to graduation. Growth investment in the business will further support the launch and adoption of Thesis Elements, a Next Gen cloud offering built specifically for small and mid-size US and Canadian higher education institutions. It will also drive product enhancements in Thesis SM, the most advanced cloud solution for mid and large colleges and universities in the UK, the US and Canada. 

Thesis is headquartered in the United States, with growing operations in the UK, Canada, and Europe. The company has a comprehensive offering of cloud-based university administration software. Over 140 colleges and universities rely on Thesis solutions to power their core business processes.

John Messamore, Managing Partner of SilverTree, commented, “Higher education has long been neglected by incumbent software vendors. We are excited to invest in Thesis and accelerate the rollout of the company’s game-changing SaaS solutions.”

Nicholas Theuerkauf, Managing Partner of SilverTree, added, “We are excited to be partnering with Thesis’ management team of seasoned ed-tech specialists who are committed to continued client success and strengthening the company’s market position. We believe that Thesis is well positioned to be a leader in next-gen, SaaS university administration software.”

Paul McConville, CEO of Thesis, commented, “I joined Thesis because of my passion for helping students, and the institutions that serve them, to succeed. SilverTree is the ideal partner, given their strong software and growth expertise and global resources, to accelerate our product enhancement and adoption. This investment is great for our clients, our employees and the higher education market.”