Ivy Prep Academy

What Ivy Prep Academy does

Ivy Prep Academy is a privately held tutoring and test preparation academy headquartered at Iolani Court Plaza in Honolulu, Hawaii (2499 Kapiolani Blvd. #105). Founded in 2013 by Sun Yong Lee, the academy serves K-12 students — primarily international families from Korea, Japan, and China and local Hawaii residents — through a portfolio that includes seasonal programs (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter), school break boot camps, test preparation (SAT, ACT, SSAT, PSAT, TOEFL), English and Math classes K-12 through AP Calculus, debate, homework help, and 1-on-1 tutoring. The academy markets a "state-of-the-art, adaptive technology" curriculum that identifies student strengths and learning gaps, though no proprietary AI/ML models or patents are disclosed. Class sizes are capped at five students, and the team includes credentialed instructors holding graduate degrees in mathematics, computer science, counseling, and special education.

The business operates multiple revenue streams: tuition-based seasonal and school break programs, English Camp bundles (Winter/Summer) with homestay and field trip components limited to 15 students per session, individualized 1-on-1 tutoring, and ancillary support services for international families including Settlement Services ($2,000 long-term package, $1,000 school interview prep), Homestay, Guardian, and Airport Shuttle. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via an online enrollment form, phone (941-0909, 772-2533), and a Korean-language channel stack (Korean website, KakaoTalk channel Ivyhawaii, Naver blog). Earned media coverage spans Korean (Korea Times, 교차로/Crossroads), Japanese (Nikkansan, Lighthouse Hawaii), and English (Midweek) outlets. Documented outcomes include acceptances to Harvard, Stanford, MIT, NYU, Dartmouth, USC, and Purdue, with one SAT score of 2370 and SSAT gains from mid-550s to upper 650s over 12 weeks. The company is entirely founder-owned, with no institutional investors or parent company identified.

Name

Ivy Prep Academy

Legal name

Ivy Prep Academy

Website

https://ivyprepacademy.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ivy Prep Academy is a Honolulu-based private tutoring and test preparation academy serving K-12 students from Korea, Japan, China, and local Hawaii families. It offers seasonal programs, SAT/ACT/SSAT prep, English camps, and settlement services focused on Ivy League admissions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tutoring and Test Preparation Services

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

College Readiness & Admissions Prep Centers (Small-Group Workshops) (EDANAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Test Prep Learning Centers (SAT/ACT, AP/IB, State Exams) (EDANAHAH), AP/IB & Subject-Specific Standardized Exams Prep (AP, IB, SAT Subject legacy, subject exams) (EDANABAE), Gifted, Advanced & Acceleration Centers (Honors/AP/IB Enrichment) (EDANAHAL)

Keywords

• Test preparation tutoring
• College admissions coaching
• K-12 academic tutoring
• English language instruction
• International student services

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tutition-based Educational Programs: Revenue generated from seasonal programs (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter), school break programs, test prep courses (SAT, SSAT, ACT, TOEFL), English and Math tutoring, homework help, debate classes, and college entrance workshops. Programs range from multi-week seasonal offerings to intensive boot camps and individualized tutoring sessions.
2. English Camp Programs: Exclusive foreign student English camps (Winter and Summer) with bundled pricing including Homestay Fee, Education Fee, Lunch/Snack Fee, Field Trip/Transportation Fee, and Teaching Materials. Limited to 15 students per camp.
3. Settlement Services: Long-term settlement service ($2000) including airport pickup, housing rental, furniture purchase, car purchase/ driver's license registration, bank account setup, social security/state ID registration, utility setup, phone activation. School interview preparation service ($1000).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ivy Prep Academy is a Honolulu-based tutoring and test preparation center that delivers personalized K-12 academic instruction, standardized test prep (SAT, ACT, SSAT, PSAT, TOEFL), and college admissions coaching to local Hawaii students and international students from Korea, Japan, and China. Programs are delivered through seasonal long-term courses, intensive school-break boot camps, exclusive limited-enrollment workshops, and supplementary support services such as homestay, guardian, and settlement assistance.

Product overview

Ivy Prep Academy is a comprehensive education services company offering a portfolio of tutoring and test preparation products. The core offering consists of seasonal programs (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter) that provide long-term academic improvement, supplemented by intensive school break boot camps. Key academic products include Test Prep classes for SAT, ACT, SSAT, PSAT, and TOEFL; English and Math instruction for grades K-12; Homework Help; Debate Classes; and 1-on-1 Tutoring. The company also operates exclusive limited-enrollment programs including the SAT & SSAT Special D-Day Program and College Entrance & Preparation Workshop. Additionally, the academy provides student support services including English Camp, Homestay Service, Guardian Service, Airport Shuttle, and Settlement Services for international students studying in Hawaii.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Seasonal Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, NYU, Purdue within two years of inception
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Prep Expert: SAT/ACT prep coaching company founded by a perfect-score student offering live online courses and tutoring. Direct peer in SAT-focused admissions outcomes positioning.
• PrepScholar: Online SAT and ACT prep platform using adaptive algorithms to personalize study plans. Direct overlap on test prep product with Ivy Prep but delivered online at lower price points.
• Varsity Tutors: Online tutoring and test prep platform offering 1-on-1 tutoring, group classes, and adaptive learning across K-12 and standardized exams. Overlaps with Ivy Prep's personalized tutoring and test prep but operates primarily online.
• Wyzant: Online marketplace connecting students with private tutors across subjects and standardized tests. Overlaps with Ivy Prep's 1-on-1 tutoring but distributed and tutor-driven versus Ivy Prep's branded in-person center.
• Magoosh: Online test prep provider specializing in GRE, GMAT, SAT, and TOEFL prep via video lessons and practice tests. Overlaps with Ivy Prep's TOEFL and SAT offerings through self-paced digital delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Kaplan Test Prep: Established test prep and admissions provider with SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT prep plus admissions counseling. Overlaps on exam prep offerings but covers a much broader exam and learner base.
• The Princeton Review: Large incumbent test prep company offering SAT, ACT, SSAT, and TOEFL prep courses plus college admissions counseling. Broader portfolio and online scale; overlapping offerings in the same standardized exams Ivy Prep targets.
• Huntington Learning Center: National franchise-based tutoring and test prep provider serving K-12 with a center-based model. Compares on small-group tutoring, test prep, and college readiness positioning though distributed across hundreds of US locations.
• Sylvan Learning: Long-standing tutoring franchise focused on K-12 academic support, test prep, and study skills. Comparable model (center-based, individualized tutoring, SAT/ACT/SSAT preparation) with national scale Ivy Prep lacks.

Direct peers

• C2 Education: National tutoring and test prep chain focused on college admissions, SAT/ACT prep, and AP subject tutoring for K-12 students. Direct peer due to overlapping test prep, college admissions counseling, and small-group tutoring model with similar customer segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ivy-prep-academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ivy Prep Academy