Subscribe to unlock this article
Thanks for your support.
Alec Dent, a British-French entrepreneur known for co-founding and exiting VC-backed grocery delivery business Weezy, has launched 1868 Capital, a SF focused on acquiring and operating a profitable British SME. The name takes inspiration from the opening of St Pancras Station in 1868, a symbol of British heritage restored for modern relevance.
He is backed by an international group of 12 investors who have collectively been involved in over 200 business acquisitions. This group includes Ambit Partners, Orca Equity Partners, Istria Capital, Cerralvo, Forti Search Fund Partners, TTCER Partners, 2nd Act Partners, The Cromwell Harbor Partnership, Simon Webster, Alex Tuya, Till Bossert, and Alexander Kirn.
Alec is an accomplished entrepreneur with over a decade of experience as a business owner, CEO, COO, and Director of Strategy across companies ranging from early-stage startups to global enterprises. He began his career as Managing Director in France for BBA Reman, a British SME remanufacturing automotive electronics across Europe, which gave him a deep appreciation for niche businesses with high standards. He later joined BlaBlaCar and Drover, before co-founding Weezy in 2020. There, he raised equity and debt, scaled the business to 25 locations in under two years, and exited successfully to Getir. At Getir, he led various due diligence efforts, post-merger integrations, and managed business units with revenues ranging from inception to £50m+. He is also an active angel investor, with over 20 investments in fast-growing tech companies.
He told us: “1868 Capital is about preserving the legacy of a successful British SME by committing to lead the business as CEO post-acquisition. I am looking for a stable, profitable business with recurring revenue and growth potential, with a particular interest in the B2B services space — though I’m looking at a broad range of sectors”.
Dent tackles the UK’s growing SME succession gap, a major economic risk as SMEs represent 60% of private sector jobs. 1868 Capital provides an entrepreneur-led solution focused on continuity and care for both employees and customers.
As a former Oxford Boat Race winner, he combines competitive drive with operational experience and empathy as a former business owner who led a 1,000-employee company through a successful sale. His choice to acquire reflects a shift from the typical founder path, prioritizing long-term stewardship and legacy over quick exits and disruption.
