Searching in the UK?

May 19, 2026

by Luke Tatone from Massachusetts Institute of Technology - MIT Sloan School of Management in Portland, OR, USA

We're working hard to grow the Searchfunder community in the UK. Please take a moment to introduce yourself below. Some questions to consider answering: Where are you based? What is your background? What's your buy box? Have you acquired yet? Where do you need the most help right now? Where can you provide help to others? Anything else on your mind? We'll be able to have much deeper discussions if you can provide as much detail as possible. A paragraph or two is perfect. Be sure to tag (@) when replying to comments to make sure your sub-comments are read.

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Reply by a searcher
from National Aerospace University Kharkov Aviation Institute in London, UK

Based in London. Originally from Ukraine, ten years in Berlin before moving over earlier this year. Software engineering background — ~25 years total, a few entrepreneurial chapters, the last decade in Berlin startups. Most recently, CTO of a turnaround: we took an insolvent compliance business, rebuilt it into a SaaS business, and exited to PE in 3 years. Currently finishing my Executive MBA at LBS (graduating July 2026). Status: Considering a search post-MBA. Exploring ideas and looking for a co-founder for a partnered search. Direction: A partnered, self-funded search in the UK. My instinct is to point to regulation/compliance, and given my background, the deal will certainly have a software engineering angle - tech-enabled services, software platform serving a regulated niche, or an existing SaaS with room for operational improvement. A few specific ideas I'd like to pressure-test with a partner. Where I need help: Intros to commercially savvy searchers open to partnering on a technical transformation thesis. Where I can help: Technical due diligence, operational improvements in software delivery, and building automation/tooling to make the search process itself more efficient. Dima

Reply by a searcher
from Imperial College London in Wakefield, UK

@redacted‌ Where -> United Kingdom. What -> Operator-led buy-and-build / roll-up in logistics operations. Target -> 1 platform business, then smaller bolt-on acquisitions. Past -> 25+ years in logistics, supply chain, warehousing, transport, automation, and multi-site operations. Senior leadership experience across Next, GXO, ASOS, Alliance Automotive, and RLP Advisory Services. Buy Box -> Founder-led UK logistics businesses. Road freight, warehousing, fulfilment, distribution, last-mile, specialist transport, cold chain, or logistics-heavy manufacturing. £1m–£15m revenue. Positive operating profit. Ideally 15%+ EBITDA margin. Sub-£5m EV. Valuation -> Target entry at 3–5x EBITDA, with preference for vendor financing, deferred consideration, and performance-linked earn-outs. Capital -> Seeking aligned capital partner for first platform acquisition, transaction costs, working capital, and initial shared services setup. Longer-term capital to support bolt-ons once the platform is stable. Acquired yet? -> No. Currently building the target pipeline, investor conversations, and acquisition criteria. Help -> Looking for investors, brokers, and people with real buy-and-build experience in UK logistics or operational services. Where I can help -> Hands-on operator with deep logistics experience. I understand how to improve margin, stabilise operations, professionalise founder-led businesses, and build the cadence needed to scale.

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