Smarter Capital has appointed experienced growth investor Dan Tapson as an Advisor and Member of its Investment Committee, strengthening the group's capability as it pursues larger, high-potential acquisitions across the UK.
Strengthening the Investment Committee
Smarter Capital is delighted to welcome Dan Tapson as an Advisor and Member of the Investment Committee.
His appointment marks a significant step forward as the group continues to scale its ambitions and sharpen its focus on larger acquisitions with strong growth potential.
Dan will bring extensive investment experience, strategic insight and a broad professional network to the evaluation of opportunities across Smarter Capital's core sectors.
More than a decade backing ambitious scale-ups
Dan brings over a decade of experience backing and supporting ambitious scale-up businesses.
During his time at Business Growth Fund, one of the UK's most active growth investors, he led more than 20 investments ranging from approximately £1 million to £20 million, with a strong focus on consumer and technology businesses.
His portfolio included high-growth companies such as Seasalt, DevOpsGroup, UNRVLD, Christopher Ward, Archus and Stripe & Stare.
A strong cultural and strategic fit
Known for his entrepreneurial mindset, strategic clarity and people-first approach, Dan's values align closely with Smarter Capital's mission to back exceptional founders and build resilient, scalable businesses.
His ability to identify strong management teams, evaluate growth potential and support businesses beyond the transaction will add valuable depth to the group's investment process.
“The experience, insight and network Dan built during his time at BGF will be invaluable as we pursue our next phase of growth.”
Mark Callaghan, Group Chief Executive, Smarter Capital
Supporting the next phase of Smarter Capital's growth
Mark Callaghan said Dan's connections across the investment ecosystem and his track record of supporting ambitious teams make him an ideal fit for Smarter Capital.
He said he is excited to work alongside Dan as the group continues building its team and expanding its capabilities in acquiring and scaling high-quality businesses.
“The team here are operators, not just investors, and it is evident they truly understand the grit, creativity and support it takes to build something meaningful.”
Dan Tapson, Advisor and Investment Committee Member
Backing founders with more than capital
Dan said he is thrilled to join Smarter Capital's Investment Committee because he believes in backing founders with more than just capital.
He highlighted the group's operator-led model and its understanding of what it takes to build meaningful, enduring businesses.
Dan will use his experience to advise on investment opportunities and support the team's founder-first approach to growth and value creation.
A sharper focus on larger acquisitions
Smarter Capital is entering a new phase, with an increasing focus on acquiring businesses with revenue above £10 million that match its core sector criteria.
The group will continue to apply the same founder-first ethos, commercial energy and strategic rigour that have shaped its growth since launch.
Dan's appointment adds further investment experience and governance capability as the business assesses larger and increasingly complex opportunities.
A growing portfolio and operating platform
Since launching in 2023, Smarter Capital has built a growing portfolio of founder-led businesses with strong fundamentals and significant untapped potential.
Its flexible investment model combines strategic insight, operational support and pragmatic decision-making without the overhead or rigidity often associated with traditional private equity.
At the time of the appointment, the group was approaching £30 million in consolidated revenue and exceeding £2 million in consolidated EBIT.
About Smarter Capital
Smarter Capital is a UK-based investment firm expanding through strategic mergers and acquisitions.
The group partners with ambitious entrepreneurs and management teams to accelerate growth and unlock long-term value through hands-on support, strategic insight and a commitment to sustainable success.
Learn more about Smarter Capital