De Wit gained international recognition for building The Little Gym, which in 2022 ranked in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power.
Above: Alexander in The Little Gym Europe with his beloved dog, Togo.
Bio
(Co)Founder of
The Little Gym – Europe and Middle East (founder)
Empowering children through education and movement, fostering the essential life skills they need to grow into happy and successful adults. The Little Gym is a springboard for life’s adventures.
Planet First Partners (co-founder)
A €450 million sustainability growth fund committed to leaving a healthy planet for future generations.
Stake sold in 2023 at a 120x multiple.
Venturi Partners (co-founder)
Venturi Partners is a Singapore-based investment platform for families looking to participate in Asia’s consumer growth story.
Stake sold in 2023 (multiple with earnout).
Confetti Snacks (co-founder)
Crafting upcycled, colorful, and nutritious foods made from ugly veggies and fruits, reducing food waste and championing healthier snacking.
Twinscape (founder)
Creating agile spaces in a world where space is increasingly scarce.
Partial stake sold at a 20x multiple.
CovWorld (co-founder)
A tech-enabled marketplace elevating out-of-home media display craftsmanship to new heights.
Optimade (co-founder)
Designing, producing, and installing high-end hospitality spaces, epitomizing agile craftsmanship.
Stake sold in 2024 at a 16x multiple.
Additional Supporting Roles
LaTour Media Group
A tech-enabled disruptor in out-of-home content creation, media and marketing campaigns.
StudyHall
An AI platform on a mission to close the preparation gap for all K-12 students.
Zulu Ecosystems
An integrated solution to source, optimize and deliver nature regeneration at scale that matters – with unrivaled quality.
Ecostal
A leading European distributor of renewal energy solutions.
Prior Experience
Managing Director at Verlinvest (early-stage investor in unicorn brands such as Oatly, Vita Coco, Vitamin Water, Byju’s) and a management consultant at McKinsey & Co.
Education: Alexander holds an MBA from INSEAD alongside a Master’s degree in Business Engineering from the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management. He also graduated from the OPM Executive Program at Harvard Business School, where he was notably the first graduate selected to become an executive coach upon graduation. Additionally, Alexander studied neuroscience at the Institute of Neurocognitivism, earning certification as a Neuro Practitioner (ANC).
Executive Coach for growth entrepreneurs at Harvard Business school and Endeavor.
Board Roles include serving as the Chairman of Confetti Fine Foods, The Little Gym of Europe, Twinscape Group and CovWorld; he participates in the board of Study Hall, LaTour Media Group and Ecostal.
Adventurous Spirit: He has a love of sports (including acrobatic trapeze, water and alpine skiing, horse riding), architecture and interior design as well as geopolitics, choral music and contemporary history. His philanthropic work is focused on coaching young people to develop their self-confidence and self-esteem and so pursue motivating careers.
Author: His first book, Trini’s Big Leap, co- authored with American writer Beth Kephart, was published in August 2019. He is currently working on his next book that will provide (aspiring) entrepreneurs and change-makers with insightful keys to success.
Grit Beats Talent
How a single experience can contribute to developing “entrepreneurial drive.”
Whilst in primary school I became fascinated by the renowned boys choir Les Pastoureaux; a fascination that was to have a lasting and positive influence upon my life. As a boy, I dreamed of joining the choir. After failing the tough audition and entrance exam three times and despite my parents claiming repeatedly that I couldn’t sing (judging from the sounds coming out of the bathroom when I was singing in the shower), I was finally accepted into the choir and was allowed to join my more talented friends who had been admitted at their first audition.
My dream became a reality and over the years that reality went beyond my dreams as I became a soloist by age ten. I went on to record many records, I sang in a dozen different languages at international festivals and at prestigious venues such as The White House. This was not the result of talent, but perseverance and work; relentless perseverance and very hard work.
It was here that I first consciously experienced the pleasure of learning and the power of grit and will power. It is no surprise to me that this territory is a growing area of research in neuroscience and by specialists such as Angela Duckworth, author of “Grit, the Power of Passion and Perseverance” and the CEO and Founder of Character Lab.
Grit and willpower have allowed me to develop my drive, to pursue my dreams and to overcome challenges against the odds. I also experienced how you can accomplish so much more as a team that shares both vision and values.
Those learnings have been at the core of my motivation to become an impact entrepreneur and to launch a motor skills programme – as well as of my determination to pursue this dream despite general scepticism of those I talked to about it.
I wanted all the children in the world to experience the pleasure of learning, to have the self-confidence to pursue their dreams and to develop the grit and will power to turn challenges into opportunities. I also want them to experience the richness of the diversity, of others’ – “I am good at gymnastics, you are good at encouraging others” – this is how teams with complementary members can become an unstoppable force and achieve the impossible.
From the desk of Alexander de Wit
Purpose led growth investors who understand how disruptive innovation can scale and succeed are difficult to find. Alexander made an immediate contribution to our global ambitions, in terms of his strategic thinking, knowledge of building consumer centric brands and access to some of the top decision makers globally on complex nexus issues like plastic pollution.
– Niall Dunne, Polymateria
During my first encounter with Alexander, it immediately struck me how much he cherishes talent. Having worked with Alexander over the years has taught me a lot. He has kept me driven and supported me to be the best version of myself and develop my skill set. With his vast experience, Alexander taught me many things that gave me an edge over others. Even now I know that I can count on Alexander whenever I need it.
– Sebastian Huybrechts, Oliver Wyman
Alexander is a truly gifted business leader who combines ability to deal with complex business issues, a deep understanding of human psychology, and exceptional people development skills. His leadership style is one of consensus, yielding strong organisational impact and transformational growth.
– Simone Sallustio, Verlinvest
Above: Alexander in The Little Gym Europe with his beloved dog, Togo.
De Wit gained international recognition for building The Little Gym, which in 2022 ranked in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power.
Bio
(Co)Founder of
The Little Gym – Europe and Middle East (founder)
Empowering children through education and movement, fostering the essential life skills they need to grow into happy and successful adults. The Little Gym is a springboard for life’s adventures.
Planet First Partners (co-founder)
A €450 million sustainability growth fund committed to leaving a healthy planet for future generations.
Stake sold in 2023 at a 120x multiple.
Venturi Partners (co-founder)
Venturi Partners is a Singapore-based investment platform for families looking to participate in Asia’s consumer growth story.
Stake sold in 2023 (multiple with earnout).
Confetti Snacks (co-founder)
Crafting upcycled, colorful, and nutritious foods made from ugly veggies and fruits, reducing food waste and championing healthier snacking.
Twinscape (founder)
Creating agile spaces in a world where space is increasingly scarce.
Partial stake sold at a 20x multiple.
CovWorld (co-founder)
A tech-enabled marketplace elevating out-of-home media display craftsmanship to new heights.
Optimade (co-founder)
Designing, producing, and installing high-end hospitality spaces, epitomizing agile craftsmanship.
Stake sold in 2024 at a 16x multiple.
FoundUP Partners (co-founder)
Turning entrepreneurial opportunities in a rapidly changing world into successful, disruptive businesses.
Additional Supporting Roles
LaTour Media Group
A tech-enabled disruptor in out-of-home content creation, media and marketing campaigns.
StudyHall
An AI platform on a mission to close the preparation gap for all K-12 students.
Zulu Ecosystems
An integrated solution to source, optimize and deliver nature regeneration at scale that matters – with unrivaled quality.
Ecostal
A leading European distributor of renewal energy solutions.
Prior Experience
Managing Director at Verlinvest (early-stage investor in unicorn brands such as Oatly, Vita Coco, Vitamin Water, Byju’s) and a management consultant at McKinsey & Co.
Education: Alexander holds an MBA from INSEAD alongside a Master’s degree in Business Engineering from the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management. He also graduated from the OPM Executive Program at Harvard Business School, where he was notably the first graduate selected to become an executive coach upon graduation. Additionally, Alexander studied neuroscience at the Institute of Neurocognitivism, earning certification as a Neuro Practitioner (ANC).
Executive Coach for growth entrepreneurs at Harvard Business school and Endeavor.
Board Roles include serving as the Chairman of Confetti Fine Foods, The Little Gym of Europe, Twinscape Group and CovWorld; he participates in the board of Study Hall, LaTour Media Group and Ecostal.
Adventurous Spirit: He has a love of sports (including acrobatic trapeze, water and alpine skiing, horse riding), architecture and interior design as well as geopolitics, choral music and contemporary history. His philanthropic work is focused on coaching young people to develop their self-confidence and self-esteem and so pursue motivating careers.
Author: His first book, Trini’s Big Leap, co- authored with American writer Beth Kephart, was published in August 2019. He is currently working on his next book that will provide (aspiring) entrepreneurs and change-makers with insightful keys to success.
Grit Beats Talent
How a single experience can contribute to developing “entrepreneurial drive.”
Whilst in primary school I became fascinated by the renowned boys choir Les Pastoureaux; a fascination that was to have a lasting and positive influence upon my life. As a boy, I dreamed of joining the choir. After failing the tough audition and entrance exam three times and despite my parents claiming repeatedly that I couldn’t sing (judging from the sounds coming out of the bathroom when I was singing in the shower), I was finally accepted into the choir and was allowed to join my more talented friends who had been admitted at their first audition.
My dream became a reality and over the years that reality went beyond my dreams as I became a soloist by age ten. I went on to record many records, I sang in a dozen different languages at international festivals and at prestigious venues such as The White House. This was not the result of talent, but perseverance and work; relentless perseverance and very hard work.
It was here that I first consciously experienced the pleasure of learning and the power of grit and will power. It is no surprise to me that this territory is a growing area of research in neuroscience and by specialists such as Angela Duckworth, author of “Grit, the Power of Passion and Perseverance” and the CEO and Founder of Character Lab.
Grit and willpower have allowed me to develop my drive, to pursue my dreams and to overcome challenges against the odds. I also experienced how you can accomplish so much more as a team that shares both vision and values.
Those learnings have been at the core of my motivation to become an impact entrepreneur and to launch a motor skills programme – as well as of my determination to pursue this dream despite general scepticism of those I talked to about it.
I wanted all the children in the world to experience the pleasure of learning, to have the self-confidence to pursue their dreams and to develop the grit and will power to turn challenges into opportunities. I also want them to experience the richness of the diversity, of others’ – “I am good at gymnastics, you are good at encouraging others” – this is how teams with complementary members can become an unstoppable force and achieve the impossible.
From the desk of Alexander de Wit