Verdane, the specialist growth buyout investment firm, has entered into an agreement to make a significant majority investment in Natlink, the leading hunting and outdoor community software provider in Europe.
Natlink operates the market-leading WeHunt software which transforms how hunters plan, track and manage the hunting experience along with its Tracker Dog GPS devices and Burrel Trail Cameras.
Natlink is the leading hunting technology company in the Nordics, now serving more than 855,000 hunters and outdoor enthusiasts.
Carl von Eckermann, CEO of Natlink, said: “I’m incredibly proud of what the Natlink team has built over the past years—uniting hunters and outdoor enthusiasts through technology that strengthens safety, community, and wildlife management. Partnering with Verdane marks an exciting new chapter, and I together with the rest of the Natlink team are confident that their experience and values will help us grow and expand further and faster while staying true to the needs of our users and the traditions we serve.”
Natlink’s services create a more sustainable hunting and outdoor community for all participants. The company has partnered with FACE (The European Federation for Hunting and Conservation) and CIC (The International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation).
These partnerships help hunting communities, both locally and internationally, gain access to capabilities and expertise integrating technology into wildlife conservation efforts.
Daniel Ahlstrand, partner at Verdane, said: “We’re excited to partner with Carl and the entire Natlink team to accelerate the company’s growth. Natlink has built an impressive suite of products and services that help to create a more sustainable hunting and outdoor community. We look forward to helping them reach even more people.”
Open Air Group formed the Natlink group of businesses in 2024. The business will divest its ownership of Natlink as part of the agreement.
Completion of the transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.
Camilo Sjödin, CEO of Open Air Group, said: “We are extremely proud of the development of Natlink and what the team has accomplished during our eight years of ownership. We are convinced that the business will continue to develop well together with Verdane as a partner. The divestment is an opportunity for Open Air Group to increase focus on our e-com operations and product development, with unwavering ambition to serve outdoor enthusiasts and the hunting community with great products, elevating their every outdoor adventure.”
About Natlink
Natlink is the largest hunting technology company in the Nordics and one of the largest in Europe, providing leading brands such as WeHunt Hunting Platform, Tracker Dog GPS, and Burrel Trail Cameras. Together, these brands deliver a seamlessly integrated ecosystem for planning, communication, tracking, analysis, reporting, and wildlife monitoring. With over 855,000 registered users, Natlink serves hunters, outdoor enthusiasts, and wildlife managers around the world.
Natlink operates with a clear purpose: to enable an interconnected hunting and outdoor experience for all stakeholders in the industry. Guided by its vision to bring hunting and outdoor communities together, Natlink is on a mission to create a unified and seamless experience that makes hunting and outdoor activities more meaningful, easy, and secure. By combining cutting-edge technology with deep respect for nature and tradition, Natlink empowers individuals and organizations to collaborate, share, and thrive in a more connected outdoor world.
Rooted in Nordic values of functionality, reliability, and sustainability, Natlink’s technologies are trusted by local hunting teams and national organizations alike. The company also partners with leading institutions in hunting and conservation to promote sustainable, tech-enabled game management across Europe.
About Verdane
Verdane is a specialist growth buyout investment firm that partners with tech-enabled and sustainable businesses that help to digitalise and decarbonise the European economy. Verdane funds have the most flexible mandates in the industry. The firm can invest as a minority or majority investor, replacement or growth capital, in single companies or in portfolios of companies.
Verdane has over €8 billion in assets under management and its funds have made more than 200 investments in fast-growing businesses since 2003. Verdane’s team of over 150 investment professionals and operating experts is based out of Berlin, Munich, Copenhagen, Helsinki, London, Oslo and Stockholm, and combines deep sector expertise with deep local networks and presence in core European markets.
Verdane is also a certified B Corporation, the most ambitious sustainability accreditation globally. The firm only backs businesses that pass its 2040 test, which indicates whether the company can thrive in a more sustainable future economy.
Verdane is partly owned by the Verdane Foundation, which is focused on two areas: climate change and more equitable and inclusive local communities.
About Open Air Group
By proudly and actively managing a diverse portfolio of leading companies dedicated to the outdoor and hunting communities, Open Air Group strive to enhance the outdoor experience and to fostering a deep connection with nature. With several dynamic companies under our umbrella, organized into three distinct divisions — technology, brands, and e-commerce — we are committed to leading innovation and excellence in each niche. We want to unite people with nature and elevate every outdoor adventure through our pioneering operations across the Nordic region and beyond. Open Air Group is a Nalka Invest portfolio company.
