March 6, 2023, BOZEMAN, Mont. – LandTrust, the Bozeman-based online land sharing marketplace connecting landowners with outdoor recreationists, has successfully completed its $6 million Series A funding. The funding round was led by the Wilks organization with participation from the Kevin O’Leary directed Wonder Fund ND. LandTrust currently lists over 1 million acres connecting landowners with outdoor enthusiasts, creating income for the landowners and facilitating access to private lands for recreational experiences. This new funding will allow further expansion into five more states in 2023. To book an experience or learn how to list your land to the site go to https://landtrust.com/.
Similar to other companies in the sharing economy, such as home sharing sites like Airbnb and VRBO, LandTrust is a land sharing site where landowners can earn income by hosting a full range of outdoor recreational experiences on their land including hunting, fishing, bird watching, RVing, and more. Landowners currently list over 1 million acres on LandTrust which can be searched by state, property name, or activity.
“Our LandTrust investment marks the first among a strong pipeline of investments we will make in 2023,“ said Kevin O’Leary of “Shark Tank” fame and the director of Wonder Fun ND through O’Leary Ventures. “We believe in Nic and his team and their ability to execute a bold vision to open up more opportunities for outdoor recreation while creating new revenue streams for landowners.”
Wonder Fund ND’s investment is part of the $6 million LandTrust Series A round of financing with lead investment by the Wilks’ Brothers, who are among the largest private landowners in the country.
The Wilks’ commitment is more than being the lead investor in LandTrust’s Series A financing, they are also adding hundreds of thousands of acres of their own lands to the platform.
“We invested in LandTrust and are adding some of our lands to the platform because it allows us to provide the general public access to our private land in a safe, secure and simple way to create a more equitable and accessible outdoor experience for all,” said Justin Wilks, Executive Vice President at Wilks Brothers.
“We believe the Wilks Brother’s investment and contribution of their land holdings to the platform will allow LandTrust to scale in an accelerated manner,” said O’Leary.
Wilks lands in Idaho and Montana will be listed on the platform in the coming months and will offer hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation opportunities.
“At LandTrust, we believe the future of working lands will be dependent on a portfolio of income from agricultural production, conservation, and recreational opportunities,” said Nic De Castro, Founder and CEO of LandTrust. “We help landowners tap into the income potential of those recreational opportunities, and at the same time open up millions of acres of private land for outdoor enthusiasts to have new experiences and create lasting memories.”
“Compared to traditional annual leases, landowners prefer LandTrust’s short-term rental model because it enables them to continue letting their friends, family, and neighbors hunt, fish or otherwise enjoy their land and then generate income from their land when they aren’t using it,” De Castro said.
About LandTrust: LandTrust is an easy to use online marketplace that connects landowners with outdoor recreationists to create income for landowners and recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. LandTrust currently lists over 1 million acres owned by hundreds of landowners, many who are 4th, 5th, or even 6th generation owners, offering do-it-yourself outdoor opportunities including hunting, fishing, birdwatching, foraging, and farm and ranch tours. Activities on LandTrust can be booked similarly to other online marketplaces in the sharing economy, such as home sharing on Airbnb and VRBO, with the landowner retaining control over their land. LandTrust currently lists lands in the Rocky Mountain West and Great Plains with plans to expand into five more states in 2023. Learn more at https://landtrust.com/.
