LandTrust, a new online land sharing marketplace, has recently completed its $6 million Series A funding. LandTrust connects landowners with outdoor enthusiasts seeking access to private lands for outdoor recreation.

Akin to home-sharing sites like Airbnb and Vrbo, LandTrust lets landowners share access to their private lands for a range of outdoor recreational experiences, including hunting, fishing, bird-watching, foraging, and RVing.

New Opportunities for Outdoor Recreation

LandTrust listings currently include more than 1 million acres in the Rocky Mountain West and Great Plains. Users can search listings by state, property name, or activity. With the newly acquired funding, LandTrust expects to expand to five additional states in 2023.

The funding round was led by Wilks Brothers — who ranked No. 13 on the 2022 Land Report 100  — with participation from the Kevin O’Leary-directed Wonder Fund North Dakota.

“Our LandTrust investment marks the first among a strong pipeline of investments we will make in 2023,” said O’Leary. “We believe in Nic [De Castro, LandTrust CEO] 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.”

In addition to serving as the lead investor in LandTrust’s Series A financing, Wilks Brothers is also adding hundreds of thousands of acres of its 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.

Innovative Land Income Stream

The goal of the company, according to LandTrust CEO Nic De Castro, is to open millions of acres of private land to allow outdoor enthusiasts to “have new experiences and create lasting memories.”

The platform offers a unique opportunity for landowners to generate a new income stream from their land through recreational rentals.

 “At LandTrust, we believe the future of working lands will be dependent on a portfolio of income from agricultural production, conservation, and recreational opportunities,” De Castro said.

About LandTrust

LandTrust is an online marketplace that creates income for landowners and recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. LandTrust currently lists over 1 million acres offering do-it-yourself outdoor opportunities, including hunting, fishing, bird-watching, foraging, and farm and ranch tours. Learn more at LandTrust.