Verdane Increases Investment in HappyOrNot to Support Next Phase of Growth
Long term existing owner acquires majority stake in HappyOrNot, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the company’s strategy, leadership and potential.
Tampere, Finland – Leading European growth investor Verdane has acquired a majority stake in HappyOrNot, buying out early-stage investors and non-active founders.
A longstanding investor in HappyOrNot, Verdane has worked closely with the management team over recent years as the company has strengthened its platform, expanded its AI capabilities and evolved beyond traditional customer feedback towards embedding real-time data in customer’s operational systems, providing insight to drive both efficiency and growth.
The transaction solidifies the company’s ownership structure and creates full alignment around a shared long-term vision for the business. Simultaneously, Tim Waterton, previously Chief Revenue Officer, steps in as Chief Executive Officer and Carl Holmquist steps in as Chairman, strengthening the company’s leadership in this next phase.
Carl Holmquist, Chairman of HappyOrNot, commented:
“Before I knew HappyOrNot as an investment, I knew it as infrastructure – the terminal you tap on your way through an airport, supermarket or bank branch. What stands out is the scale: millions of real-time customer data points, captured at the exact moment of experience. That kind of data is becoming more valuable as AI-generated noise floods the digital world.
Verdane’s decision to increase its investment reflects our confidence in the future strategy, the leadership team and the opportunity ahead. HappyOrNot has a unique combination of customer relationships and data assets that we believe makes it exceptionally well positioned for its next phase of growth.”
Erling Amble, Board Member at HappyOrNot and Investor at Verdane, commented:
“This transaction reflects Verdane’s confidence in HappyOrNot’s long-term strategy and our belief that in an AI-enabled world, organisations are increasingly looking beyond traditional online customer feedback data towards verifiable, human, real-time data embedded in operational systems, helping teams make faster and better-informed decisions.
With more than 4,000 customers across 135 countries and over 2 billion feedback responses collected, HappyOrNot continues to invest in AI, data and product innovation to help organisations transform everyday interactions into actionable operational intelligence.
We’re very excited to continue backing the business, management team and organisation on the next part of its journey.”
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. The flexible mandates of Verdane funds allow it to invest as a majority or minority control investor, replacement or growth capital, in single companies or in portfolios of companies.
Verdane has raised €10 billion in capital and its funds have made more than 200 investments in fast-growing businesses since 2003. Verdane’s team of over 180 investment professionals and operating experts is based out of Berlin, Copenhagen, London, Helsinki, Munich, Oslo and Stockholm and combines deep sector expertise with long-standing local networks and presence in core European markets.
Verdane is also a certified B Corporation, one of the most ambitious sustainability accreditations 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. Visit www.verdane.com to learn more.