After 3.5 years as active owners and board participants in OptoScale, we are proud to see OptoScale take its next step in scaling internationally under new ownership. Global software investor Insight Partners are investing the company, acquiring all Skagerak Capital shares.
OptoScale provides real-time operational insights to the aquaculture industry using a combination of advanced underwater imaging and artificial intelligence. The company’s platform enables fish farmers to optimize operations, improve fish welfare, and reduce both costs and environmental impact – demonstrating the powerful intersection of AI, climate tech, and industrial performance.
Skagerak Capital backed OptoScale in the fall of 2021 due to a strong belief in the founder, the mission, and the potential of AI to create measurable climate impact in one of Norway’s most important industries. That belief has been strongly validated the partnership with Insight Partners. Throughout our ownership period, the company has delivered significant revenue growth and built a robust customer base that includes 7 of the 10 largest fish farming companies globally – a reflection of the strategic relevance of OptoScale’s technology and the quality of the team behind it.
"Getting Insight Partners on board is a major milestone and underscores the incredible performance the company has achieved," says Andreas Eskeland, Partner at Skagerak Capital and board member of OptoScale. "This is a strong signal that Norwegian tech can lead globally, and that AI-driven climate tech solutions are attracting world-class investors."
OptoScale’s impact has extended beyond financial performance – with strong alignment between environmental, operational, and economic outcomes. These effects have been independently documented during our ownership period.
This transaction is also a financial milestone for Skagerak Capital IV. It allows us to return capital to our fund investors well before the fund’s fifth fund anniversary – a strong testiment of Skagerak Capital’s climate tech investment strategy.
We congratulate the entire OptoScale team and look forward to following their continued growth with Insight Partners on board.