Verlinvest & Family Trust launch The International Bouldering Alliance, the world’s largest bouldering platform
The International Bouldering Alliance, in partnership with long-term investors, brings together five leading brands to champion bouldering as a sport, and bring it to more people around the world.
London, Munich, and Copenhagen, October 6th, 2026 – Verlinvest and Family Trust Investor (FTI) have partnered with the teams behind five of Europe’s leading bouldering brands to form The International Bouldering Alliance (IBA), the largest bouldering platform in the world by number of sites. The IBA brings together national leaders The Climbing Hangar in the UK, Boulders in Denmark, and Urban Apes, Der Steinbock, and Café Kraft in Germany and Austria, with 39 gyms across four countries.
Bouldering has grown from a niche community into one of the most dynamic and inclusive sports of its generation, driven by rising participation among younger climbers, newcomers looking for community-driven health and wellness activities, and its addition to the Olympic program.
The IBA has more than 40,000 members and welcomes more than 3.4 million visits each year, and members will be able to climb across the group through the new IBA European Pass. The IBA’s ambition is to accelerate the growth of bouldering, expanding geographically and beyond the gym into new formats, services, and experiences that bring its community together, drive participation, and elevate the sport as a whole.
Alongside its gyms, The IBA will bring together events, competitions, digital connectivity, and partnerships across its markets, building a global community of climbers ‘Getting Stronger Together‘. Community remains at the heart of each brand, and The IBA will invest in best-in-class digital infrastructure, marketing, and data to strengthen it and improve the climbing experience for beginners and experienced climbers alike. The group will grow through new openings and acquisitions of complementary operators, initially in Europe.
Verlinvest is a global, family-backed, consumer-focused evergreen investment firm and an existing investor in The Climbing Hangar and Boulders. FTI is a Munich-based investment firm and an existing investor in Urban Apes, Der Steinbock and Café Kraft. Both are long-term investors with a track record in consumer, sports, and leisure. The IBA builds on Verlinvest’s strategy of backing high-growth, category-defining sports and entertainment brands globally, including K1 Speed, KaraFun, and Baller League (via V3 Ventures).
“This is an exciting next step for all of us,” said Ole Mørk and Malcolm Armstrong, The IBA’s regional CEOs. “Each of our brands has grown out of its own community, and that’s not changing. What changes is what we can do together: share what works, learn from each other, invest more in routesetting and in our people, and open new gyms so more people can discover bouldering.”
Ben Black, Managing Director at Verlinvest, said: “Today we are delighted to announce the launch of The International Bouldering Alliance, bringing together a number of leading operators in the sport. We strongly believe bouldering is still in the very early stages of its development and participation. Our joint ambition for The IBA is to champion its growth as an enabler and accelerator, bringing a greater use of data, route-setting best-practice and climber-centricity; expanding accessibility with more gyms, and developing a global champion for bouldering both within the gym network and beyond into new business areas as the sport evolves.”
Carsten Abdel-Hadi, Managing Partner at FTI, said: “When we partnered with Lars, Malte, and Urban Apes in 2020, we saw a passionate team, a strong community, and the potential to build something truly special. Together, we have grown from three gyms to 19 locations across Germany and Austria, while staying true to what makes Urban Apes unique: creating great places for people to climb, connect, and enjoy the sport. Joining forces with The Climbing Hangar and Boulders is the natural next chapter of that journey. We are excited to partner with Verlinvest and three outstanding management teams to combine their experience, ideas, and passion, and to build a leading European bouldering platform that can help shape the future of the sport.”
About the International Bouldering Alliance (IBA)
Launched in 2026, The International Bouldering Alliance (IBA) is the largest bouldering platform in the world by number of sites, with 39 gyms across the UK, Denmark, Germany, and Austria under five brands: The Climbing Hangar, Boulders, Urban Apes, Der Steinbock, and Café Kraft.
Bouldering is no longer a niche sport. Olympic, social, and open to every level, it is drawing a new generation of climbers. The IBA exists to lead its next chapter, as a sport and a lifestyle, bringing it to more people, in more places. It gives gym operators long-term backing and state-of-the-art operations and technology to do what they do best: build vibrant communities and set world-class routes.
Backed by Verlinvest and Family Trust, The IBA is growing through new sites and partnerships with independent operators.
More info: www.internationalbouldering.com
About Verlinvest
Verlinvest is an international, family-backed evergreen investment company. Verlinvest identifies inflection points in consumer behaviors and partners with the businesses driving these consumer revolutions forward while having a positive impact. Established in 1995, with offices in Brussels, London, New York, Singapore, and Mumbai, Verlinvest focuses on the FMCG, health, consumer technology and lifestyle categories, investing across three strategies: Venture, Growth, and Platform — from early-stage backing through large-scale brand building.
The company has over €2.5bn in AuM and counts brands such as Oatly, Vita Coco, Tony’s Chocolonely, Purplle, K1 Speed, Mutti, Who Gives A Crap, and Insomnia Cookies among its portfolio, alongside alumni Chewy, Sula, and Vitaminwater.
Further information is available at www.verlinvest.com
About Family Trust
Family Trust Investor (FTI) is a fast-growing Munich-based private equity company. FTI acquires medium-sized companies as part of succession solutions and also specializes in buy & build concepts. FTI supports its portfolio companies with management succession, the professionalization of structures and processes, and the execution of acquisitions as part of consolidation strategies. FTI’s investor base consists of renowned family offices, institutional investors, and wealthy private individuals.
Further information is available at: www.familytrust.de