On February 17, 2026, Fulcrum announced the acquisition of Wildnote, a field data collection platform popular with environmental consulting, archaeology, and wildlife survey teams across the United States.
If your team uses Wildnote, you have questions. Here's what we know and what your options are.
What Happened
Fulcrum, a general-purpose mobile data collection platform, acquired Wildnote to expand into natural resource and environmental consulting markets. The deal brings Wildnote's industry-specific forms and customer base under Fulcrum's enterprise umbrella.
What This Means for Wildnote Users
Acquisitions in field data software follow a predictable pattern. Based on similar acquisitions in this space, here's what to expect:
Short Term (0-6 months)
- "Business as usual" messaging from both companies
- Wildnote will continue to function as-is
- Support may slow as teams are reorganized
- No immediate changes to pricing or features
Medium Term (6-18 months)
- Migration pressure to Fulcrum's platform
- Possible feature freezes on the Wildnote product
- Pricing changes as Wildnote is folded into Fulcrum's enterprise pricing model
- Key Wildnote employees may leave
Long Term (18+ months)
- Wildnote as a standalone product is likely sunsetted
- Users migrated to Fulcrum or left to find alternatives
- Industry-specific features may or may not survive the platform merger
This isn't pessimism — it's the pattern. When a larger platform acquires a smaller one, the smaller product eventually gets absorbed or discontinued.
What to Do Right Now
Whether you plan to stay with Wildnote/Fulcrum or explore alternatives, take these steps now:
1. Export Your Data
Don't wait. Export all project data, forms, photos, and templates from Wildnote while the platform is fully functional. Store exports locally and in cloud backup.
Formats to export:
- CSV for all tabular data
- Photos with original GPS metadata
- PDF reports for project records
- Any custom form templates
2. Document Your Workflows
While your Wildnote setup is fresh in mind, document:
- Which forms your team uses
- Custom fields and configurations
- Naming conventions and project structures
- Integration touchpoints (GIS, reporting, project management)
This documentation makes migration to any platform faster.
3. Evaluate Your Options
You have three paths forward:
Stay with Fulcrum. If your firm already uses Fulcrum or is comfortable with enterprise pricing, the transition may be straightforward. Be aware that Fulcrum is a general-purpose platform — some of Wildnote's industry-specific features may not transfer.
Switch to FieldTap. We built FieldTap for the same industries Wildnote serves: environmental consulting, archaeology, wildlife biology, and more. We offer free data migration from Wildnote, with pre-built forms that match common Wildnote workflows.
Build your own. Some firms use Survey123, KoBoToolbox, or custom solutions. These work but require more setup and technical maintenance.
Why Acquisitions Should Concern Field Teams
Software acquisitions create real operational risk for field teams:
Data access risk. If the acquiring company changes platforms, your historical data may be difficult to access or require conversion.
Pricing risk. Enterprise acquirers typically raise prices. Fulcrum's pricing starts well above Wildnote's — expect your costs to increase.
Feature risk. The industry-specific features that made Wildnote valuable (SHPO forms, wetland delineation templates, archaeological site recording) may not be priorities for Fulcrum's product team.
Vendor risk. Every acquisition is a reminder that depending on a single vendor means accepting the risk that their priorities will change.
The FieldTap Alternative
We built FieldTap because field data collection for environmental and cultural resource work deserves a purpose-built, independent platform — not a feature inside an enterprise software suite.
Here's what FieldTap offers Wildnote users:
- Free data migration — import your Wildnote CSV exports, photos, and GPS data
- Pre-built industry forms — environmental, archaeology, wildlife, forestry, and more
- SHPO-compliant exports — the same regulatory-ready outputs you relied on
- Transparent pricing — $37/user/month for Professional (up to 20 users), $49/user/month for Business (unlimited). No enterprise sales process.
- Independence — FieldTap is bootstrapped and founder-led. No venture capital, no acquisition plans.
- Offline-first — works identically without internet, syncs when you're back in range
How to Migrate
If you're ready to move:
- Export your data from Wildnote (CSV + photos)
- Sign up for FieldTap — 30-day free trial, no credit card
- Use our migration wizard to import your data
- Test with one project before committing fully
We also offer guided migration support. Contact us if you need help transitioning your team.
The Bottom Line
Acquisitions happen. What matters is how you respond. Export your data now, evaluate your options, and make a deliberate choice about where your field data lives next.
Your data should work for you, not for a platform's acquisition strategy.