If you have ever searched for a VPN online, there is a very good chance that NordVPN was the first name that came up. It is everywhere — on YouTube, on podcasts, on billboards, and on the devices of more than 14 million users across the world. But behind all those ads and all that brand recognition, very few people actually know who owns NordVPN, where the money comes from, or how the company is structured. The answers are genuinely surprising — and for anyone who cares about internet privacy, they actually matter.
Here is the complete, verified ownership story of NordVPN in 2026.
What Is NordVPN?
NordVPN is a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service created in 2012 that has become one of the world’s top VPNs over the years. It operates globally, with offices in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, Lithuania, Switzerland, and Panama.
In simple terms, a VPN hides your internet activity from your internet provider, hackers, and government surveillance by routing your connection through an encrypted tunnel and making it appear as though you are browsing from a different location entirely. NordVPN has over 9,500 servers in 149 countries. All servers are RAM-only, which means all information is deleted once you disconnect, ensuring robust privacy.
Who Owns NordVPN Right Now in 2026?
Nord Security, a global cybersecurity company, owns NordVPN. Its parent company, Nord Security, is headquartered in Lithuania.
But the ownership chain goes one level deeper. NordVPN is owned by Nord Security, a cybersecurity company originally founded in Lithuania. The VPN service itself is operated under nordvpn S.A., a company registered in Panama. The ownership chain is: NordVPN → nordvpn S.A. (Panama) → Nord Security (parent company).
And above Nord Security sits yet another layer. Nord Security is owned by Tesonet, a Lithuanian venture builder and tech accelerator that supports, funds, and scales cybersecurity, AI, EdTech, and other digital startups globally.
So the full ownership chain is: NordVPN → nordvpn S.A. (Panama) → Nord Security (Lithuania) → Tesonet (Lithuania).
Who Owns NordVPN — Ownership and Key Stakeholders Table
| Owner / Shareholder | Type | Role | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nord Security | Direct Parent Company | 100% owner of NordVPN | Private Lithuanian cybersecurity firm; valued at $3 billion |
| Tesonet | Ultimate Parent / Incubator | Owns Nord Security | Lithuanian tech accelerator and venture builder founded in 2008 |
| Tom Okman | Co-Founder & Co-CEO | Co-controls Nord Security | Co-founded NordVPN in 2012; retains significant ownership |
| Eimantas Sabaliauskas | Co-Founder & Co-CEO | Co-controls Nord Security | Co-founded NordVPN in 2012; retains significant ownership |
| Warburg Pincus | Private Equity Investor | Minority stake | Led the $100M September 2023 round at $3B valuation |
| Novator Ventures | Venture Capital Investor | Minority stake | Led the first $100M round in April 2022 at $1.6B valuation |
| Burda Principal Investments | Venture Capital Investor | Minority stake | Participated in both 2022 and 2023 funding rounds |
| nordvpn S.A. | Legal Operating Entity | Runs NordVPN service | Registered in Panama for privacy law benefits |
Who Founded NordVPN? The Tesonet and Founders Story
Tom Okman and Eimantas Sabaliauskas launched NordVPN in 2012, driven by the idea that growing internet dependence would make online security a necessity rather than a niche concern. Both came from information technology backgrounds.
Tom Okman was previously a head of network operations at 5Ci and worked in international business development. Eimantas Sabaliauskas had previously co-founded and led Adtarget.me, a Lithuanian digital advertising platform.
What makes their story remarkable is the path they chose. The company operated as a bootstrapped, profitable business for nearly a decade before accepting any outside capital in 2022. That is a striking detail in an industry where most startups burn through venture funding long before turning a profit.
Both founders remain Co-CEOs of Nord Security today and continue to guide the company’s strategic direction.
What Is Tesonet and Why Does It Matter?
Most NordVPN users have never heard of Tesonet — but it is the ultimate owner of the entire Nord Security group.
Tesonet acts as the strategic overseer of Nord Security, fostering growth while allowing operational autonomy. As a tech accelerator, it has incubated over a dozen companies, channeling resources into high-potential ventures like Nord Security. Unlike venture capital firms that seek quick exits, Tesonet’s model emphasizes long-term incubation, aligning incentives with founders who retain significant control.
Tesonet was founded in 2008 in Vilnius, Lithuania, and today operates as one of the most important technology companies in the Baltic region — even though its name rarely appears in mainstream press. Think of it as the silent engine behind NordVPN’s success.
The Funding Journey: From Bootstrapped to $3 Billion
For its first decade, Nord Security took no outside investment. The founders grew NordVPN entirely on subscription revenue — a very rare achievement in the technology industry. Then in 2022, everything changed.
After nearly a decade of self-funding, Nord Security accepted its first outside investment in April 2022: a $100 million round led by Novator Ventures, with participation from General Catalyst and Burda Principal Investments. That round valued the company at $1.6 billion.
Just over a year later, in September 2023, a second $100 million round led by Warburg Pincus doubled the valuation to $3 billion. Novator Ventures and Burda Principal Investments also participated in this second round.
In total, Nord Security has raised $200 million in external funding across just two rounds — and in both cases, the founders retained significant control over the company’s direction. The investors hold minority equity stakes and bring board-level strategic oversight, but they do not control the company.
The Surfshark Merger: One Company Now Owns Two Major VPNs
NordVPN’s ownership story took a major strategic turn in 2022 when its parent company made a bold move that reshaped the entire VPN industry.
In February 2022, Nord Security completed a merger agreement with Surfshark, another major VPN provider. The two companies continue to operate with separate infrastructure, product teams, and user bases, but the merger lets them pool resources for research and development.
Together, NordVPN and Surfshark command a significant market share, with combined revenues exceeding $500 million annually. Surfshark’s unlimited device connections and budget-friendly pricing complement NordVPN’s premium features, serving over 6 million users combined.
This arrangement means a single parent company — Nord Security — now controls two of the most widely used consumer VPN brands on the market. If you are using either NordVPN or Surfshark, you are a customer of the same corporate family.
Why Is NordVPN Registered in Panama?
This is one of the most common questions people ask about NordVPN, and it is directly relevant to the privacy promise the company makes to its users.
NordVPN is registered as a public limited company (nordvpn S.A.) in the Republic of Panama. That said, the company has offices in the UK, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, Lithuania, Switzerland, and Panama.
Panama has no mandatory data retention laws — meaning the government cannot legally compel NordVPN to store or hand over user data the way a company in the United States or European Union might be forced to. This is why so many privacy-focused companies choose Panama as their legal home. It is a structural decision designed to protect user privacy, not an attempt to hide from accountability.
NordVPN has undergone five independent audits of its no-logs policy, which means five separate external firms have verified that NordVPN does not record what its users do online.
What Other Products Does Nord Security Own?
NordVPN is the flagship product, but Nord Security has built an entire ecosystem of cybersecurity tools around it.
Nord Security is also the founder and owner of NordLayer (business VPN), NordPass (password manager), Saily (eSIM travel app), and NordStellar (threat intelligence platform). Combined with Surfshark and NordVPN, the company covers virtually every aspect of personal and business digital security.
This diversified product portfolio is exactly what Warburg Pincus and Novator Ventures invested in — not just a single VPN product, but a comprehensive cybersecurity platform that serves both individual consumers and large enterprises.
The Bottom Line
NordVPN is owned by Nord Security, a private Lithuanian cybersecurity company founded in 2012 by Tom Okman and Eimantas Sabaliauskas. Nord Security itself is owned by Tesonet, a Lithuanian tech incubator and venture builder. The NordVPN service operates legally through nordvpn S.A., a company registered in Panama for strong privacy law protections.
Nord Security is currently valued at $3 billion following two rounds of $100 million each — the first led by Novator Ventures in April 2022 and the second led by Warburg Pincus in September 2023. The company also owns Surfshark following a 2022 merger, making Nord Security the parent of the world’s two most widely used consumer VPN brands. The founders remain Co-CEOs and retain significant control of the business they built from scratch.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who owns NordVPN in 2026? NordVPN is owned by Nord Security, a private Lithuanian cybersecurity company, which is itself owned by Tesonet, a Lithuanian tech incubator.
Q2. Is NordVPN a Chinese company? No. NordVPN has no ties to China. It was founded in Lithuania in 2012 and operates under nordvpn S.A., registered in Panama.
Q3. Who founded NordVPN and when? NordVPN was founded in 2012 by Tom Okman and Eimantas Sabaliauskas, two Lithuanian technology entrepreneurs who remain Co-CEOs today.
Q4. How much is Nord Security worth in 2026? Nord Security was last valued at $3 billion following a $100 million funding round led by Warburg Pincus in September 2023.
Q5. Does Nord Security own Surfshark? Yes. Nord Security merged with Surfshark in February 2022. Both VPNs operate independently but share the same parent company.
Q6. Why is NordVPN based in Panama? Panama has no mandatory data retention laws, meaning the government cannot force NordVPN to store or hand over user data — a key privacy advantage for users.
Q7. Who are the main investors in Nord Security? The main outside investors are Warburg Pincus, Novator Ventures, and Burda Principal Investments, holding minority stakes after two rounds totalling $200 million.
Q8. Has NordVPN’s no-logs policy been independently verified? Yes. NordVPN’s no-logs policy has been independently audited five times by external cybersecurity firms, confirming the company does not record user activity.