Vulture Systems reels in anglers with Revo

The sport of recreational fishing is on the rise.

In 2023, 58 million Americans cast their line in a U.S. waterway hoping to reel in a big catch. And it turns out, the resurgence of fishing is big business. Anglers spend an estimated $7.65 billion annually on fishing equipment.

Menomonee Falls-based Vulture Systems is on the forefront of this trend.

Founder Gregg Haensgen and his business partner launched the company in 2015 when Haensgen, an engineer, created a unique sensor designed to help anglers quickly reel in their catch. Over the years, the company has refined the device, and it was launched in 2023 under the name Revo.

Revo is a sensor designed for ice fishers to monitor their lines. The sensor uses radio frequencies to send two-way communication about the status of lines to the fisher’s smartphone. This patented technology allows anglers to monitor lines within a one-mile radius.

The device was a hit with anglers and sold out before the close of the 2023 ice fishing season. This year Revo is a finalist in Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce’s Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin Contest.

Revo is useful to all ice fishers looking for big results.

“I like to do catch and release. That’s one of the big things that we promote with our product. If you’re out there doing traditional fishing, sometimes those little flags that go up when you have a fish are really hard to see– even if you’re paying complete attention. But the faster you get there, the more likely you will catch it, and the more likely that you will not kill that animal,” Haensgen explained.

The emerging company is taking a unique approach to bring its sensor to the marketplace.

“We’ve taken a different approach than a lot of other companies. We have turned down all the big box stores at this point and have chosen to work with the small mom-and-pop bait shops because we can work directly with them… at this point Amazon direct sales and direct relationships with select sporting goods and bait shops is what we’ve been doing. It’s a loyalty thing for us,” Haensgen explained.

“We would rather support the mom-and-pop shops, even if it means selling less. The margins are better. Bigger name stores start at asking like 40 to 50% margins. We chose to source things locally and build things locally. (Partnering with big box retailers) would force us to go overseas, and we don’t want to do that,” he continued.

Today, Revo is manufactured in southeastern Wisconsin, and Haensgen wants to keep it that way.

“We are designing, building, assembling, testing, shipping all the products ourselves.
It’s 100% made in Wisconsin, and I probably touched every single one that shipped,” Haensgen said with a laugh.

Vulture Systems’ plan for growth includes adding to its product line.

“We have a whole bunch of really cool new products coming out… and it’s going to open some larger markets for us too. Ice fishing is a small market… but we’re hitting some other much larger markets on these new products. Vulture already has quite a few patents for a small company, and we got a number more on the way,” he said.

Haensgen and the Vulture Systems team love the sport of fishing and enjoy being part of the angling community.

“I think one thing that has been refreshing about this journey is the customers. They’re your biggest supporters. I can still remember my first sale, and that individual is the first person to talk about your product in a forum…that’s been the most fun part about it: building the product relationships and meeting people in the industry,” he said.

To learn more about this Wisconsin manufacturer, connect with Vulture Systems here.