What Harkla does

Harkla is a privately held Boise, Idaho-based retailer, manufacturer, and digital course provider focused on the pediatric sensory integration market. The company designs, sources, and sells physical products centered on deep touch pressure (DTP) therapy, including compression sensory swings, weighted blankets, weighted compression vests, lap pads, weighted lap animals, body socks, compression sheets, inflatable pressure pods (Harkla Hug), and grade-level customized classroom sensory kits. All products carry a lifetime guarantee, free returns, and are third-party safety tested. The company is founded and operated by two Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (Rachel Harrington and Jessica Hill) with 10+ years of pediatric clinical experience, lending clinical credibility to product design and educational content.

Harkla monetizes through three primary revenue streams: one-time direct-to-consumer e-commerce sales of physical sensory products on harkla.co (with prices ranging from approximately $30 for sensory dice up to $230 for the compression sensory swing); one-time digital course purchases (priced $69–$399 across three AOTA-approved CEU tiers) covering primitive reflex integration, sensory diet, early intervention, multi-sensory programs, motor skills, and classroom strategies; and continuing education unit (CEU) certification fees for occupational therapy professionals requiring AOTA-approved credits. Distribution is omnichannel: own e-commerce storefront, Amazon Canada marketplace, Australian retail partner Starfish, a dedicated B2B/institutional school purchase-order workflow ([email protected]), and an affiliate program.

The company supports customer acquisition and thought leadership through a content ecosystem comprising the All Things Sensory podcast (400+ episodes), an expert-authored blog, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok, free webinars, and an email newsletter. It has earned media coverage in The New York Times, Parent Map, and The Bump, and operates a 1%-of-sales social impact partnership with Game Changers Idaho. Harkla has no disclosed external funding, no parent company, and is reported as founder-owned, serving an installed base of more than 200,000 customers globally.

Name

Harkla

Legal name

Harkla Co

Website

https://harkla.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Harkla is a privately held Boise, Idaho-based manufacturer, retailer, and digital course provider serving parents, occupational therapists, and educators of children with special needs through deep touch pressure sensory products and AOTA-approved continuing education courses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Sensory Therapy Products

NAICS

Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Health and Personal Care Retailers (456)

SIC

Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)

akta.pro primary industry

Accessibility & Special Needs Equipment (Assistive Devices, Adaptive Furniture, Sensory Rooms) (EDAEAIAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Support Instructional Materials (Structured Teaching, Visual Supports) (EDAGAMAK), Occupational Therapy & Fine-Motor / Sensory Integration Instructional Materials (EDAGAMAG), Accessibility & Assistive Learning Tools for Early Childhood (AAC, sensory supports) (EDACANAL), Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC)

Keywords

• Sensory products
• Weighted therapy products
• Pediatric sensory equipment
• Special needs therapy
• Occupational therapy courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Boise

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Sensory Products: One-time purchase revenue from physical sensory products including weighted blankets, compression swings, vests, lap pads, and body socks. Products are sold directly through e-commerce with lifetime guarantees.
2. Digital Courses and Training: Self-paced video courses providing lifetime access to educational content on sensory processing, primitive reflex integration, and child development. Revenue from one-time course purchases with optional AOTA CEU certifications.
3. AOTA Continuing Education Units: AOTA-approved CEU courses for occupational therapists requiring successful completion of post-tests for certification, providing recurring professional development revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Harkla designs, manufactures, and sells sensory integration products for children with special needs, including weighted blankets, compression sensory swings, weighted vests, lap pads, body socks, and grade-level classroom sensory kits. The company also offers self-paced digital courses on sensory processing, primitive reflex integration, sensory diets, and classroom strategies, with AOTA-approved CEU options for occupational therapy professionals. Products are sold direct-to-consumer through harkla.co and through channel partners like Amazon Canada and Starfish Australia, while schools purchase via dedicated purchase-order processes.

Product overview

Harkla offers a unified portfolio of sensory products and digital educational courses designed for children with special needs, autism, ADHD, and sensory processing challenges. The product line centers on deep touch pressure (DTP) tools including weighted blankets, compression vests, lap pads, lap animals, body socks, compression sheets, sensory swings, and activity-based products like foam dice and activity sticks. Harkla also provides classroom-ready sensory kits organized by grade level (Kindergarten through High School). Complementing the physical products is a suite of digital courses delivered via Thinkific, covering topics such as primitive reflex integration, sensory diets, early intervention, multi-sensory metronome programs, classroom strategies, motor skills development, and sleep support. Many courses offer AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association) continuing education units. The company targets parents, occupational therapists, and educators through direct e-commerce sales with a lifetime guarantee and free returns policy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Compression Sensory Swing A cocoon-style swing providing compression and vestibular input for calming sensory experiences, marketed as Harkla's best seller for children with sensory needs.
• Weighted Compression Vest A neoprene vest combining compression and adjustable weights (5-10% of body weight) with mesh ventilation for calming deep touch pressure, designed for children with autism, ADHD, and sensory processing challenges.
• Kids Weighted Blanket A minky fabric weighted blanket (available in 5, 7, 10, and 15 lbs) providing deep touch pressure to help regulate the nervous system for improved sleep and calm.
• Weighted Lap Pad A minky dot fabric lap pad providing deep touch pressure for seated focus and calm, commonly used in classrooms.
• Weighted Lap Animal A 5-lb weighted stuffed animal providing proprioceptive and tactile sensory input for calming and focus.
• Sensory Body Sock A stretchy fabric sock providing deep pressure input for sensory regulation, available in multiple sizes from small to extra-large.
• Sensory Compression Sheet A nylon/spandex compression sheet that fits over mattresses to provide calming deep touch pressure during sleep.
• Harkla Hug An inflatable peapod providing pressure therapy for autism, applying pressure to sensitive body areas for grounding and control.
• Sensory Activity Foam Dice Three therapy-designed foam dice (Calm, Alerting, Focus) providing sensory regulation activities through illustrated movement prompts, with a free video activity library included.
• Sensory Activity Sticks Activity sticks providing fun and unique sensory activities for children and clients.
• Sensory Activity Cards Cards providing sensory regulation activities for children.
• Classroom Sensory Kit Grade-level specific kits (Kindergarten through High School) containing combinations of weighted lap pads, body socks, weighted compression vests, wiggle seats, sensory headphones, and visual timers for classroom sensory support.
• Primitive Reflexes Course A 14-module course (10.5 contact hours, 1.05 AOTA CEUs) teaching assessment and integration of retained primitive reflexes, available in Expert, Master, and AOTA CEU levels.
• Sensory Diet Digital Course A 9-module course (5.5 contact hours, 0.55 AOTA CEUs) teaching creation and implementation of sensory diet routines for children with sensory processing challenges.
• Early Intervention Blueprint An 8-module course (11 contact hours, 1.1 AOTA CEUs) covering sensory and developmental milestones for infants and toddlers (birth-3 years), primitive reflex integration, and early childhood challenges.
• Multi-Sensory Metronome Program A 10-week program (30 activity modules, 4.5 contact hours, 0.45 AOTA CEUs) using metronome-based multi-sensory activities to improve focus, processing speed, and academic performance (formerly Balanced Brain Course).
• Improving Focus & Behavior in the Classroom Course A 15-module course (12 contact hours, 1.2 AOTA CEUs) for educators and therapists on implementing sensory strategies, primitive reflex integration, and executive functioning tools in classroom settings.
• The Sensory Sleep Course A course supporting children's sleep from a sensory and holistic perspective with hands-on strategies for sensory kids.
• Navigating Sensory Processing Disorder Course An introductory course on Sensory Processing Disorder covering recognition, challenges, and practical support strategies.
• Improving Motor Skills Through Play Course A course on improving fine, gross, and visual motor skills through play-based interventions.
• The Summer Sensory Guide A month-by-month guide to summer sensory activities for children.
• Replacement Parts Replacement components including carabiners, ceiling hooks, compression swing fabric, daisy chains, extra weights, rescue 8 connectors, and swing swivels.

Quantifiable outcome

• Time for son to fall asleep reduced from 2-3 hours to 5-10 minutes using weighted blanket
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Game Changers IdahominorOthersHarkla donates 1% of every sale to Game Changers Idaho to provide year-round inclusive sports leagues for children of all abilities to learn, grow, and create friendships through sports.
• Amazon CanadacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarketplace distribution partner enabling Canadian customers to purchase Harkla products through Amazon.ca with marketplace seller account.
• Starfish (Australia)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustralian retail partner distributing Harkla sensory products through Starfish store website for customers in Australia.
• ThinkificcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline course platform provider hosting Harkla's digital courses with student login functionality at learn.harkla.co.
• Fuel MademinorOthersWebsite development partner credited for building Harkla's e-commerce website.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fun and Function: Fun and Function sells sensory, therapy, and special needs products directly to parents, therapists, and schools, with a similar weighted blanket, swing, and classroom kit assortment and overlapping target customer base.
• Therapy Shoppe: Therapy Shoppe is a long-standing retailer of occupational therapy and sensory integration products for children with special needs, offering comparable weighted, vestibular, and tactile tools to therapists and parents.
• National Autism Resources: National Autism Resources sells autism-focused sensory, educational, and therapy products online, targeting the same parent, educator, and therapist segments as Harkla with overlapping SKUs.
• TFH Special Needs Toys: TFH Special Needs Toys specializes in toys, sensory products, and adaptive equipment for children with special needs, comparable to Harkla's catalog and parent/therapist customer base.
• Sensory Goods: Sensory Goods is an online retailer of weighted blankets, compression products, and sensory tools marketed to parents of children with autism, ADHD, and SPD, with comparable product mix and pricing.

Broad incumbents

• Southpaw Enterprises: Southpaw is a long-established manufacturer of sensory integration and pediatric therapy equipment used by clinics, schools, and therapists, offering overlapping swing, balance, and proprioceptive products but serving a more clinical channel.
• Rompa: Rompa is a UK-based supplier of sensory, special needs, and assistive products for schools, therapists, and families, with a broader catalog but overlapping weighted, tactile, and vestibular equipment.
• EnableMart: EnableMart is a multi-category retailer of assistive technology and special needs products spanning sensory, AAC, mobility, and learning aids, comparable in mission but broader in scope than Harkla.

Emerging players

• Mosaic Weighted Blankets: Mosaic Weighted Blankets focuses on weighted blankets for adults and children, including sensory and special needs use cases, partially overlapping Harkla's weighted blanket category from a narrower product angle.
• Bearaboo: Bearaboo makes weighted stuffed animals marketed to children with sensory processing needs, directly competing with Harkla's weighted lap animals in the child-focused weighted comfort category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@HarklaFamily
• Facebookfacebook.com/harklaproducts
• Instagraminstagram.com/harkla_family
• Pinterestpinterest.com/harkla_products
• TikToktiktok.com/@harklafamily

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Harkla