The Color Run
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersSalt Lake City, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
The Color Run firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Color Run
- Legal name
- EventLab
- Website
- https://thecolorrun.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Color Run industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Recreational Event Services
- NAICS
- Spectator Sports (71121)
- SIC
- Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Road Running Events (Marathons, Half Marathons, 10K/5K) (MPAKAIAA)
Keywords
Where The Color Run is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Salt Lake City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Color Run business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Event Registration Fees: Primary revenue stream from participant registrations for The Color Run 5K events. Standard registration is $54.95 with promotional early bird pricing at $24.95. Registrations are processed through third-party providers such as Active.com.
- Vendor Fees: Revenue from vendors who pay to participate at events, selling products and services directly to 5,000-15,000 active participants per event across 100+ cities. Limited vendor slots per event with premium placement near start/finish lines.
- Sponsorship: Partnership revenue from sponsors seeking to reach thousands of enthusiastic participants across the country who love color, music, and unforgettable celebrations with friends and family.
- Fundraise Program: Groups volunteer at events and earn $50 per volunteer per shift for their organizations. This creates a network of community advocates while generating operational support for events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Registration |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | VIP Registration |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Early Bird/Limited Time Offer |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Volunteer Fundraising |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Color Run product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Color Run produces the original color 5K event — a branded 3.1-mile running experience where participants are showered with color powder at every kilometer and finish with a color festival featuring DJs and live music. Events are produced across 100+ US cities and 11 international countries, with standard registration priced at $54.95 and promotional early bird pricing at $24.95. The company also operates volunteer, fundraising, vendor, and sponsorship programs as part of its event ecosystem.
Product overview
The Color Run is an event-based company operated by EventLab that produces the original color 5K event — a branded running experience where participants traverse a 3.1-mile course while being showered with color powder at each kilometer, culminating in a finish festival celebration. The company offers a portfolio of products including the core The Color Run event, a Volunteer Program for event staffing, a Fundraise Program for community group engagement, and Vendor/Sponsorship/Charity Partnership Programs for commercial collaborations. Registration tiers include Value and VIP packages, with add-on programs like the Buy One & Give One charitable initiative. EventLab operates multiple event brands including Muddy Dash, Bubble Run, FoamGlow, Blacklight Run, Terrain Race, and The Color Run. Events are produced across 100+ US cities and internationally in 11 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Color Run Event
- Volunteer Program
- Fundraise Program
- Vendor Partnership Program
- Sponsorship Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 8M+ runners have been colored worldwide since 2011
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Color Run
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Color Run technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
The Color Run partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Let's Do ThiscoreLet's Do This, a registration platform for endurance events, announced a partnership with The Color Run. The company aims to expand its global portfolio of major endurance events and support their growth through its AI-Native Registration Platform. This partnership was announced on September 23, 2025.
- Make-A-WishminorCharity partner in The Color Run's Buy One & Give One Program. For every registration purchased, The Color Run donates a free registration to a local community member who may not otherwise have the means to participate.
- St. Jude Children's Research HospitalminorHealthcare charity partner in The Color Run's Buy One & Give One Program, receiving free registrations for children battling illness.
- Feeding AmericaminorHunger relief charity partner in The Color Run's Buy One & Give One Program, receiving free registrations for families facing hardship.
- UNICEF USAminorInternational charity partner in The Color Run's Buy One & Give One Program, helping bring the joy of color to children globally.
- Local Children's HospitalsminorPartnership with local children's hospitals as part of The Color Run's Buy One & Give One Program to provide free registrations to children and families in need.
- Active.comcoreThird-party registration and payment processing provider for The Color Run events. Registrations are processed through Active.com's endurance event platform.
- EventLabcoreEventLab is the parent company and platform powering The Color Run brand along with five other event brands: Muddy Dash, Bubble Run, FoamGlow, Blacklight Run, and Terrain Race.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Color Run competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Color Me Rad: Color Me Rad produces color-themed 5K fun-run events across multiple US/Canadian cities with a virtually identical format (color powder stations, non-competitive, music-driven). It is the closest direct color-5K competitor to The Color Run.
- Bubble Run: Bubble Run is a foam-and-bubble themed family 5K experience operated by EventLab as a sister brand to The Color Run; it directly competes for the same recreational runner dollars with a related (but distinct) experiential format.
- Muddy Dash: Muddy Dash is an EventLab sister brand offering mud-obstacle 5K/10K events. It shares the same target audience (families, casual runners, fundraising groups) and operational stack as The Color Run.
- Terrain Race: Terrain Race is an EventLab sister brand producing military-style obstacle 5K/10K events. It targets the same demographic (fundraising groups, families, recreational runners) on the same operational platform.
- Hot Chocolate Run: Hot Chocolate 5K/15K is a themed family fun run in 20+ US cities offering a chocolate-themed reward experience; it competes with The Color Run for the casual, family-friendly recreational 5K segment.
- Color Vibe 5K: Color Vibe 5K is a direct color-themed fun run competitor with multi-city US presence; it is a head-to-head alternative for participants choosing between color 5K experiences.
Broad incumbents
- Tough Mudder: Tough Mudder operates obstacle-course endurance events (5K to 10+ miles) and is one of the largest mass-participation fitness event brands in the US/UK, competing with The Color Run for casual and first-time endurance event participants.
- Spartan Race: Spartan Race is a global obstacle-racing and endurance event brand across multiple distances, competing with The Color Run in the mass-participation recreational endurance category.
- Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series: Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series operates mass-participation running events (marathon, half, 10K, 5K) across major US/international cities with a music-festival format — a broader incumbent in themed endurance events that competes for sponsorship and participant dollars.
- runDisney: runDisney operates Disney-branded themed running events (5K to marathon) at Walt Disney World and Disneyland; it is a broad incumbent in themed recreational running that competes for the family/first-time runner demographic.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Color Run social profiles
Digital presenceThe Color Run financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Color Run leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Color Run funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Color Run M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Color Run
What does The Color Run do?
The Color Run produces the original color 5K event — a branded 3.1-mile running experience where participants are showered with color powder at every kilometer and finish with a color festival featuring DJs and live music. Events are produced across 100+ US cities and 11 international countries, with standard registration priced at $54.95 and promotional early bird pricing at $24.95. The company also operates volunteer, fundraising, vendor, and sponsorship programs as part of its event ecosystem.
Is The Color Run a public or private company?
The Color Run is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Color Run founded?
The Color Run was founded in 2011. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is The Color Run based?
The Color Run is headquartered in Salt Lake City, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Color Run make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Event Registration Fees are the primary driver. The others are vendor Fees, sponsorship and fundraise Program.
Who are The Color Run's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Color Me Rad, Bubble Run, Muddy Dash, Terrain Race, Hot Chocolate Run and Color Vibe 5K. Broad incumbents are Tough Mudder, Spartan Race, Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series and runDisney.
Does The Color Run have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Color Run.
What industry is The Color Run in?
The Color Run's product category is Recreational Event Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAIAA, Road Running Events (Marathons, Half Marathons, 10K/5K). Its NAICS code is 71121 and its SIC code is 7948.