Start Skydiving
Start Skydiving is a family-owned, veteran-owned skydiving dropzone in Middletown, Ohio, offering tandem jumps, AFF solo-license training, media packages, and corporate events across a 300-mile Midwest catchment. It operates a three-aircraft turbine fleet and self-reports as the #1 consumer-ranked dropzone worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersMiddletown, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Start Skydiving does
Start Skydiving is a privately held, family- and veteran-owned skydiving training center and dropzone operating from Middletown Regional Airport in Middletown, Ohio, founded in 2006. The company operates a purpose-built facility on a 300-mile regional catchment covering Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Indianapolis, and Northern Kentucky, and it self-reports as the #1 consumer-ranked dropzone in the world on DropZone.com and a Top 5 worldwide facility, supported by 5,000+ reviews and a 2022 Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Award.
The core product portfolio includes tandem skydiving experiences from 14,000 feet ($239.99-$299.99), premium 17,000-foot high-altitude tandem jumps ($399.99), the Accelerated Freefall (AFF) training program for solo licensing ($3,460 paid-in-full or $4,325 per-jump), services for already-licensed skydivers, and a tiered media package ecosystem (Hand Cam, Rock Star, Ultimate) priced from $99.99 to $279.99. The technology stack centers on a turbine aircraft fleet of two Cessna 208 Caravans and a Cessna 206, modern safety equipment (Automatic Activation Devices, Reserve Static Lines), USPA-certified training programs, and a Burble Software-powered online booking and manifest platform.
Revenue mechanics are direct-to-consumer and transaction-based: customers pay per jump or per training program with $50 deposits for advanced bookings, tiered pricing for groups of 3-15+, and special discounts for military, first responders, and students/teachers. Distribution is omnichannel with online booking as the primary conversion path supplemented by walk-ins, dedicated geographic landing pages for Cleveland and Indianapolis, and an event/corporate team-building line. The company is run by John Hart II with his sons Alex Hart and John 3, and operates with 11-50 employees and no disclosed institutional funding, acquisitions, or subsidiaries.
Start Skydiving firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Start Skydiving
- Legal name
- Start Skydiving, LLC
- Website
- https://startskydiving.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Start Skydiving is a family-owned, veteran-owned skydiving dropzone in Middletown, Ohio, offering tandem jumps, AFF solo-license training, media packages, and corporate events across a 300-mile Midwest catchment. It operates a three-aircraft turbine fleet and self-reports as the #1 consumer-ranked dropzone worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Start Skydiving industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Skydiving Services
- NAICS
- Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211), Flight Training (611512), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487)
- SIC
- Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Skydiving Centers & Drop Zones (Tandem, AFF Training) (THAAAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Skydiving Experiences (Tandem, AFF, Scenic Jumps) (THAAAMAA), Extreme Sports Training, Certification & Coaching (Skydiving/Bungee Safety Courses) (THAAAMAJ), Paragliding, Skydiving & Airborne Adventure Sports (THAJABAJ)
Keywords
Where Start Skydiving is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Middletown
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Start Skydiving business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Tandem Skydiving: Core revenue stream from tandem skydiving experiences where first-time jumpers jump attached to an instructor. Pricing varies by day of week and booking timing (advance booking discounts). Weekend tandem: $259.99 (advanced), $299.99 (walk-in); Weekday tandem: $239.99 (advanced), $279.99 (walk-in). High altitude (17,000') tandem: $399.99.
- AFF Training Program: Accelerated Freefall training program for learning to skydive solo. Can be paid in full ($3,460 at 20% discount) or per jump ($4,325 total). Includes 25 jumps, gear rental, and dedicated instruction.
- Media Packages: Video and photo packages sold as add-ons to skydiving experiences. Hand Cam Video: $99.99; Hand Cam Video & Photos: $119.99; Rock Star Package (video + photos, dual perspective): $199.99; Ultimate Package (video + photos + swag + co-pilot ride discount): $279.99.
- Licensed Skydiver Jumps: Jumping services for already-licensed skydivers, including aircraft access, manifest services, and facilities use.
- Group Discounts & Corporate Events: Discounted tandem jumps for groups of 3+ ($10-$20 off per jump), group organizer jumps free for 15+. Event space rental for corporate events.
- Gift Certificates: Gift certificates sold for skydiving experiences as gift products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Weekend/Holiday Tandem Skydive |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Weekday Tandem Skydive |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | High Altitude Tandem Skydive |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | AFF Full Program (Paid in Full) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | AFF Per Jump |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hand Cam Video |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Rock Star Package |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | The Ultimate Package |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Group Discounts |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Special Discounts |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Start Skydiving product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Start Skydiving is a purpose-built dropzone skydiving center offering tandem skydiving experiences for first-time jumpers, the AFF (Accelerated Freefall) certification program to train students into licensed solo skydivers, and jump services for already-licensed skydivers. The center monetizes through jump fees, media/photo packages, group discounts, corporate event rentals, and ancillary amenities such as an on-site indoor climbing wall, operating from Middletown Regional Airport in Ohio.
Product overview
Start Skydiving operates as a purpose-built dropzone skydiving center offering a comprehensive portfolio of skydiving experiences and training programs. The core offerings include Tandem Skydiving (beginner experience with instructor), AFF Training (structured program to become a licensed solo skydiver), and services for Licensed Skydivers. Premium add-ons include High Altitude Tandem Skydiving (17,000 ft), video/photo media packages (Hand Cam, Rock Star Package, Ultimate Package), group discounts, and specialized Red River Gorge jumps. Additional offerings include indoor climbing facilities, corporate event space rental, and co-pilot observation flights. The company uses Burble Software's booking platform for reservations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Tandem Skydiving Guided skydiving experience for first-time jumpers who are attached to a USPA-certified instructor for a freefall and canopy ride from approximately 14,000 feet with 45-60 seconds of freefall. Pricing varies by day of week and advance booking timing.
- AFF (Accelerated Freefall) Training Program
- Licensed Skydiver Services
- High Altitude Tandem Skydiving
- Red River Gorge Tandem Skydiving
- Hand Cam Video Package
- Rock Star Package
- The Ultimate Package
- Group Skydiving
- Corporate Events
- Co-Pilot / Observation Flights
- Indoor Climbing Wall
- Gift Certificates
Quantifiable outcome
- 5,000+ positive reviews across Google, Tripadvisor, and Facebook
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Start Skydiving
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Start Skydiving technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Start Skydiving partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- United States Parachute Association (USPA)coreStart Skydiving is a USPA group member. All instructors are USPA certified. The company follows USPA Basic Safety Requirements (BSRs) and uses USPA-developed training programs (AFF, ISP). USPA governs and sets standards for parachute jumping activities.
- Team FastraxcoreWorld-renowned professional skydiving team that provides coaching at Start Skydiving. Team members perform demonstration jumps, often carrying large American flags, at various events including NASCAR, NFL, and MLB events. Part of the Start Skydiving family.
- TripadvisorminorThird-party review platform where Start Skydiving has received the 2022 Travelers' Choice Award and maintains over 5,000 reviews across their platforms.
- DropZone.comminorLeading skydiver community and review platform where Start Skydiving is ranked as the #1 Consumer Ranked Drop Zone in the World.
- Burble SoftwarecoreSoftware provider for the online booking system, manifest management, and customer account services at bookings.startskydiving.com. Provides reservation technology, customer data management, and booking platform infrastructure.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
Start Skydiving competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Skydive Chicago: Large Midwest dropzone (Ottawa, IL) operating tandem skydiving, AFF training, and licensed-jumper services. Comparable to Start Skydiving in geography, product mix, and target customer (first-time jumpers in the greater Midwest), making it the closest direct regional competitor.
- Skydive Perris: One of the largest and most well-known US dropzones (Perris, CA), offering tandem, AFF, and large-scale boogie events. Directly comparable in core offerings (tandem, AFF, media packages, group bookings) and in scale ambition, though located on the West Coast.
- Paraclete XP SkyVenture: Raeford, NC skydiving center running tandem, AFF, and freefly programs with a strong training reputation. Directly comparable in AFF training pipeline, instructor quality, and licensed-jumper community, even if East Coast geography differs.
- Skydive Sebastian: Florida dropzone offering tandem skydiving, AFF, and media packages to a high-volume tourist customer base. Comparable product mix, seasonal demand pattern, and group/corporate focus, though serving a different regional market.
- Chicagoland Skydiving Center: Dropzone near Chicago offering tandem, AFF, and licensed-jumper services with comparable first-time-jumper focus. Direct competitor for the Illinois and northern Indiana segment of Start Skydiving's 300-mile Midwest catchment.
- Jumptown (Orange, MA): Long-standing New England dropzone offering tandem skydiving and AFF training. Directly comparable as a USPA-affiliated training-focused dropzone serving first-time jumpers and aspiring licensed skydivers.
Emerging players
- iFLY Indoor Skydiving: Largest indoor skydiving (vertical wind tunnel) chain in North America, offering year-round introductory flight experiences. Comparable as a first-time 'taste of skydiving' funnel, though it does not deliver actual freefall or skydiver licensing and competes primarily for casual customers.
Broad incumbents
- Skydive Dubai: Large, internationally renowned dropzone and brand offering tandem, training, and demonstration events at global scale. Comparable as a brand-driven, top-tier skydiving experience provider, though at materially larger scale and different geographic context.
Others
- USPA (United States Parachute Association): National governing body that sets safety standards, certifies instructors, and licenses AFF programs used by Start Skydiving. Relevant as the industry ecosystem/regulator rather than a competitor — a foundational partner for any US dropzone's operations.
- Burble Software: Booking, manifest, and operations software platform used by Start Skydiving (bookings.startskydiving.com) and many peer dropzones. Relevant as the technology infrastructure layer shared across the dropzone category.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Start Skydiving social profiles
Digital presenceStart Skydiving financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Start Skydiving leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Start Skydiving funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Start Skydiving 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 Start Skydiving
What does Start Skydiving do?
Start Skydiving is a purpose-built dropzone skydiving center offering tandem skydiving experiences for first-time jumpers, the AFF (Accelerated Freefall) certification program to train students into licensed solo skydivers, and jump services for already-licensed skydivers. The center monetizes through jump fees, media/photo packages, group discounts, corporate event rentals, and ancillary amenities such as an on-site indoor climbing wall, operating from Middletown Regional Airport in Ohio.
Is Start Skydiving a public or private company?
Start Skydiving is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Start Skydiving founded?
Start Skydiving was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Start Skydiving based?
Start Skydiving is headquartered in Middletown, United States, in the North America region.
How does Start Skydiving make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Tandem Skydiving is the primary driver. The others are AFF Training Program, media Packages, licensed Skydiver Jumps, group Discounts & Corporate Events and gift Certificates.
Who are Start Skydiving's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Skydive Chicago, Skydive Perris, Paraclete XP SkyVenture, Skydive Sebastian, Chicagoland Skydiving Center and Jumptown (Orange, MA). iFLY Indoor Skydiving is listed as an emerging player. Skydive Dubai is listed as a broad incumbent. Others are USPA (United States Parachute Association) and Burble Software.
Does Start Skydiving have an API?
No public API is recorded for Start Skydiving.
What industry is Start Skydiving in?
Start Skydiving's product category is Skydiving Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAKAB, Skydiving Centers & Drop Zones (Tandem, AFF Training), with a secondary code of THAAAMAA, Skydiving Experiences (Tandem, AFF, Scenic Jumps). Its NAICS code is 481211 and its SIC code is 4522.