Schwimmschule Marlin

What Schwimmschule Marlin does

Schwimmschule Marlin GmbH is a multi-location operator of swimming instruction services headquartered in Kelkheim, Germany. The company delivers baby/kleinkinder water familiarization (3 months-4 years), structured children's courses covering the German badge progression (Seepferdchen, Bronze/Freischwimmer, Silber, Gold), adult swimming lessons, and certified rehabilitation water sports (Rehasport) covered by statutory health insurance (Krankenkasse) or self-pay. Course delivery is anchored at 41+ partner swimming facilities — including hotels (Mercure, Trip Inn, Taunus Residenzen), clinics and rehabilitation centers (Salvea, Reha Viersen, Wicker Klinik, Hohenfeld-Klinik, medicoreha), sports schools, and public pools — across Rhein-Main, NRW, Hamburg, München, Münster, Leipzig, Karlsruhe, and Saarbrücken. Each class is led by two qualified Schwimmlehrer per the company's standard. The company claims to be Germany's largest swimming school and serves 4,500+ weekly participants with 50+ instructors and 2,300+ children annually.

The business model is direct-to-consumer course fees with per-course unit pricing: baby/kleinkinder courses from €130 across 3 locations, children's courses from €200 across 40+ locations, adult courses from €200 across 2 locations, rehabilitation courses from €0 (health-insurance funded) or self-pay at 2 locations, football camps from €65 under the Marlin Fußballschule sub-brand, private pool rental from €30, and tiered make-up lesson fees (€10/€15/€20). Go-to-market is digital-first via the kursbuchung.de online booking platform powered by Course Manager, supplemented by phone support, Calendly-based video consultation, and content marketing through a blog, Facebook, and YouTube. Revenue mechanics are 100% transactional in core instruction, with a small subscription/recurring element introduced via Rehasport.

Adjacent product lines include the Marlin Fußballschule (football camps and training for ages 4-12, led by A-Lizenz trainer Steffen Kaschel), Schwimmbad mieten (exclusive pool rental), Wasserhelden (courses for children with disabilities at Marburg-Wehrda), and Videoberatung (Calendly-scheduled video consultations). The company operates as a founder/management-owned private limited company, represented by Managing Directors Moritz Overdick and Patrick Bötsch (the latter also identified as founder), with no institutional investors, parent entities, M&A activity, or external funding rounds disclosed. A prior corporate form (UG haftungsbeschränkt) was converted to GmbH status, indicating structural maturation.

Name

Schwimmschule Marlin

Legal name

Schwimmschule Marlin GmbH

Website

https://schwimmschulemarlin.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Schwimmschule Marlin GmbH is a German swimming school headquartered in Kelkheim operating 41+ course locations, offering baby, children's, and adult swimming instruction plus certified rehabilitation water sports to families across Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Swimming Instruction

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Aquatics Programs (Pools, Swim Lessons, Lifeguarding) (EDALAIAF)

Keywords

• Swimming instruction
• Children swimming courses
• Aquatic rehabilitation
• Water fitness training
• Baby swimming lessons

Headquarters

HQ city

Kelkheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices28 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Swimming Course Fees: Primary revenue from paid swimming courses for babies, children, adults. Pricing varies by course type: Baby/kleinkinder courses from €130, children courses from €200, adult courses from €200. Courses run weekly at 41+ locations across Germany.
2. Make-up lessons: Additional revenue from make-up lessons (Nachholstunden) for missed sessions. Price tiered: 1st lesson €10, 2nd €15, 3rd €20. Cancellation must be at least 3 hours before class.
3. Pool rental: Revenue from exclusive private pool rental at selected locations (Mainz, Bad Soden). Starting from €30.
4. Football school courses: Revenue from football camps and training programs for children ages 4-12 under Marlin Fußballschule brand. Led by A-Lizenz trainer Steffen Kaschel. Starting from €65.
5. Rehabilitation courses (Rehasport): Certified rehabilitation water sports courses covered by health insurance (Krankenkasse) or paid by self-pay patients. Available at 2 locations (Mainz and Bad Soden).
6. Aquafitness and Aqua-Cycling: Water fitness programs for health-conscious adults, combining cycling in water with joint-friendly exercise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Schwimmschule Marlin delivers paid, in-person swimming instruction across Germany through 41+ partner pool locations: baby and toddler water familiarization courses (ages 3 months–4 years), progressive children's courses (ages 4+; Seepferdchen, Bronze, Silver, Gold badges), and adult swimming technique and fitness courses. Each class is taught by two qualified Schwimmlehrer, and courses are booked individually by customers through a Course Manager-powered online booking platform, phone, or video consultation.

Product overview

Schwimmschule Marlin operates as a multi-location swimming school network across Germany, offering a portfolio of water-based educational and fitness services centered around its core swimming course products. The core offering comprises Baby & Kleinkinder Schwimmkurse (water familiarization for ages 0–4), Kinder Schwimmkurse (structured children's courses from beginner through Gold badge level), and Erwachsene Schwimmkurse (adult swimming lessons). Adjacent to the core swimming business, the company also offers Rehasport & Wassergymnastik (certified rehabilitation water sports, Aqua Fitness, and Aqua-Cycling), a sub-brand called Marlin Fußballschule (football camps and training for ages 4–12), and Schwimmbad Mieten (private pool rental). Additional services include Nachholstunde (make-up lessons) and Videoberatung (video consultation). The company operates 41+ locations across Germany and uses an online booking system (Course Manager) and Calendly for scheduling. Courses are delivered with two instructors per class in small groups, progressing through recognized German swimming badges (Seepferdchen, Bronze/Freischwimmer, Silber, Gold).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Marlin Fußballschule: Football camps and training for children aged 4-12, led by A-Lizenz trainer Steffen Kaschel. Operates at locations in Frankfurt-Nied, Kronberg, and Kelsterbach.

Products and services

• Baby & Kleinkinder Schwimmkurse Parent-child water familiarization courses for babies from 3 months and toddlers up to 4 years, taught by two qualified Schwimmlehrer per class, offered at 3 stand-alone locations (pricing from €130). Built as a precursor to the children's course offering.
• Kinder Schwimmkurse Age-appropriate children's swimming courses from 4 years upward, structured around the German swimming badges (Seepferdchen, Bronze / Freischwimmer, Silber, Gold), taught by two qualified instructors per class at 40+ locations in Germany, from €200.
• Erwachsene Schwimmkurse Adult swimming courses for beginners and advanced learners, including crawl-technique improvement and general swimming fitness, offered at 2 locations (Mainz and Bad Soden) from €200.
• Rehasport & Wassergymnastik Krankenkasse-certified rehabilitation water sports courses (Rehasport) plus Aquafitness and Aqua-Cycling for orthopaedic patients and health-conscious adults, taught at 2 locations (Mainz and Bad Soden), with health-insurance coverage (€0) or self-pay option.
• Marlin Fußballschule Football camps and individual/small-group training for children aged 4–12 (coordination, technique, cognitive development), led by A-Licensed trainer Steffen Kaschel, available at Frankfurt-Nied, Kronberg and Kelsterbach, from €65 including T-shirt, snacks and drinks.
• Schwimmbad Mieten (Private Pool Rental) Exclusive private rental of a swimming pool at selected locations (Mainz, Bad Soden) starting from €30, for personal use or private training.
• Nachholstunde (Make-up Lesson) Paid make-up lesson (Nachholstunde) for enrolled swimmers who miss a scheduled course, bookable online via the Course Manager booking system, with tiered per-lesson pricing (€10 / €15 / €20).

Quantifiable outcome

• Children can achieve Seepferdchen in as few as 8 sessions with qualified feedback after each lesson
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Taunus ResidenzencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Taunus Residenzen hotel in Bad Soden for swimming course delivery. Hotel provides pool facilities for children's and adult swimming courses. Free parking available for customers.
• Reha ViersencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Reha Viersen rehabilitation center for swimming and rehabilitation courses. Swimming courses for children and adults offered at Lindenallee 5B, 41751 Viersen.
• Course ManagercoreTechnology or IntegrationSoftware partner for course management and online booking. Powered by course-manager.com platform for course administration, scheduling, and registration.
• TV LorsbachminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal sports club partnership for sports activities and potential course delivery.
• FV ALEMANNIA 08 NIEDminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFootball club partnership for Marlin Fußballschule locations. FV Alemannia 08 Nied provides facilities for children's football camps and training.
• Salvea KrefeldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth center partnership for swimming courses at Salvea Gesundheitszentrum, Westparkstraße 107, 47803 Krefeld.
• RoNa AnlagenbauminorOthersIndustrial systems construction company partnership.
• bureau bravominorOthersDesign or marketing agency partnership for creative services.
• Traumtorten ViersenminorOthersLocal pastry/bakery business partnership in Viersen region.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SafeSplash Swim School: US franchised swim school chain focused on children and adults with standardized curriculum. Comparable as a branded, multi-location swimming instruction business with similar course progression logic.
• Goldfish Swim School: Large US franchise network of children's swimming schools with structured progression programs. Comparable as a scaled, branded swimming-instruction franchise — a benchmark for Marlin's multi-location operating model even though it is US-based.
• British Swim School: Franchised swim school operating across the US and Canada offering baby, child and adult lessons. Comparable as a franchise-style multi-market swimming instruction operator with structured class formats.

Regional players

• Swimming Nature: UK private swimming school with structured one-to-one and small-group lessons for children and adults. Comparable in premium private-instruction positioning and progressive methodology, but UK-focused rather than German.
• SwimJim: US multi-location private swim school offering children and adult lessons with a structured curriculum. Comparable in private multi-location operating model and family-focused programming.

Direct peers

• Delfin Schwimmschule: Multi-location German private swimming school offering baby, children and adult courses. Directly comparable in course catalog, target customer (families) and badge-based progression system.
• Swim Stars: Germany-based swimming school franchise offering children's courses with progressive badge levels across multiple cities. Closely comparable multi-location model targeting the same Seepferdchen-to-Gold progression market.
• Hallenbad Kinder Schwimmschule: German private swimming school brand focused on children's courses with structured progression. Directly comparable as a German Schwimmschule targeting the same children-and-families segment.
• Schwimmschule Bali: Berlin-based private swimming school offering baby, children and adult swimming courses with badge progression. Directly comparable as a German private Schwimmschule competitor targeting the same family segment with similar course structures.

Others

• DSV (Deutscher Schwimm-Verband): German national swimming federation that issues the Seepferdchen/Bronze/Silver/Gold badges used by Marlin's curriculum. Not a direct competitor but a key ecosystem participant whose standards and Vereine network shape the competitive landscape.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@schwimmschulemarlin242
• Facebookfacebook.com/schwimmschulemarlin/?locale=de_DE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schwimmschule-marlin-gmbh

Compliance1 record

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 Schwimmschule Marlin