Adventure IO
Adventure IO is a two-sided marketplace that connects affluent travelers with professional athletes and local experts who host premium outdoor adventures via an iOS app and web platform, monetizing through a 30% guide commission and B2B partnerships with luxury hotel brands such as Montage, Pendry, and Park Hyatt Aviara.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersDraper, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Adventure IO does
Adventure IO is a privately held marketplace company founded in 2018 and headquartered in Draper, Utah. The company operates a two-sided platform connecting adventure-seeking consumers with professional athletes, brand ambassadors, and local experts who host premium outdoor experiences. Its core product consists of an iOS mobile application and a web platform (web.adventureapp.io) that enable discovery, booking, and management of curated experiences across categories including surfing, wakeboarding, foilboarding, hiking, freediving, and fishing. The company also operates a premium product line called EPIC Adventures, which features themed collections (e.g., Best for Families, Top Women Athletes, Best Winter Adventures) hosted by credentialed athletes such as World Champion surfers CJ and Damien Hobgood, professional wakeboarders Shaun Murray and Brian Grubb, and skimboarder Blair Conklin. Technology components include a proprietary booking platform, Google Maps integration for location services, and Facebook-based single sign-on; no public API, SDK, or AI/ML capabilities are documented.
The company monetizes primarily through a 30% marketplace commission (Guide Fee) automatically deducted from payouts to experience hosts, with no participant booking fee. A secondary revenue stream consists of B2B partnerships with luxury hotels and experiential brands, where Adventure IO provides curated programming for hotel guests through custom app sections and concierge integration. Key hospitality partners include Montage International (Montage Hotels & Resorts and Pendry Hotels & Resorts), Park Hyatt Aviara, and Auberge Collection's Chileno Bay Resort; lifestyle brand partners include Salty Crew and Vuori Clothing. Signature events such as the Cabo Cape Classic (priced at $7,875-$8,920 per person) extend the business into multi-day luxury adventure travel in Mexico.
The company is founder-led by brothers Jeff McKee (President) and Billy McKee (Co-founder), both former professional wakeboarders. It operates with a small team of 1-10 employees and does not have disclosed external institutional funding. Geographic reach covers five U.S. states (California, Florida, Utah, Hawaii, South Carolina) plus Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The company has received editorial coverage from Travel + Leisure, Elite Traveler, Outside Online (Best Trips 2022), HospitalityNet, and Luxury Travel Magazine, supporting brand awareness in the luxury experiential travel segment.
Adventure IO firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Adventure IO
- Legal name
- Adventure IO Inc.
- Website
- https://adventureapp.io
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Adventure IO is a two-sided marketplace that connects affluent travelers with professional athletes and local experts who host premium outdoor adventures via an iOS app and web platform, monetizing through a 30% guide commission and B2B partnerships with luxury hotel brands such as Montage, Pendry, and Park Hyatt Aviara.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Adventure IO industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Adventure Experience Marketplace
- NAICS
- Tour Operators (561520), Tour Operators (56152), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Other (4879)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Adventure & Expedition Travel Agencies (THAKAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Adventure & Active Travel Agencies (THAKABAD), Adventure Sports & Activity Centers (Paragliding, Surf Schools, Guided Activities) (THAAAAAL)
Keywords
Where Adventure IO is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Draper
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Adventure IO business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Marketplace Commission (Guide Fee): Adventure IO charges Guides a 30% fee on the gross amount charged for each Adventure. This fee is automatically deducted from payouts to Guides. No Participant Fee is currently charged for booking Adventures.
- B2B Partnerships with Hotels and Resorts: Partnership arrangements with luxury hotels (Park Hyatt Aviara, Montage, Pendry) where Adventure IO provides curated adventure programming for hotel guests, potentially including licensing or co-revenue sharing arrangements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Adventures - Starting price point |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Premium Multi-day Experiences (Cabo Cape Classic) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels4 records
Adventure IO product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Adventure IO operates a two-sided mobile and web marketplace that connects adventure seekers with professional athletes, brand ambassadors, and local experts who host bookable outdoor experiences. The platform enables discovery, booking, and management of guided adventures (e.g., surfing, wakeboarding, fishing, hiking) and premium EPIC Adventures. Adventure IO monetizes primarily by charging guides a 30% marketplace commission and through B2B partnership arrangements with luxury hotels and lifestyle brands.
Product overview
Adventure IO is a mobile and web platform marketplace connecting users with top-rated experiences hosted by professional athletes, brand ambassadors, and local experts. The core product consists of the Adventure IO Mobile App (iOS) and Web Platform where users discover and book EPIC Adventures and Guided Adventures across activities including wakeboarding, surfing, foilboarding, hiking, and fishing. The platform is powered by a network of verified Adventure Guides and operates B2B partnerships with luxury hotels (Montage International, Park Hyatt Aviara) and lifestyle brands (Salty Crew, Vuori) to deliver exclusive branded experiences. Key product lines include the standard Guided Adventures marketplace, premium EPIC Adventures curated collections, signature events like the Cabo Cape Classic and Vuori EPIC Retreat, and the Adventure Partners Program for hospitality partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Adventure IO Marketplace Platform
- EPIC Adventures
- Guided Adventures
- Cabo Cape Classic
- Vuori EPIC Retreat
- Adventure Partners Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Featured in Travel + Leisure, Elite Traveler, Outside Online, HospitalityNet, and Luxury Travel Magazine
Companies that use Adventure IO
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Adventure IO technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature1 record
Adventure IO partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Travel + LeisureminorTravel + Leisure featured Adventure IO in editorial coverage about traveling with professional athletes, providing media exposure to their global audience of luxury travelers.
- HospitalityNetminorHospitality industry publication featured coverage of Adventure IO's partnership with Montage resorts, reaching hospitality professionals and luxury hotel operators.
- Luxury Travel MagazineminorLuxury Travel Magazine highlighted Adventure IO's partnership with Montage Deer Valley resort, featuring the adventure experiences available to guests.
- Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & SpacoreAdventure IO partnered with Park Hyatt Aviara, a AAA Five-Diamond and Forbes Five-Star luxury resort in Carlsbad, California, to offer exclusive outdoor experiences. Adventures include surfboard shaping with Chris Clark, wakesurfing with Shawn Watson, private surfing instruction, e-bike tours, and coastal tide pool excursions. The partnership provides unique opportunities for hotel guests to learn from professional athletes and local experts.
- Montage InternationalcoreAdventure IO partnered with Montage International to provide adventure programming across Montage Hotels & Resorts and Pendry Hotels & Resorts portfolios. Programming launched at Montage Laguna Beach and Pendry San Diego in April 2021, followed by Montage Deer Valley. Experiences include skimboarding with Blair Conklin, electric hydrofoiling with Chuck Glynn, yacht expeditions, fishing adventures, cycling tours, and more. Adventures are accessible through a custom area of the Adventure IO app and through property concierge.
- Chileno Bay Resort (Auberge Collection)minorChileno Bay Resort, part of the Auberge Collection, served as the venue for the Cabo Cape Classic event co-hosted by Adventure IO and Salty Crew. The luxury resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico provided 5-star accommodations for the exclusive surfing and fishing adventure experience.
- Salty CrewcoreAdventure IO partnered with Salty Crew, a surfing/fishing/diving/sailing adventure apparel brand, to offer world-class experiences hosted by Salty Crew athletes including professional surfers CJ Hobgood (2001 World Champion) and Damien Hobgood (2000 WCT Rookie of the Year), and founder Jared Lane. The partnership includes exclusive events like the Cabo Cape Classic and ongoing adventure programming.
- Vuori ClothingminorAdventure IO partnered with Vuori Clothing (performance apparel brand) for an EPIC wellness retreat in San Diego, CA. The 4-day/3-night retreat at Pendry San Diego combined fitness activities, breathwork/meditation, yoga, surfing, hiking, and leisure, with Vuori collaborators leading wellness sessions and providing apparel.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Adventure IO competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- GetYourGuide: GetYourGuide operates a large-scale marketplace for tours and experiences worldwide. It is comparable in business model (marketplace connecting travelers with activity hosts) and competes for the same consumer demand, though Adventure IO targets a higher-end, athlete-led niche.
- Klook: Klook is a major activities and experiences marketplace primarily serving Asia-Pacific travelers. It is comparable in operating a global activities marketplace, though Adventure IO is more premium- and athlete-led in positioning.
- Abercrombie & Kent: Abercrombie & Kent is a luxury tour operator offering high-end guided trips and experiential travel globally. It is comparable in the luxury experiential travel segment and in offering premium, expert-led adventures.
- Scott Dunn: Scott Dunn is a luxury tour operator specializing in bespoke, high-end vacations and experiential travel. Comparable to Adventure IO in serving affluent travelers seeking premium curated experiences, including adventure and active itineraries.
- Airbnb Experiences: Airbnb Experiences is a two-sided marketplace for bookable activities hosted by local experts and is the broadest incumbent in the online experiences category. Adventure IO competes for the same demand (travelers seeking unique activities) but differentiates via athlete-led premium experiences.
- Viator: Viator (owned by Tripadvisor) is a global marketplace for tours, activities, and attractions. It overlaps with Adventure IO in the discovery and booking of adventure activities, but at a much broader and lower-priced scale.
Emerging players
- Adventures by Disney: Adventures by Disney offers premium guided group trips led by Disney-trained guides, including adventure-focused itineraries. It is comparable in the premium, expert-led family and experiential travel segment, though structured as a tour operator rather than a marketplace.
Direct peers
- Peek: Peek is a software and marketplace platform for bookable activities and experiences, including premium and luxury offerings. It is closely comparable to Adventure IO in operating a curated activity marketplace with a focus on quality and operator tools.
- Backroads: Backroads is a leading active and adventure travel company offering guided small-group trips. It is directly comparable to Adventure IO in organizing premium guided adventure experiences, with overlap in hiking, biking, and water-based activities.
- Black Tomato: Black Tomato is a luxury experiential travel company designing bespoke, high-end trips and adventures for affluent travelers. It is directly comparable to Adventure IO in targeting luxury travelers with premium, curated experiences.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Adventure IO social profiles
Digital presenceAdventure IO financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Adventure IO leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Adventure IO funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Adventure IO 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 Adventure IO
What does Adventure IO do?
Adventure IO operates a two-sided mobile and web marketplace that connects adventure seekers with professional athletes, brand ambassadors, and local experts who host bookable outdoor experiences. The platform enables discovery, booking, and management of guided adventures (e.g., surfing, wakeboarding, fishing, hiking) and premium EPIC Adventures. Adventure IO monetizes primarily by charging guides a 30% marketplace commission and through B2B partnership arrangements with luxury hotels and lifestyle brands.
Is Adventure IO a public or private company?
Adventure IO is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Adventure IO founded?
Adventure IO was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Adventure IO based?
Adventure IO is headquartered in Draper, United States, in the North America region.
How does Adventure IO make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Marketplace Commission (Guide Fee) is the primary driver. The others are B2B Partnerships with Hotels and Resorts.
Who are Adventure IO's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are GetYourGuide, Klook, Abercrombie & Kent, Scott Dunn, Airbnb Experiences and Viator. Adventures by Disney is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Peek, Backroads and Black Tomato.
Does Adventure IO have an API?
No public API is recorded for Adventure IO.
What industry is Adventure IO in?
Adventure IO's product category is Adventure Experience Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKAFAB, Adventure & Expedition Travel Agencies, with a secondary code of THAKABAD, Adventure & Active Travel Agencies. Its NAICS code is 561520 and its SIC code is 7900.