Citywave North America

What Citywave North America does

Citywave USA, doing business as citywave USA, is the North American and Caribbean commercialization vehicle for the Citywave deep-water standing wave technology, owned by Urban Entertainment Concepts (UEC) and headquartered in Dallas, Texas. The company monetizes a single core technology platform: a patented deep-water stationary wave system that lets riders use real surfboards with fins to perform authentic carves, snaps, and cutbacks, with adjustable wave heights scaled from beginner to expert and built-in safety and redundancy features. Backed by 15+ years of R&D and 20+ deployed systems worldwide, the unit is sold as a compact alternative to large traveling-wave lagoon builds, requiring a 265,000-gallon concrete basin, dedicated 1,600A 480V three-phase power, and custom electrical and filtration rooms.

The business model is B2B and project-based. ADG (Aquatic Development Group) acts as exclusive turnkey provider for North America and the Caribbean under a partnership announced November 5, 2024, handling sales, marketing, design, engineering, manufacturing, installation, and after-sales service; Citywave USA captures revenue through hardware unit sales, licensing, franchising, and downstream venue economics (ticketing, F&B, retail, rentals, memberships, lessons, events, and brand activations). Target customer segments span resorts, standalone entertainment venues, mixed-use residential and commercial developments, waterparks, adventure destinations, and complementary surf parks. Disclosed US venues include Goodsurf (Dallas), Fireside Surf (The Colony, TX), Lakeside Surf at Slidewaters (Washington), and The LineUp at Waikai (Oahu, Hawaii), alongside international sites across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. As a 1–10 employee private entity with no disclosed funding rounds, the company's near-term trajectory hinges on converting the ADG partnership into a steady North American project pipeline and scaling Goodsurf Beach Club as a flagship franchisable concept.

Name

Citywave North America

Legal name

citywave USA

Website

https://citywaveusa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Citywave USA is the Dallas-based North American and Caribbean commercialization arm of Citywave's patented deep-water standing wave technology, selling, licensing, and franchising surf installations to resorts, waterparks, mixed-use developers, and standalone entertainment venues with ADG as exclusive turnkey provider.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Standing Wave Surf Systems

NAICS

Amusement Arcades (713120)

akta.pro primary industry

Surf Schools & Surf Camps (THAAAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Surfing & Kitesurfing Experiences (Lessons, Camps) (THAJAJAJ), Surf, Kitesurf & Wind Sports Adventures (THAJABAK)

Keywords

• Deep-water standing wave
• Surf pool systems
• Aquatic venue equipment
• Stationary wave surfing
• Commercial wave technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Session Ticketing: Revenue from individual surf sessions and ticketed events for beginners, intermediate, and advanced surfers.
2. Food and Beverage: Integrated F&B operations generating revenue from food, beverages, and concessions at venues.
3. Retail and Rentals: Surfboard rentals, retail merchandise sales including surf gear and apparel.
4. Memberships and Subscriptions: Recurring revenue from memberships offering regular access, priority booking, and exclusive benefits.
5. Lessons and Programs: Structured lessons, youth camps, after-school programs, and adaptive surf programs for beginners and progression.
6. Competitions and Events: Hosting recognized competitions and surf events that elevate venue profile and justify premium pricing.
7. Private Event Rentals: VIP surf nights, corporate groups, team-building events, birthday parties filling premium time slots.
8. Brand Activations: Influencer partnerships and brand activations extending reach and generating additional revenue streams.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Citywave North America sells, licenses, franchises, and operates the citywave® Deep-Water Standing Wave System — a patented, compact-footprint deep-water standing wave that lets riders surf on authentic surfboards with fins in commercial venues. Delivered turnkey through ADG, it targets resorts, waterparks, mixed-use developments, and standalone entertainment venues across North America and the Caribbean.

Product overview

citywave® USA offers a single unified product: the proprietary deep-water standing wave system, which is a compact stationary wave generator designed for installation in various venue types. The core offering consists of the citywave® wave generation unit with adjustable height controls, steel support structure, and proprietary wave technology. Supporting modules include the Business Benefits Platform covering operational guidance for revenue optimization (sessions, memberships, lessons, events, F&B) and Wave Benefits features (adjustable heights, training bar, safety features) that enhance the surf experience for all skill levels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• citywave® Deep-Water Standing Wave System A patented, compact-footprint deep-water standing wave that creates a continuous, adjustable surf-like flow. Riders use authentic surfboards with fins (no jets, no spray), and the system supports programs for first-timers through pro surfers, lessons, and competitions. Delivered turnkey to resorts, waterparks, mixed-use developments, standalone venues, adventure destinations, and surf parks.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 30% increase in nearby real estate value from outdoor recreation amenities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Aquatic Development Group (ADG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 November 2024Strategic partnership where ADG serves as exclusive turnkey provider for Citywave USA surf units across North America and Caribbean. ADG handles sales, marketing, design, engineering, manufacturing, installation, and after-sales service. Combines Citywave's proven deep-water standing wave technology with ADG's 50+ years of experience, vertically integrated manufacturing, and 80% repeat customer rate. ADG has installed 130+ FlowRider systems and developed EpicSurf in 2021.
• Urban Entertainment Concepts (UEC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 November 2024UEC owns Citywave USA and developed its first vertically integrated concept, Goodsurf Beach Club in Dallas Texas. UEC brings deep knowledge of development and operations including financing, insurance, software, gamification, third party management and franchising. CEO Andrew Limbocker leads expansion efforts with ADG partnership.
• WavePoolMagminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry media partnership for podcast feature highlighting the partnership between Citywave USA and ADG, and what it means for the future of standing wave and surf park development.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Wave Machines: American Wave Machines manufactures the PerfectSwell and SurfStream wave systems for surf parks, resorts, and entertainment venues. It directly competes with Citywave by offering both standing-wave and traveling-wave technologies targeting the same developer and resort buyer.
• Wavegarden: Wavegarden develops large-scale artificial wave pools (the Cove and the Lagoon) used by surf parks, resorts, and developers worldwide. It is the most direct competitor to Citywave in the inland surf wave technology space, offering a traveling-wave alternative versus Citywave's deep-water standing wave.
• Surf Loch: Surf Loch develops pneumatic wave pool technology for surf parks, waterparks, and resorts. It directly competes with Citywave by offering an alternative artificial wave approach targeting the same developer and entertainment venue customers.
• Endless Surf (by WhiteWater): Endless Surf, developed by WhiteWater, is a deep-water traveling-wave surf pool technology designed for waterparks, resorts, and surf parks. It is a direct competitor to Citywave in the venue-based artificial surf category and shares ADG's waterpark customer base.
• Kelly Slater Wave Company: Kelly Slater Wave Co. operates the Surf Ranch and licenses its high-performance traveling-wave technology to surf park developers globally. It is a direct competitor targeting premium surf venues and competes for the same resort and developer customers as Citywave.
• Surf Lakes International: Surf Lakes develops large-scale concentric wave pool technology for surf parks and resorts. It directly competes with Citywave in the artificial wave technology category, targeting similar resort and developer buyers with a different wave-generation approach.

Emerging players

• UNIT Surf Pools: UNIT Surf Pools builds modular, containerized standing-wave surf pools for resorts, hotels, and event venues. It is an emerging competitor to Citywave focused on smaller-footprint, portable deployments of artificial surf experiences.

Others

• Aquatic Development Group (ADG): ADG is Citywave USA's exclusive turnkey partner and the parent entity behind FlowRider and EpicSurf installations. It is not a pure competitor but a strategic ecosystem participant whose own wave products (FlowRider, EpicSurf) compete in adjacent segments of the same venue development market.
• WavePoolMag: WavePoolMag is the leading industry media outlet covering artificial wave technology, surf parks, and inland surfing developments. It is an ecosystem participant and GTM partner to Citywave USA, providing industry visibility and thought leadership across the broader surf park category.

Broad incumbents

• WhiteWater (FlowRider parent): WhiteWater is the global leader in waterpark attractions and the parent of the FlowRider sheet-wave system with 130+ installations, including those manufactured by Citywave USA's partner ADG. It competes broadly in the same venue-development space as Citywave with a much larger product portfolio.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/citywaveusa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Citywave North America