Pods Swimming

What Pods Swimming does

Pods Swimming is a year-round, privately held aquatics education center headquartered at 111 Commercial Way, East Providence, Rhode Island, serving Providence and surrounding communities. The company was established as an independent entity in 2007 after separating from the Ocean State Squids Learn to Swim program at Brown University, when that pool closed; it traces its instructional lineage to 1996. Pods is founder-owned by Susan Pascale-Frechette, with Jamie Pascale serving as Program Director, and operates an 11,900-square-foot facility featuring a 20x40-foot shallow teaching pool and a six-lane 25-yard lap pool, supported by an EPA-validated UV water treatment system.

The core product is a progressive, age-segmented swim lesson curriculum (the proprietary J. Pascale curriculum, refined over 40 years) running from Cuttlefish (infants 6-33 months) through Nautilus, Octopus, Jr. Squid, and Giant Squid (ages 2.5-9), with a pathway to Commonwealth Current Swimming, a nationally ranked USA Swimming-affiliated team for which Pods serves as the official learn-to-swim feeder. Ancillary offerings include year-round lap swimming, aqua aerobics classes, and birthday party rentals. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the on-site facility and an online registration/booking platform (PerfectMind).

Pods Swimming operates a continuous enrollment subscription model anchored by monthly swim lessons at $120/month per 30-minute weekly session, plus a $50 annual family membership, with subsidies and discounts for siblings and multi-class enrollment. Additional revenue comes from lap swimming memberships ($60/month individual, $40/month senior), aqua aerobics drop-ins and punch passes ($12/class or $110 for 10 visits), and birthday party packages ($700-$800). The business carries no institutional debt or equity capital, is founder- and family-controlled, and supplements commercial revenue with state-level grants (Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Water Safety Grants and the 2024 USA Swimming Foundation Learn-to-Swim Grant) supporting adaptive programming and drowning prevention outreach.

Name

Pods Swimming

Legal name

Pods Swimming

Website

https://podsswimming.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Pods Swimming is a privately held, year-round aquatics education center in East Providence, Rhode Island, offering progressive learn-to-swim programs for infants through adults using a proprietary curriculum, alongside lap swimming, aqua aerobics, and birthday party services under a direct-to-consumer subscription model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Swim Instruction Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Aqua Fitness Classes (HSADABAL), Aquatic Centers & Swimming Facilities (MPAKAEAF)

Keywords

• Swim lessons
• Aquatic education
• Learn to swim
• Swim school
• Aquatic fitness

Headquarters

HQ city

Providence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Swim Lessons (Subscription): Monthly subscription-based swim lessons at $120/month for a 30-minute lesson once a week. This is the primary revenue stream, based on a four-week month with adjustments for extra days or holidays. Includes continuous enrollment model where students stay enrolled until they submit a withdrawal form.
2. Aqua Aerobics Classes: Group fitness classes offered at $12 per class (or $10 for seniors), with 10-visit passes available at $110 (or $75 for seniors). Drop-in model for flexible participation.
3. Lap Swimming: Year-round lap swimming access with monthly membership at $60/month (or $40 for seniors) plus annual $50 family membership fee. Drop-in option at $12 per visit and punch cards at $100 for 10 visits.
4. Birthday Party Rentals: Pool party rentals at $700 for teaching pool or $800 for lap pool, including 20 kids, lifeguards, party hosts, favors, and pool time. Additional children at $15 each.
5. Annual Family Membership: Annual membership fee of $50 per family per year, required for all families at the start of each calendar year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pods Swimming operates a year-round aquatics education center in East Providence, RI, delivering structured swim instruction to students from 6 months through adulthood using a proprietary J. Pascale curriculum refined over 40 years. The company teaches progressive swim programs (Cuttlefish, Nautilus, Octopus, Jr. Squid, Giant Squid) that build from infant water comfort to competitive stroke mastery, and also offers lap swimming, aqua aerobics, and birthday pool party hosting at its 11,900-square-foot dual-pool facility.

Product overview

Pods Swimming is a year-round aquatics education center offering a comprehensive suite of learn-to-swim programs for all ages from infants (6 months) through adults. The core product portfolio includes five progressive swim lesson programs (Cuttlefish for infants/toddlers, Nautilus for young children, Octopus for intermediate, Jr. Squid and Giant Squid for advanced), which collectively build from basic water comfort to full competitive stroke mastery. Supporting programs include lap swimming access, aqua aerobics classes, and birthday pool party hosting. The company operates a state-of-the-art 11,900-square-foot facility in East Providence, RI with two pools, and serves as the learn-to-swim partner for Commonwealth Current Swimming swim team. Services are delivered through a continuous enrollment model with monthly tuition and annual family membership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cuttlefish Swim Lessons Infant and toddler swim instruction program for children ages 6 to 33 months, taught with parent participation in the water. Cuttlefish I focuses on underwater comfort and assisted back floats for 6-15 month olds; Cuttlefish II/III teaches independent back floating and roll-over breathing for older toddlers.
• Nautilus Swim Lessons Swim instruction program for children ages 2.5 to 9 years, progressing from introduction to buoyancy and breath control (Nautilus I) through freestyle and backstroke development (Nautilus II/III) to advanced techniques including rhythmic breathing and diving (Advanced Nautilus).
• Octopus Swim Lessons Swim instruction for children ages 4-9 years who have completed Nautilus-level skills, building endurance in freestyle and backstroke up to 50 yards independently.
• Jr. Squid Swim Program Advanced swim instruction for children ages 5-10 years covering flip-turns, backstroke starts, diving off blocks, dolphin kick, and breaststroke kick introduction, with a goal of swimming 200 yards with flip-turns.
• Giant Squid Swim Program Hour-long advanced swim instruction for children ages 6-9 years covering all four competitive strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly), 500-yard freestyle, 100-yard Individual Medley, and flip-turn/open turns, serving as the bridge to competitive swim team participation.
• Lap Swimming Year-round lap swimming access in a six-lane, 25-yard pool with depths from 4-9 feet, available mornings and early afternoons with online lane reservation required, capped at one-hour sessions with two swimmers per lane.
• Aqua Aerobics Cardiovascular fitness and strength classes with no impact to joints, offered weekday mornings with drop-in ($12 / $10 senior) and 10-visit pass ($110 / $75 senior) options.
• Birthday Pool Parties Pool party hosting in either the teaching pool ($700) or lap pool ($800), including 75 minutes of pool time with life jackets, 45 minutes of lobby celebration, two lifeguards, two party hosts, personalized e-vite, party favors, and a birthday child t-shirt and goggles; up to 20 children included with additional children at $15 each.

Quantifiable outcome

• Children learn to 'live in the water' preventing panic situations and enabling quick stroke acquisition
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rhode Island Department of Environmental ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Pods Swimming participated in the 2026 Water Safety Grants program administered by RI DEM, which provides funding for swim and paddlecraft lessons including adaptive programs for individuals with disabilities. This addresses high drowning rates in the state.
• Providence Community Health CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Partnered with Pods Swimming for water safety programs through the RI DEM Water Safety Grants, including adaptive programs for individuals with disabilities. Providence Community Health Centers received awards in the previous fiscal year.
• United States Coast Guard AuxiliaryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Partner in the RI DEM Water Safety Grants program, conducting free paddlecraft safety courses as part of the public safety measures.
• Commonwealth Current SwimmingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPods Swimming serves as the official swim school for Commonwealth Current Swimming, a nationally recognized USA swim team that consistently ranks in top 3-5% of all USA swim teams. Giant Squid swimmers transition to compete in home meets at Seekonk HS.
• United States Swim School Association (USSSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPods Swimming has been a member since 2007. Staff are certified in USSSA Infant/Toddler and Special Abilities programs. Susan coached for USSSA from 2007-2019 and staff attend annual USSSA National Conference.
• Minuteman Press SeekonkminorOthersLocal printing services partner providing high-quality design, printing, and marketing products with timely service and competitive prices.
• Wheeler School Summer CampminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer camp partnership offering aquatic instruction as part of the 120-acre Wheeler Farm outdoor classroom program.
• Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of FameminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPods Swimming is recognized with the Award of Excellence. The Hall of Fame honors individuals for outstanding achievement and service to aquatics in Rhode Island since 1981.
• Life Safety Solutions, LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRisk management, loss mitigation consulting, and training agency specializing in training, strategic implementation of preventative safety measures, and emergency response solutions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCYd12WZzqe3gDr-1QLf_vDw
• Facebookfacebook.com/podsswim
• Instagraminstagram.com/podsswim17
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pods-swimming

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Pods Swimming