What Memphis Rox does

Memphis Rox is a 501(c)(3) non-profit climbing gym headquartered at 879 E McLemore Ave in Memphis, Tennessee, in the Soulsville neighborhood directly across from Stax Records. The organization self-identifies as the largest non-profit climbing gym in the world, operating a single physical facility that includes a 15-foot bouldering area, 45-foot high rope walls with nearly 90 top rope anchors, a Rox Board training wall (adjustable-angle, integrated with the Stokt app for custom climb design), an interactive LED-lit climbing board, and a full fitness zone with strength equipment, cardio machines, and yoga space. The facility also houses Juice Almighty, an on-site cafe operating on a pay-what-you-can model with ingredients partially sourced from an on-site community garden.

The organization's revenue model is a hybrid of earned revenue and charitable contributions. Earned streams include memberships (pay-what-you-can subscription with a volunteer-membership alternative), day passes (pay-what-you-can), climbing classes ($10-$80 per session), gear rentals ($1-$3), corporate retreats via the Team Ascend Program ($1,000 for up to 12 participants), school group field trips ($10 per climber with scholarships), birthday parties ($15 per climber), and cafe sales. Non-earned revenue includes individual donations processed via Fundrazr, grants, and youth program sponsorships at $2,500 annually per child for the Soul Senders climbing team. The membership is structured around a pay-what-you-can philosophy with no one turned away for inability to pay, and a volunteer membership option exists for those who cannot afford standard rates.

Memphis Rox serves a diversified customer base spanning individual climbers, youth aged 5-18 (Soul Senders and a free after-school program for ages 12-17), school groups, corporate teams, and underserved communities in challenged Memphis neighborhoods. The go-to-market is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth referrals, volunteer programs, school partnerships, corporate retreats, and visibility through major outdoor brand partnerships (The North Face, YETI, Black Diamond Equipment, Scarpa, Flashed, Protect Our Winters). The organization's mission centers on removing financial barriers to climbing and fitness while addressing youth mentorship, food insecurity, and representation in the outdoor industry.

Name

Memphis Rox

Legal name

Memphis Rox

Website

https://memphisrox.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Memphis Rox is a 501(c)(3) non-profit climbing gym in Memphis, Tennessee, operating the largest non-profit climbing facility in the world on a pay-what-you-can model. It serves individual climbers, youth, school groups, corporate teams, and underserved communities with climbing facilities, fitness equipment, classes, and wraparound community programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indoor Climbing Gym & Community Fitness Center

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Climbing & Mountaineering Gyms/Guides (Indoor, Outdoor, Via Ferrata) (THAAAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ropes Courses & High/Low Challenge Courses (THAAACAB), Adventure & Aerial Parks (Ropes Courses, Zipline Parks, Climbing Parks) (THAJAEAI)

Keywords

• Indoor climbing gym
• Bouldering facility
• Youth climbing programs
• Community fitness services
• Corporate team retreats

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

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, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Gym Memberships: Fixed-rate monthly or annual memberships providing unlimited access to climbing walls, fitness facilities, climbing and yoga classes, and community programming. Need-based volunteer membership option available for those who cannot afford standard rates.
2. Day Passes: Pay-what-you-can day passes providing full-day access to bouldering, rope climbing, and workout equipment. Suggested price offered but guests welcome to pay what they can afford.
3. Climbing Classes and Certifications: Revenue from Intro to Climbing Technique ($25), Lead Climbing classes ($60 members/$80 non-members), Fitness for Climbers classes ($10), and belay certifications ($10).
4. Corporate Team Retreats: Team Ascend Program (TAP) retreats at $1,000 for up to 12 participants, including professional instruction, climbing activities, and catering from Juice Almighty.
5. School Group Programs: School group field trips at suggested rate of $10 per climber with scholarships available for groups unable to afford the rate.
6. Party and Event Bookings: Birthday parties and group celebrations at suggested rate of $15 per climber with free chaperones.
7. Juice Almighty Cafe: On-site juice bar and cafe offering smoothies, sandwiches, and salads. Operates on pay-what-you-can model with volunteer work as alternative payment.
8. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Memphis Rox receives charitable donations from individuals and organizations. Supports community closet, community garden, feminine hygiene supply program, and after school programming.
9. Youth Program Sponsorships: Sponsorship of youth climbing programs at $2,500 annually per child, enabling underprivileged youth to participate in Soul Senders climbing team.
10. Gear Rentals: Climbing shoes rental for $1, socks for $3. Rental gear included with day pass or membership purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Memphis Rox operates the largest non-profit climbing gym in the world, offering indoor bouldering, top-rope climbing, and high-rope walls on a pay-what-you-can basis. The facility also provides a fitness training zone, climbing and yoga classes, an on-site café (Juice Almighty), and youth/community programming including the Soul Senders climbing team, an after-school program, school group field trips, corporate team retreats, and birthday party hosting.

Product overview

Memphis Rox operates as a unified fitness and community wellness platform built around its climbing gym core offering. The company provides climbing facilities as its primary product, supplemented by fitness and training zones, with Juice Almighty serving as the on-site café brand. Beyond physical facilities, Memphis Rox offers structured programming including the Team Ascend corporate retreat program, Soul Senders youth climbing team, after-school program, school groups program, and party/event hosting. Climbing classes and membership programs serve as the primary revenue-generating modules, with membership operating on a pay-what-you-can model to ensure accessibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SoulSenders: Youth climbing team program supporting youth ages 5-18 with recreational and competitive climbing options
• Team Ascend Program (TAP)
• Juice Almighty

Products and services

• Climbing Facilities

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,000+ volunteer service hours contributed by community members
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The North FacecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor outdoor apparel brand providing support for Memphis Rox's mission to expand the idea of Never Stop Exploring. David Burleson from The North Face described Memphis Rox as the North Star of what can be done through climbing when focus is on people and community. The partnership provides brand credibility and mission alignment.
• YETIcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium outdoor brand supporting Memphis Rox's mission to bring renewed sense of hope to underserved communities through climbing and community programs. Jessi Markowitz from YETI cited commitment to making outdoors accessible without fear.
• Black Diamond EquipmentcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerClimbing equipment manufacturer describing Memphis Rox as a truly inspiring example of the power the climbing community can have. Jess Powell stated they learned from Memphis Rox's example and look forward to inspiring others through this partnership.
• Protect Our WintersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization (logo displayed) focused on mobilizing the outdoor community to act on climate change. Partnership supports environmental advocacy and outdoor community building.
• ScarpaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerItalian climbing and hiking footwear brand shown as logo partner, indicating brand alignment and potential product support.
• FlashedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClimbing hold manufacturer shown as logo partner, indicating equipment partnership and brand alignment.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Patagonia: Mission-driven outdoor brand with deep focus on environmental and community activism, recently transferred ownership to nonprofit Holdfast Collective. Comparable to Memphis Rox on mission alignment, environmental/community values, and outdoor-industry sponsorship posture, though operating at far broader scale and not a gym operator.
• REI Co-op: National outdoor recreation co-op offering climbing classes, guided experiences, gear, and broad outdoor programming. Broad incumbent relevant to Memphis Rox via outdoor-brand sponsorship overlap and shared climbing-industry customer base, but operates across far wider categories.

Direct peers

• Vertical World: Long-standing indoor climbing gym chain offering bouldering, top rope, lead, training areas, and instructional programs. Comparable to Memphis Rox on full-format climbing facility model and class-based revenue.
• Sender One Climbing: Climbing gym operator with bouldering, rope climbing, training boards, fitness zones, yoga, and youth programming across multiple U.S. locations. Comparable to Memphis Rox across facility offering, class structure, and youth team programming.
• Touchstone Climbing: Bay Area climbing gym chain with bouldering, top rope, lead, training boards, fitness areas, and instructional classes. Comparable to Memphis Rox in facility scope (bouldering + ropes + training wall + fitness) and multi-channel programming model.
• Triangle Rock Club: Multi-location indoor climbing gym offering bouldering, top rope, lead climbing, fitness areas, yoga, and youth programs. Comparable to Memphis Rox across facility scope and youth/family programming.
• Brooklyn Boulders (BKB): Urban indoor climbing gym brand historically known for community-building and inclusion programming alongside bouldering, fitness, and coworking. Direct comparable to Memphis Rox on community-led positioning and urban gym format.
• Movement Climbing: Multi-location indoor climbing gym chain offering bouldering, roped climbing, fitness zones, yoga, and youth programs in urban markets. Closest direct comparable to Memphis Rox on facility mix and programming, though operating as a for-profit chain rather than nonprofit.
• Adventure Rock Climbing Center: Indoor climbing gym with bouldering, top rope, lead, training walls, fitness areas, yoga, and youth programs. Comparable to Memphis Rox across facility mix and instructional/youth programming depth.

Regional players

• Climb Nashville: Indoor climbing gym serving the Nashville, Tennessee market with bouldering, roped climbing, training, fitness, and youth programs. Comparable to Memphis Rox on facility model and regional U.S. Southeast market context, with a comparable mix of community programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/memphisroxclimb
• Facebookfacebook.com/memphisroxclimbing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/memphis-rox-climbing-community

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Memphis Rox