Axe Throwing

What Axe Throwing does

Celtic Axe Throwers is a privately held, founder-owned entertainment service company founded by Mark Maher in Portland, Oregon (founded ~2019 per founder interview; website claims 8+ years of experience, creating a date discrepancy). The company operates guided axe throwing sessions at third-party brewery venues across four markets: Portland metro (Hopworks, Stickmen Brewery, BG Food Cartel, Stormbreaker Rage Room), Vancouver, WA, Austin, TX (The Brewtorium, 8 lanes), and San Diego, CA (AleSmith Brewing). Its service stack includes hourly walk-in sessions at $25/person/hour, weekly Axe League memberships at $20/week with WATL-aligned rules, Axe Gym practice memberships, private parties from $200, corporate team-building packages, and tournament events. Additional revenue comes from the Mobile Axe Throwing Unit (4-hour minimum, nationwide festivals and corporate events) and retail sales of 'The Celt' signature throwing axe, a WATL-spec hickory-handled competition axe.

The business is fundamentally a service operation with no proprietary technology platform; the underlying tech stack consists of commodity SaaS — Acuity Scheduling for reservations, Square for payments, SmartWaiver for digital liability waivers, Twilio/OpenPhone for SMS, and Vercel for hosting. The only tangible product differentiator is the branded 'Celt' axe and the 'Glow N' Throw' neon experience at the Austin Brewtorium location. Distribution is a hybrid of physical venue partnerships (fixed lanes inside breweries), direct online self-serve booking, dedicated corporate sales, and the mobile trailer. Customer segments are horizontal: individual consumers for social occasions, bachelor/bachelorette parties, corporate team-building, competitive league members, and event organizers using the mobile unit.

The company is bootstrapped with no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no acquisitions. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Marketing is dominated by word-of-mouth, user-generated social media from the inherently shareable throwing experience, blog content, email/SMS, and community/charity events such as the Ukraine fundraiser at Beaverton.

Name

Axe Throwing

Legal name

Celtic Axe Throwers

Website

https://celticaxethrowers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Celtic Axe Throwers is a privately held, founder-owned entertainment service operating guided axe throwing sessions, leagues, and team-building events at partner brewery venues in Portland, Austin, San Diego, and Vancouver, WA, plus a nationwide mobile trailer and a signature branded throwing axe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recreational Entertainment Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Adventure Multi-Sport Camps & Skills Academies (THAAAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Amateur Event & Tournament Organizers (Meets, Invitationals, Opens) (MPAKACAL), Regional/Local Combat Sports Promoters (Independent circuits) (MPAKAHAL)

Keywords

• Axe throwing entertainment
• Group event venue
• Corporate team building
• Mobile axe trailer
• Recreational league play

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Walk-in/Reservation Sessions: Standard hourly axe throwing sessions at $25 per person per hour. Customers book lanes online or walk in. Revenue is transaction-based, paid per session.
2. League Memberships: Weekly league memberships at $20/week for competitive throwers. Includes regular competition, coaching, tracked statistics, and season playoffs. Recurring revenue from dedicated league participants.
3. Private Events & Parties: Birthday parties, bachelor/bachelorette parties, corporate events, and group bookings. Packages include dedicated lanes, coaching, and tournament organization. Starting at $200 for 2-hour party packages (8-12 people).
4. Corporate Team Building: Customized team building events for businesses. Packages include safety instruction, equipment, coaching, and tournament coordination. Corporate packages start at $25/person with volume discounts.
5. Axe Sales: Sale of Celtic-inspired throwing axes including 'The Celt' signature axe and 'The Chieftain' professional-grade axe. Axes include care instructions and throwing technique guides.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Celtic Axe Throwers runs guided, coached axe throwing sessions at multi-lane venues operated inside partner craft breweries in Portland (OR), Austin (TX), San Diego (CA), and Vancouver (WA). Sessions are priced at $25 per person per hour and include lane access, equipment, safety instruction, and a trained Axe Marshall coach. The company also offers weekly competitive Axe Leagues ($20/week), private parties and corporate team building packages, a mobile axe throwing trailer for off-site festivals and weddings, and retail sales of its signature "Celt" throwing axe.

Product overview

Celtic Axe Throwers is a multi-location axe throwing entertainment service operating at brewery venues across Portland (OR), Austin (TX), San Diego (CA), and Vancouver (WA). The core offering consists of guided axe throwing sessions at $25 per person per hour, enhanced by specialty experiences like Glow N' Throw (neon-themed throwing) and a Mobile Axe Throwing Unit for off-site events. The company runs competitive Axe Leagues ($20/week with seasonal playoffs) and offers membership programs through Axe Gym. Corporate services include team building packages, tournament events, and private venue rentals. The signature product is 'The Celt' throwing axe, available for purchase. All locations feature trained coaches, enclosed safety lanes, and partnerships with craft breweries for food and beverages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Celt: The signature throwing axe designed specifically for throwing, representing the perfect balance of historical Celtic inspiration and modern functionality. Engineered for consistent rotation and stick rate, forgiving for beginners while competition-ready.

Products and services

• Axe Throwing Sessions Guided, coached axe throwing sessions at brewery venues in Portland, Austin, San Diego, and Vancouver WA where participants learn throwing techniques from trained Axe Marshall coaches; priced at $25 per person per hour and open to all skill levels.
• Glow N' Throw (Neon Axe Throwing) Neon-themed axe throwing experience featuring UV-reactive targets, blacklight effects, and music, available at select locations on weekend evenings after 6pm.
• Mobile Axe Throwing Unit Self-contained mobile trailer that brings complete axe throwing experience — enclosed throwing lanes, professional targets, safety barriers, and trained coaches — to festivals, corporate picnics, weddings, and private parties (4-hour minimum booking).
• Axe League Weekly competitive league program with 8-10 week seasons plus playoffs using WATL/IATF standard rules at $20 per week, hosted at Stickmen Brewery (Wed), The Brewtorium (Wed), and AleSmith (Sat).
• Axe Gym Membership Practice membership providing regular access to throwing lanes for individual skill development and practice sessions.
• Team Building Events Corporate team building packages including standard team events (1-2 hours with coaching), tournament packages with brackets and prizes, and private venue rentals, starting at $25 per person with volume discounts.
• Tournament Events Competitive tournament formats including open tournaments, league championships, corporate tournaments, and charity events following official WATL rules and scoring.
• Private Event Booking Exclusive venue access for private parties including birthdays, bachelor/bachelorette parties, and group gatherings; includes dedicated lanes, personalized coaching, and customizable game formats starting at $200 for 2-hour packages of 8-12 people.
• The Celt (Signature Throwing Axe) Celtic Axe Throwers' signature throwing axe, featuring balanced weight distribution, high-carbon steel head with hickory handle, engineered to WATL competition standards; available for retail purchase with care instructions and throwing technique guides.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hopworks Urban BrewerycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPortland venue partnership. Hopworks is a sustainable brewery known for organic ingredients and environmental responsibility. Celtic Axe Throwers operates within this venue, providing axe throwing lanes alongside the brewery's food and beverages.
• Stickmen Brewery TualatincoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPortland-area venue partnership. Family-friendly atmosphere with award-winning beers and excellent food options. Hosts weekly axe league on Wednesday evenings.
• BG Food Cartel BeavertoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPortland-area venue partnership featuring rotating food trucks alongside axe throwing lanes. Covered outdoor area perfect for events. New Beaverton venue location.
• The BrewtoriumcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustin flagship location. 8 lanes inside Brewtorium Brewpub with craft beer brewed in-house, wood-fired pizza, and pub food. Ice-cold AC and brew garden. Hosts Wednesday league nights.
• AleSmith Brewing CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSan Diego flagship location at AleSmith Brewery in Miramar. Features award-winning craft beer and taco truck. Hosts Saturday afternoon league play.
• Stormbreaker Rage RoomminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPortland venue partnership offering rage room experiences alongside axe throwing.
• SquarecoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment processing partner. Securely processes all booking and purchase payments. Celtic Axe Throwers does not store credit card numbers.
• Acuity SchedulingcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline booking and appointment scheduling system. Handles reservation management across all locations.
• SmartWaivercoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital waiver processing system. All participants must sign liability waiver through SmartWaiver before any activity begins.
• Twilio/OpenPhonecoreTechnology or IntegrationSMS text messaging platform for customer communications including booking confirmations, reminders, and account notifications.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• STACKED Axe Throwing: Axe throwing venue operator running league play and group events in the US. Overlaps with Celtic Axe Throwers on league format, WATL-aligned rules, and walk-in reservation sessions.
• Bury the Hatchet: Multi-state US axe throwing chain offering walk-in lanes, leagues, and group events. Operates a similar brewery/venue-anchored model with comparable pricing and event offerings to Celtic Axe Throwers.
• Urban Axes: Multi-location US axe throwing entertainment chain offering guided sessions, leagues, and parties at bar/brewery-adjacent venues. Direct competitor to Celtic Axe Throwers with comparable product, pricing, and target customer base.
• Kick Axe Throwing: Growing US axe throwing operator running walk-in sessions, leagues, mobile events, and private parties. Directly competes on the same combination of venue-based and mobile offerings as Celtic Axe Throwers.
• Bad Axe Throwing: Largest dedicated axe throwing chain in North America with 40+ locations across the US and Canada. Closest direct competitor to Celtic Axe Throwers in scale, league programming, and corporate team-building focus.
• Lumberjacks Axe Throwing: Multi-location axe throwing operator with WATL-aligned leagues, corporate team-building, and brewery-venue partnerships. Closely mirrors Celtic Axe Throwers' operating model and target segments.
• Axes and Ales: Axe throwing venues co-located with craft beverage partners, offering sessions and leagues. Direct competitor on the brewery-anchored entertainment-experience model Celtic Axe Throwers has built.
• Social Axe Throwing: Axe throwing venue chain offering guided sessions, leagues, and parties in multiple US markets. Comparable on consumer-focused entertainment positioning and group event revenue streams.

Broad incumbents

• Main Event Entertainment: National family entertainment chain combining bowling, laser tag, arcade, and food/beverage. Competes for birthday party, group outing, and corporate event dollars but at significantly larger venue scale.
• Topgolf: National experiential entertainment venue chain offering tech-enabled games, food, and beverage at multi-story driving ranges. Competes for the same discretionary group-outing and corporate team-building spend as Celtic Axe Throwers, but at a much larger scale and broader entertainment offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Celticaxe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/celtic-axe-throwers

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 Axe Throwing