Zip Zap Circus
Zip Zap Circus is a South African non-profit founded in 1992 that delivers free social circus training to underserved youth through nine programs and operates the professional touring troupe MOYA internationally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersCape Town, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Zip Zap Circus does
Zip Zap Circus is a South African non-profit social circus organization founded in 1992 in Cape Town by Brent van Rensburg and Laurence Estève, with a mission to bridge socio-economic gaps using circus arts as a youth development tool, inspired by Nelson Mandela's vision of a rainbow nation. The organization runs nine free training and outreach programs (including Ubuntu, Reach, Gugs Rising, Vuka, Khula Nathi, The Hood, Ukwanda, Isiseko, and Dare2Dream) targeting children from underserved communities, children with chronic illness, and special needs children, reaching over 1,493 young people in 2025 with reported outcomes of 88% increased confidence and 96% feeling safe. It also operates the MOYA professional troupe that tours internationally combining traditional and contemporary circus with African dance, supported by an award-winning Acrobatic Art Film (2021) and the Full Tilt live production.
The core "technology" is a social circus methodology combining circus disciplines (aerial, acrobatics, juggling, dance) with a youth development framework organized around four outcome themes (Empower, Inspire, Connect, Transform), with monitoring and evaluation structures and nine specialized programs ranging from early childhood development through vocational training. Operations are anchored at a purpose-built Academy in Salt River, Cape Town, with international affiliate entities in the UK (Zip Zap Circus UK Limited, HMRC charity ZD21526), France (Association Zip Zap France, founded 2003, relaunched 2013), and Germany (Förderverein founded 2026), as well as a US fundraising presence via Zip Zap USA.
The business model is donation-and-grant-funded with secondary earned revenue. Primary funding comes from donations (tax-deductible under SARS Section 18A PBO 930028436), corporate sponsors, foundation grants, and government support (including DSAC). Earned revenue streams include professional performance bookings and international MOYA touring through European agent Hors Jeu Productions, corporate/private event performer hire, Academy tours at ZAR 200-300 per person, children's book ("I Can Fly" at R180) sold via Takealot/Amazon/Kobo, and fundraising events (annual auction, Cycle Warriors, Golf Day). Programs to participants are entirely free, with the funding model explicitly cross-subsidizing youth programs via international touring proceeds and professional show revenue.
Zip Zap Circus firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Zip Zap Circus
- Legal name
- Zip Zap Circus School Trust
- Website
- https://zip-zap.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Zip Zap Circus is a South African non-profit founded in 1992 that delivers free social circus training to underserved youth through nine programs and operates the professional touring troupe MOYA internationally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Zip Zap Circus industry classification
Industry- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Educational Adventure Programs (Outdoor Education, Skill Development) (THAAAAAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Adventure Parks & Aerial Courses (Zipline, Ropes, Canopy) (THAAAAAC), Adaptive & Para-Sport Training Programs (MPAKAJAK)
Keywords
Where Zip Zap Circus is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cape Town
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices5 records
Markets served
Zip Zap Circus business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: Zip Zap relies entirely on donations to fund operations. Donations are tax-deductible (Section 18A PBO). International charity branches in France, Germany, UK, and USA raise funds in local currencies. Individual giving, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and government support from individuals, governments, foundations, and corporates.
- Performance Revenue: Proceeds from public performances and private bookings by the professional troupe and students. International touring generates revenue that funds training programs.
- Merchandise Sales: Sales of the 'I Can Fly' children's story book through online retailers and direct purchase, with proceeds supporting outreach programs.
- Academy Tours: Paid visitor experiences at the Academy in Cape Town, available in 60-minute and 90-minute formats for individuals and groups.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 60-Minute Academy Experience |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | I Can Fly Children's Book |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tumbling Workshop |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels12 records
Zip Zap Circus product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Zip Zap Circus delivers free social circus training programs to more than 3,000 children and youth annually across Cape Town, alongside its professional performing troupe MOYA which tours internationally. The organization also sells performer hire services for corporate events and film/TV productions, Academy Tours at its Cape Town facility, and the 'I Can Fly' children's storybook. All youth training programs are offered at no cost to participants and are funded through donations, grants, performance proceeds, and fundraising events.
Product overview
Zip Zap Circus is a South African social and professional circus offering a diverse portfolio of products and services centered on youth empowerment through circus arts. The organization operates the core MOYA professional production (available as live stage shows and an award-winning acrobatic art film), provides circus training through nine free programmes ranging from community outreach to vocational training, offers academy tours and entertainment hire services, and runs annual fundraising events. The ecosystem includes the 'I Can Fly' children's storybook as a merchandise product. All programmes are offered free of charge to participants, funded through performances, fundraising events, grants, and donations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MOYA: Professional performing troupe and production that blends traditional and contemporary circus with African dance, featuring acrobatics, dance, and storytelling inspired by Nelson Mandela's dream
- MOYA – Live on Stage
- MOYA – Acrobatic Art Film
- Full Tilt
- I Can Fly
Products and services
- MOYA – Live on Stage
Quantifiable outcome
- 88% of participants reported increased confidence in 2025
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Zip Zap Circus
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Zip Zap Circus technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Zip Zap Circus partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Global Alliance of Circus Schools (GACS)coreZip Zap is a founding member of GACS, an exclusive web-based international network of innovative and visionary community-based professional circus schools. GACS advances circus arts through communication, collaboration, and exchange opportunities among members including schools from Italy, Australia, Hungary, China, Argentina, USA, Germany, Monaco, Ethiopia, Ukraine, and South Africa.
- Demain's VolunteerscoreInitiative supported by Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain performers to bring global circus community together. Through masterclasses and exchanges, international artists share expertise to develop technical and artistic capabilities of Social Circus students. Project includes virtual masterclasses with Zip Zap students and international performers.
- The Impact Network in South Africa (IN-SA)minorCollaboration among nonprofit organizations in Western Cape to amplify impact on pressing societal issues. Network fosters meaningful dialogue, experience-sharing, and resource efficiency. Zip Zap is listed as a member alongside Bridges for Music, ChristelHouse, GreenPop, and others.
- The Sports Physiotherapy Centre (SPCC)minorPartnership with physiotherapy practice at Sports Science Institute of South Africa. SPCC provides weekly physiotherapy sessions at Zip Zap Academy, enhancing well-being and injury prevention for students and performers.
- HeartshineminorInitiative committed to raising awareness about effects of trauma on children in marginalized communities. Started February 2025 with monthly workshops for Zip Zap learners aged 8-16 incorporating mindfulness, play-based learning, and creative expression.
- Hors Jeu ProductionscoreEuropean booking agent for MOYA live performances. Agent: Xavier Gobin (+33 6 41 93 3612, [email protected]). Handles bookings for 2026 tour across Romania, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Germany.
- Cirque du SoleilminorCirque du Soleil has publicly praised Zip Zap as a model organization and source of inspiration, calling them living proof that actions speak louder than words. In 2005, Cirque du Soleil led the 4th Social Circus Instructors Conference hosted by Zip Zap in Cape Town.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Zip Zap Circus competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Circus Smirkus: US-based non-profit youth circus offering year-round training and a traveling summer tent show. Highly comparable social circus model — combines free/subsidized youth training with professional touring performances to fund the mission.
- Bindlestiff Family Cirkus: New York-based non-profit combining vaudeville-style performance with youth and community programming. Comparable small-scale social circus with both professional shows and free youth training.
- Circus Oz: Australian non-profit contemporary circus blending professional touring shows with community engagement. Comparable hybrid model — combines a touring production company with social inclusion programming and youth development.
- National Circus School of Montreal (École nationale de cirque): Professional circus training institution combining vocational performer education with youth outreach. Comparable as a structured circus arts education provider with both professional-track and community-access programming.
Broad incumbents
- Cirque du Soleil: The world's largest circus entertainment company and a direct endorser of Zip Zap. Comparable as a professional circus enterprise with a social circus program; Zip Zap operates at the community/youth-development scale that Cirque du Soleil's Social Circus initiative targets.
- Gandey's Circus: UK-based touring traditional circus with Big Top productions. Comparable as a professionally touring circus enterprise operating in the same European markets as Zip Zap's MOYA tours.
Emerging players
- The National Youth Theatre: UK non-profit providing performing arts training and pathways for young people. Comparable youth-development-through-performing-arts mission, though focused on theatre rather than circus disciplines.
- Flipside Circus: Australia-based youth circus and acrobatics school offering structured training pathways for children and teens. Comparable as a community-focused youth circus training organization with social development objectives.
Others
- Federation Mondiale du Cirque (World Circus Federation): International federation representing circus arts globally, of which Zip Zap has been recognized (Sixth World Circus Day). Comparable as an ecosystem-level organization that legitimizes and supports professional and social circus operators.
Regional players
- Archaos – Pôle National Cirque: France-based national circus center combining artistic creation, vocational training, and community outreach. Comparable as a European circus organization operating a training academy and touring productions.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Zip Zap Circus social profiles
Digital presenceZip Zap Circus financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Zip Zap Circus leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Zip Zap Circus subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Zip Zap Circus funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Zip Zap Circus 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 Zip Zap Circus
What does Zip Zap Circus do?
Zip Zap Circus delivers free social circus training programs to more than 3,000 children and youth annually across Cape Town, alongside its professional performing troupe MOYA which tours internationally. The organization also sells performer hire services for corporate events and film/TV productions, Academy Tours at its Cape Town facility, and the 'I Can Fly' children's storybook. All youth training programs are offered at no cost to participants and are funded through donations, grants, performance proceeds, and fundraising events.
Is Zip Zap Circus a public or private company?
Zip Zap Circus is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Zip Zap Circus founded?
Zip Zap Circus was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Zip Zap Circus based?
Zip Zap Circus is headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Zip Zap Circus make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Grants are the primary driver. The others are performance Revenue, merchandise Sales and academy Tours.
Who are Zip Zap Circus's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Circus Smirkus, Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, Circus Oz and National Circus School of Montreal (École nationale de cirque). Broad incumbents are Cirque du Soleil and Gandey's Circus. Emerging players are The National Youth Theatre and Flipside Circus. Federation Mondiale du Cirque (World Circus Federation) is listed as an others. Archaos – Pôle National Cirque is listed as a regional player.
Does Zip Zap Circus have an API?
No public API is recorded for Zip Zap Circus.
What industry is Zip Zap Circus in?
Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAAAO, Educational Adventure Programs (Outdoor Education, Skill Development), with a secondary code of THAAAAAC, Adventure Parks & Aerial Courses (Zipline, Ropes, Canopy). Its NAICS code is 611620 and its SIC code is 7900.