Climbing Kites

What Climbing Kites does

Climbing Kites is a Des Moines, Iowa-based cannabis-infused beverage company, organized as Climbing Kites, LLC and founded in 2023, that designs, markets, and distributes THC and CBD sparkling waters and sodas for adults 21+ seeking alcohol alternatives. The core product line is a premium sparkling water with 100% naturally-derived (non-converted, non-synthesized) Delta-9 THC and CBD in a 1:1 ratio, offered in five flavors (Mixed Berry, Peach Prickly Pear, Pineapple Passion Fruit, Orange Mango, Key Lime Kiwi) at 4mg, 5mg, and 10mg dosages with zero calories and zero sugar. The portfolio has been extended via two sub-brands: Kitetails (cocktail-inspired Transfusion and Iced Tea + Lemonade) and BUBZ (nostalgia-positioned THC-infused soda in Orange Vanilla and Grape Fizz).

The underlying technology is a water-soluble cannabis emulsion produced from federally compliant hemp, third-party lab tested for dosage, pesticides, herbicides, microbes, and harmful materials, and formulated for a gradual 20–30 minute onset with a 90–150 minute duration. Manufacturing is fully outsourced to Summit Brewing in Saint Paul, MN under a contract-manufacturing partnership, allowing Climbing Kites to operate asset-light. Distribution is hybrid: a self-serve DTC Shopify storefront (with free shipping above $100) plus a wholesale network of 50+ named distributors across 21 U.S. states spanning the Southeast, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, Southwest, Northeast, Mountain West, and Pacific regions, placing product in dispensaries and beverage retailers. Pricing is unit-based at $13.99–$24.99 per 4-pack with an additional digital gift-card SKU. The company has earned third-party validation including LA Spirits Awards (Platinum, Silver, Bronze) and features in the Washington Post, Business Insider, BevNet, Brewbound, and Axios.

Name

Climbing Kites

Legal name

Climbing Kites, LLC

Website

https://climbingkites.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Climbing Kites is a Des Moines-based cannabis beverage company founded in 2023 that sells THC and CBD-infused sparkling waters, cocktail-inspired Kitetails, and BUBZ sodas to adults 21+ via DTC e-commerce and 50+ wholesale distributors across 21 U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cannabis-Infused Beverages

NAICS

Soft Drink Manufacturing (312111)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters (2086)

akta.pro primary industry

Bottled Water (Still, Sparkling, Enhanced) (CRADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hemp & CBD Product Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAIAG), Sparkling/Carbonated Bottled Water Production (AFAFACAE)

Keywords

• Cannabis beverages
• THC sparkling water
• Hemp-infused drinks
• THC seltzers
• CBD beverages

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Online sales through their Shopify storefront with shipping directly to consumers in approved states. Orders over $100 receive free shipping.
2. Wholesale Distribution: Products sold through wholesale distributors to retail stores across 21 U.S. states. Distributors include regional beverage distributors listed on their distributor page.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Climbing Kites manufactures and sells cannabis-infused (THC and CBD) sparkling waters under the Climbing Kites brand, cocktail-inspired THC beverages under the Kitetails sub-brand, and THC-infused sodas under the BUBZ sub-brand. Products are formulated with 100% naturally-derived hemp THC, offered in 4mg, 5mg, and 10mg dosages, sold direct-to-consumer online and through wholesale distributors across 21 U.S. states.

Product overview

Climbing Kites is a THC-infused beverage company offering two main brands: Climbing Kites (premium sparkling waters and Kitetails) and BUBZ (THC-infused sodas). The core Climbing Kites sparkling water line features five flavors in 4MG, 5MG, and 10MG THC+CBD dosages with a 1:1 ratio. The Kitetails sub-brand offers cocktail-inspired THC-infused drinks including Transfusion and Iced Tea + Lemonade. BUBZ provides a nostalgic soda experience with Orange Vanilla and Grape Fizz flavors. The company also offers gift cards for gifting purposes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BUBZ: THC-infused soda brand featuring Orange Vanilla and Grape Fizz flavors, designed as a nostalgic soda with modern cannabis twist.
• Kitetails

Products and services

• Climbing Kites THC Sparkling Water Premium THC-infused sparkling water formulated with 100% naturally-derived THC and CBD at a 1:1 ratio, available in five flavors and three potency tiers for adults 21+ seeking a zero-calorie, zero-sugar, gluten-free, vegan alternative to alcohol.
• Climbing Kites Kitetails Cocktail-inspired THC-infused beverages including Transfusion and Iced Tea + Lemonade variants, made with naturally-derived THC and broad-spectrum CBD for adults 21+ who want a cocktail-style beverage without alcohol.
• BUBZ THC-Infused Soda Nostalgia-inspired THC-infused sodas available in Orange Vanilla and Grape Fizz flavors with 4mg, 5mg, and 10mg THC options, designed for adults 21+ seeking a modern cannabis twist on classic soda.
• Climbing Kites Gift Card Digital gift cards redeemable across the Climbing Kites product catalog, offered in denominations from $10 to $200 for gifting purposes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Effects onset in 20-30 minutes
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Summit BrewingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummit Brewing is the contract manufacturer for Climbing Kites beverages. Located at 910 Montreal Circle, Saint Paul, MN 55102. They produce all Climbing Kites THC sparkling waters, kitetails, and BUBZ sodas with quality assurance and compliance.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Coda Signature: Cannabis-infused sparkling water, juice, and other beverage SKUs with strong brand design; comparable premium-format THC beverage positioning with food/beverage industry pedigree.
• Artet (House of Suntory / cannabis aperitif): Cannabis-infused sparkling aperitif, comparable to Kitetails' cocktail-inspired THC beverages; targets the same occasion of substituting cannabis for an alcohol-based cocktail.
• Cann: Direct THC-infused social tonic; comparable because it targets the same alcohol-substitute occasion with low-dose, flavor-forward canned beverages sold via DTC and wholesale. Most direct head-to-head competitor in premium THC seltzer/tonic positioning.
• Two Roots Brewing Co. Cannabis-infused sparkling waters, sodas, and brewing-style beverages; comparable multi-format THC beverage brand competing in the same on-shelf category with similar product breadth.
• MARYJONES / Jones Soda Co. cannabis line: MARYJONES is a nationally distributed THC-infused soda brand by Jones Soda Co. with retail and DTC presence; directly comparable as a soda-format THC beverage and a peer to BUBZ.
• Lagunitas Hi-Ball / ABV (Two Roots / Pabst Labs portfolio): THC-infused seltzers originally launched under Lagunitas/AB InBev and now housed in Two Roots; directly comparable THC sparkling water category rival with national ambitions, illustrating the competitive set Climbing Kites must out-execute.
• Keef Cola / Keef Beverages: Long-standing cannabis-infused soda brand with multiple flavors; closest analogue to the BUBZ sub-brand and to Climbing Kites' broader low-dose beverage portfolio.
• Wunder (Crescent Canna): Hemp-derived Delta-9 THC sparkling waters with multiple flavors and dosage tiers, sold online and through retail distribution. Highly comparable product format, price band, and hemp-derived compliance approach to Climbing Kites.

Broad incumbents

• Aphria / Tilray beverage brands (e.g., Little Victory, XMG): Large publicly traded cannabis producer with THC-infused beverage SKUs across North America; broader incumbent exercising scale advantages in regulated dispensary channels where Climbing Kites is not yet present.
• Hop Water / HOP WTR: Non-cannabis functional sparkling water positioned against alcohol; broader incumbent in the alcohol-substitution category that Climbing Kites' sparkling water competes with on taste and occasion, even without the THC hook.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/climbingkitesbeverage
• Instagraminstagram.com/climbingkites
• Xx.com/climbing_kites
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/climbing-kites

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 Climbing Kites