Sky Candy

What Sky Candy does

Sky Candy is a privately held, single-location aerial and circus arts training studio based in Austin, Texas, founded in June 2010 by Winnie Hsia. The studio operates from a 3,700 sq ft facility in the Springdale General complex in east Austin, comprising six uniquely designed interior spaces with 21-27 foot ceilings and structural rig points rated to 22kN (~5,000 lbs) for safe dynamic movement. It serves a diverse customer base spanning adults (16+), youth and families (ages 7-17), corporate groups, celebration parties, and a dedicated plus-size aerial program, with apparatus offerings that include aerial silks, trapeze, lyra, sling, pole, bungee, burlesque, and tumbling. The studio has been active for 15+ years and has been recognized as Austin's premier aerial and circus training center, including winning the Austin Chronicle's 2022 Best Exercise Class reader's poll for its Bungee class.

The business model is multi-stream and service-based. Primary revenue is generated through drop-in classes ($35/class with multi-class pack pricing), recurring monthly memberships (Silver at $150 and Gold at $240), multi-week series classes ($280-$665), private lessons ($80-$120 per session), open studio time, and seasonal Sky Camp youth programming. Secondary revenue comes from private parties and corporate team building events ($200-$1,200 by group size) and venue space rentals accommodating 5 to over 200 attendees. All customer transactions are processed through the MindBody platform, with native iOS and Android apps supporting booking and engagement.

Distribution and go-to-market are predominantly direct-to-consumer through the studio's Squarespace website, the MindBody booking platform, and the mobile app, supplemented by content marketing (blog, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok), email newsletters, community events, workshops, and recurring student showcases. The studio also serves enterprise customers (Amazon and Dell Children's Hospital have used the venue for team building) and celebration groups. The business is founder-owned, bootstrapped, and has no disclosed external funding, parent company, or secondary locations.

Name

Sky Candy

Legal name

Sky Candy

Website

https://skycandyaustin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sky Candy is a privately-held, single-location aerial and circus arts training studio in Austin, Texas, serving adults, youth, corporate groups, and celebration events through classes, memberships, camps, and venue rentals since 2010.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Drop-In Classes: Single classes purchased at $35 each or in packs of 5 ($150) or 10 ($250). New student deal offers 3 classes for $60.
2. Monthly Memberships: Silver membership at $150/month includes 5 drop-in classes and 1 open studio. Gold membership at $240/month includes 10 drop-in classes and 2 open studios. Memberships auto-renew monthly.
3. Series Classes: Adult series run 8-10 weeks ($280-$350). Youth series run 10-19 weeks ($350-$665). Payment plans available.
4. Open Studio: Independent practice time sold as single sessions ($20), 5-pack ($75), 10-pack ($125), or 20-pack ($200).
5. Private Lessons: One-on-one instruction at $80/hour for 1 student, $120 for 2 students. Longer sessions available.
6. Private Parties and Events: Bachelorette parties, team building events, and celebrations priced by group size: $200 (up to 4), $400 (5-8), $600 (9-12), $800 (13-16), $1000 (17-20), $1200 (21-24). Deposit required.
7. Space Rentals: Venue rental for external events including conferences, holiday parties, weddings, corporate meet and greets, rehearsal space, and gala fundraisers. Recommended booking 6 weeks in advance.
8. Sky Camp (Summer Camps): Youth summer camp programs offering half-day and full-day options for ages 7-14, with space for up to 24 campers per week.
9. Gift Cards: Gift cards sold in any amount, valid for 5 years, redeemable for classes, camps, and workshops.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Sky Candy is an aerial and circus arts training studio based in Austin, TX, offering drop-in and series classes on apparatus such as aerial silks, lyra, trapeze, sling, pole, and bungee. The studio also provides private and semi-private lessons, youth programs, summer camps, plus-size aerial programming, bachelorette parties, corporate team-building events, and space rentals. Founded in 2010, the studio combines recreational and performance-oriented aerial instruction with event-hosting services.

Product overview

Sky Candy is a circus and aerial arts training center offering a diverse portfolio of services centered around aerial apparatus instruction, including silks, lyra (aerial hoop), trapeze, sling, pole, and bungee, alongside burlesque, tumbling, and dance classes. The studio provides multiple engagement models: drop-in classes for casual attendance, series classes for progressive skill development, private lessons for personalized instruction, and youth programs including Sky Camp for children. The business also extends into event services including bachelorette parties, team building activities, and venue rentals. Membership tiers (Silver and Gold) offer recurring access benefits. The studio operates using MindBody for class registration and booking, and maintains a mobile app for customer convenience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Rig points rated to hold at least 22kN (~5000 lbs) for safe dynamic movement across diverse body types
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AmazonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmazon has participated in team building events at Sky Candy, using aerial and circus activities for corporate group experiences.
• Dell Children's HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare organization participated in team building events at the studio as part of employee engagement activities.
• Springdale GeneralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSky Candy is located within the Springdale General complex, home to award-winning food and beverage vendors. Post-event catering partnerships for events. Shared parking and facilities.
• Austin Arts, Culture, Music & EntertainmentminorOthersGrant provider supporting Sky Candy's creative space through the Creative Space Assistance Grant program.
• MindBodycoreTechnology or IntegrationMindBody provides the booking, scheduling, and payment processing platform for class registration, memberships, and purchases. Sky Candy's website integrates with MindBody for all customer transactions.
• LatinitasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization serving Austin youth that has participated in team building and community programming at Sky Candy.
• Austin Fail ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustin community group that has utilized Sky Candy for social events and team building activities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Versatile Arts: Seattle-based aerial and circus arts studio offering training across multiple apparatus including silks, trapeze, lyra, and sling. Directly comparable curriculum, business model, and target customer base.
• Brass Ovaries: An Austin-based aerial and circus arts studio offering pole, aerial silks, and flexibility classes. Direct local competitor to Sky Candy in the same Austin market with overlapping apparatus offerings and similar skill-building model.
• Circomedia: Bristol, UK-based circus school and performance center offering aerial and partner acrobatics training. Referenced in Sky Candy's leadership backgrounds; comparable training philosophy and apparatus mix.
• Esh Circus Arts: New York City-based circus and aerial arts studio offering beginner to advanced training in silks, trapeze, lyra, and pole. Comparable service model with memberships, drop-ins, and event programming.
• San Francisco Circus Center: San Francisco-based circus training center offering aerial, acrobatics, and performance programs. Referenced in Sky Candy's Program Director background; comparable professional training and progressive curriculum model.
• Aloft Circus Arts: Chicago-based circus arts studio offering aerial classes, trapeze, lyra, silks, and youth programs. Direct competitor in the aerial arts training category with similar drop-in, series, and membership pricing structure.
• Philadelphia School of Circus Arts: Philadelphia-based circus arts school offering aerial, acrobatics, and ground skills training. Mentioned in Sky Candy's instructor team history; directly comparable curriculum and rec/competitive student model.
• New England Center for Circus Arts: Brattleboro, VT-based circus school offering progressive training programs in aerial arts, acrobatics, and performance. Comparable education-focused model with youth and adult programming.

Broad incumbents

• Cirque du Soleil: Montreal-based global entertainment giant that employs many trained circus artists and indirectly shapes demand for circus arts training. Not a direct competitor to Sky Candy but the dominant force in the broader circus industry whose brand raises audience awareness.
• Club Pilates: Large US boutique fitness franchise operating thousands of locations. Not a direct competitor in apparatus, but a comparable boutique fitness subscription model and benchmark for unit economics in the broader specialty fitness space where Sky Candy competes for share of consumer fitness dollar.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SkyCandyAustin
• Instagraminstagram.com/skycandyaustin
• TikToktiktok.com/@skycandyaustin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sky-candy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Sky Candy