What Climbing Business Journal does

Climbing Business Journal (CBJ) is a privately held B2B media and data platform founded in 2013 by Mike Helt, serving the indoor climbing gym industry. The publication operates as the primary trade outlet covering climbing gym projects, routesetting, industry interviews, market analysis, and competitive climbing, with editorial contributors including John Burgman (Senior Editor), Holly Yu Tung Chen, Naomi Stevens, Joe Robinson, and Rich Johnston. CBJ distributes content through its WordPress-based website, the Climb Insider Thursday newsletter, the Insider Weekly News digest, the CBJ Podcast, and webinars, and operates sub-brands including Grip List Awards (annual holds/volumes/board systems recognition voted on by routesetters), Gym List Awards (top climbing gyms since 2019), and Career Centers.

The product portfolio spans editorial content, a free-to-post job board with 300+ active listings, a Talent Marketplace containing 100+ industry professional profiles, an Industry Guidebook, and proprietary data products including the annual Gyms & Trends reports (2013-2025), the Industry Growth Dashboard, the Operators Forecast Dashboard (2025), the Compensation Dashboard, a global gym map with CSV data exports, and a categorized Brand Directory covering wall builders, flooring, holds, auto belays, services/software, chalk/shoes, and training tools. The technology stack is built on WordPress with Gravity Forms for job/talent submissions and email marketing integration; no public API, SDK, or proprietary AI/ML infrastructure is disclosed.

Revenue is generated through a freemium membership model (Basic free tier, Professional and Business paid tiers with annual billing) that bundles credits for featured job listings, press releases, sponsored stories, and enhanced directory/map visibility. Additional monetization streams include standalone sponsored stories (with CBJ writing support priced at $400 per 800-1000 word story), press release distribution, dedicated email campaigns to B2B decision-makers, paid placement in seasonal Buyer's Guides and monthly Grip Reports, gym map CSV data sales, and marketplace listings. The platform serves climbing gym operators (Movement, Bouldering Project, Momentum, Central Rock Gym), industry suppliers (Walltopia, Asana Climbing, Redpoint HQ), and nonprofits (USA Climbing, Access Fund, American Alpine Club), with no venture capital or private equity backing.

Name

Climbing Business Journal

Legal name

Climbing Business Journal

Website

https://climbingbusinessjournal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Climbing Business Journal is a B2B media and data platform founded in 2013 that provides news, proprietary market research, a job board, talent marketplace, brand directory, and industry awards for climbing gym operators, brands, and routesetting professionals globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

B2B Trade Media

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120), Sporting Goods Retailers (45911)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Travel & Outdoors Magazines (MPAJAEAH)

Keywords

• Climbing industry news
• Market research reports
• Industry job board
• Talent marketplace
• B2B trade media

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Multi-tiered membership model with Basic (free), Professional, and Business levels. Membership provides access to featured listings credits, enhanced directory/map visibility, and exposure benefits including sponsored story slots and dedicated email credits.
2. Sponsored Stories: Paid content partnerships where brands submit stories (800-1600 words typical) that are edited and published. Visibility includes homepage premium placement, newsletter integration, and social media. CBJ retains editorial review rights. Writing support available for $400/story.
3. Featured Job Listings: Job postings require membership (free Basic tier available). Featured listings toggle enables company logos and enhanced visibility.
4. Press Release Service: Paid distribution service for business members including homepage placement, Monday and Thursday newsletter inclusion, and permanent archive. Press release credits included in membership, additional credits purchasable.
5. Dedicated Emails: Targeted email campaigns delivered to B2B decision-makers on CBJ's behalf. Member benefit with email credits included at higher tiers.
6. Directory & Map Enhancements: Premium branding placements in climbing gym map and brand directory for members, including logo displays and top placement above non-members.
7. Marketplace Listings: For-sale and discount listings for equipment, facilities, and industry items.
8. Gym Map Data Sales: CSV data exports of global climbing gym locations available for purchase.
9. Buyer's Guide & Grip Report Placement: Product/service listings in seasonal Buyer's Guides and monthly Grip Reports. Member brands receive top placement and expanded listing options including embedded slideshows.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Climbing Business Journal is a B2B trade media platform that publishes climbing industry news, produces proprietary market research reports and data dashboards, and operates a job board, talent marketplace, and brand directory connecting climbing gym operators, routesetters, coaches, and industry suppliers. Revenue is generated through tiered memberships, sponsored stories, featured job listings, press release distribution, dedicated emails, and sale of gym map CSV data.

Product overview

Climbing Business Journal is a media platform serving the climbing industry, offering a unified portfolio of content, data, and marketplace services. The core products include editorial news coverage (gym projects, routesetting, interviews) and the CBJ Job Board paired with the Talent Marketplace for industry employment matching. Data products span annual Gyms & Trends Reports, the Global Gym Map, Grip List Awards, and Gym List Awards. Content products include CBJ Podcasts, Webinars, and an Industry Guidebook. The platform operates a Brand Directory, Career Centers resource, and a Press Release distribution service. A tiered CBJ Membership unlocks enhanced features including featured listings, directory/map enhancements, and buyers guide visibility. All services are delivered through a WordPress-based web platform without a public API.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Climb Insider: Weekly email newsletter providing industry news updates to subscribers
• Insider Weekly News
• Grip List Awards
• Gym List Awards
• CBJ Podcast

Products and services

• CBJ Membership Tiered membership program (Basic free, Professional, Business) providing climbing industry professionals and businesses with featured job listings, press release distribution credits, sponsored story placements, enhanced directory and map visibility, and Buyer's Guide promotion.
• CBJ Job Board Free job posting platform for climbing industry employers with featured listings option for enhanced visibility including company logos; spans routesetting, coaching, management, marketing, front desk, and manufacturing roles.
• Talent Marketplace Free resume posting service for climbing industry professionals including routesetters, coaches, consultants, photographers, physiotherapists, and other specialists seeking employment opportunities.
• Gyms & Trends Reports Annual proprietary industry research reports tracking climbing gym growth, market analysis, and industry trends from 2013 to present (2013-2025 editions available), providing unique market intelligence for climbing industry professionals.
• Climbing Gym Map & Map Data Interactive global map of climbing gyms and walls with CSV data purchase option, tracking climbing facilities worldwide for industry professionals and brands.
• Industry Growth Dashboard Proprietary market analysis dashboard tracking climbing industry growth metrics and benchmarks for industry professionals seeking data-driven insights.
• Operators Forecast Dashboard Proprietary forecast dashboard providing climbing gym operators with market projections and business planning data for 2025.
• Compensation Dashboard and Report Proprietary compensation benchmarking tools including the 2025 Compensation Report and Compensation Dashboard, providing salary and compensation data for climbing industry roles.
• Grip List Awards Annual industry awards program recognizing favorite climbing holds, volumes, macros, training boards, routesetting apps, spraywall apps, and hold shapers as voted on by routesetters.
• Gym List Awards

Quantifiable outcome

• 4500+ homepage impressions per sponsored story
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• WalltopiacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWalltopia publishes sponsored stories on CBJ about their climbing wall projects. As the supplier of walls for the most new climbing gyms in North America for four consecutive years, Walltopia uses CBJ as a primary content marketing channel. CBJ has covered multiple Walltopia-built facilities including the Boyce Bouldering Park public climbing installation.
• Redpoint HQcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerClimbing gym management software platform. CBJ publishes partner stories and articles about Redpoint HQ. Their platform serves 250+ climbing gyms, referenced in CBJ coverage as industry adoption data.
• Asana ClimbingsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerClimbing flooring and equipment manufacturer. Published sponsored story about Asana's triple density flooring innovations and company values. Part of CBJ's partner resources content series.
• Climbing Wall Association (CWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBJ provides coverage of CWA Summit events and publishes partner content about industry initiatives. CWA Summit is a major industry event for climbing wall professionals.
• USA ClimbingsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerNational governing body for competitive climbing. CBJ covers USA Climbing events, Olympic climbing, and publishes press releases about their programs including Foundation Awards.
• Boulder Solutions / Dean PrivettsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPittsburgh gym operator and routesetter featured in CBJ podcast discussing European vs. US climbing gym industry differences. Privett operates Iron City Boulders, Blue Swan Boulders, and is president of Moments Climbing (Finland).

Scale indicators10 records

Direct peers

• Climbing Magazine: Long-standing climbing publication covering routesetting, gyms, and the climbing business. Directly comparable vertical but oriented more toward consumer/participant readers than CBJ's B2B operator/owner/brand audience.
• Rock and Ice Magazine: Print and digital climbing magazine covering climbing culture, training, and industry developments. Overlaps with CBJ on industry coverage and climbing-related content but skews consumer-facing.
• Gripped Magazine: Canadian climbing publication covering climbing news, gyms, training, and gear. Comparable niche publishing operation sharing coverage of climbing gyms and industry trends with CBJ.

Broad incumbents

• Bicycle Retailer and Industry News: Long-running B2B trade publication serving bicycle retailers, manufacturers, and industry suppliers. Closest analog in business model (independent B2B niche media for a sport/retail vertical with subscriptions, advertising, and job board elements).
• Sporting Goods Business (SGB): Long-standing B2B trade publication covering sporting goods retail, brands, and industry data. Closest analog to CBJ's B2B trade publishing model serving retailers and suppliers, though broader in category scope.
• SNEWS (Service, Retailer, and Outdoor Network): Established B2B trade media serving the outdoor, snow sports, and active lifestyle retail industry with daily news, retail buyer resources, and industry events. Comparable B2B trade media model targeting retailers and brands, though across broader outdoor categories.

Others

• Climbing Wall Association (CWA): Industry trade association for climbing wall operators and builders that CBJ itself covers and partners with for the CWA Summit. Comparable audience and partial content overlap, though CWA's model is association/membership rather than media/data.
• Outdoor Industry Association (OIA): Membership-based trade association for the outdoor industry producing industry research, networking events, and policy advocacy. Comparable in audience (outdoor/active lifestyle operators and brands) and overlap with CBJ on research and event functions, but structured as a nonprofit association rather than media company.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/climbingbusinessjournal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Climbing Business Journal