What Climb Up does

Climb Up (Groupe Climb Up) is the largest network of indoor climbing gyms in France, operating 33 locations across the country from its headquarters in Lyon. The company runs two core climbing disciplines — bouldering (bloc) and rope climbing (voies) — supplemented by auto-belay systems, climate-controlled facilities, saunas, outdoor climbing walls (at flagship sites such as Aix–Bouc Bel Air), and an industry-leading safety upgrade with generalized assisted-braking belay devices from January 1, 2026.

Its product portfolio extends beyond open climbing to include the École d'Escalade (the largest children's climbing school in France with 10,000+ enrolled children), Fun Climbing (ages 4+), adult and family courses, free discovery sessions, birthday packages, school holiday programs, guided outdoor cliff outings, BtoB team-building, and ancillary F&B and equipment rental at on-site cafés. Revenue is generated through a mix of subscription passes (Pass 3 Mois at €150 / €110 students), multi-entry cards (12 entries for the price of 10), per-session entry fees, structured course fees with family/student/loyalty discounts, and event/corporate packages.

Climb Up distributes services through a hybrid of directly owned-and-operated gyms and a licence de marque (franchise) model — Nîmes (opened January 2025) is the first explicitly identified franchise site. The company is privately held, with François Petit listed as Dirigeant and sole shareholder per RCS registration 533 518 239. Strategic brand partnerships with Petzl, Millet, FFME, Tenaya, Cousin, Decathlon, and Au Vieux Campeur anchor equipment supply and federation credibility, while marketing relies on a centralized website, individual gym microsites, Instagram (@climb_up_officiel), and Facebook (@ClimbUpgroupe).

Name

Climb Up

Legal name

Climb Up

Website

https://climb-up.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indoor Climbing Gyms

NAICS

Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Climbing & Mountaineering Gyms/Guides (Indoor, Outdoor, Via Ferrata) (THAAAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climbing & Via Ferrata Guiding / Instruction (THAAALAH), Via Ferrata & Adventure Climbing Parks (THAAACAE)

Keywords

• Indoor climbing gym
• Bouldering and rope climbing
• Climbing school France
• Corporate team building climbing
• Climbing franchise network

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices30 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Gym Access & Day Passes: Revenue from individual entry fees, multi-entry cards (e.g., 12 entries for the price of 10), and pay-per-visit passes to climbing gyms across the network.
2. Subscription Passes: Recurring revenue from monthly, 3-month, and annual subscription passes (e.g., Pass 3 Mois at €150) offering unlimited access to all Climb Up gyms in France.
3. École d'Escalade (Climbing School): Annual and semester-based structured climbing courses for children, generating revenue from course fees. The company highlights 10,000+ enrolled children across its network. Discounts offered for family enrollments (2nd child) and simultaneous semester commitments.
4. Ancillary Services: Revenue from birthday party packages, team-building (BtoB) events, school group sessions, club partnerships, gift cards, equipment rental, and food & beverage at café/restaurant areas within gyms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Climb Up operates the largest network of indoor climbing gyms in France (33 locations), offering bouldering (Bloc) and rope climbing (Voies) access to consumers of all levels. The core offering is reinforced by structured add-on services: a nationwide École d'Escalade (climbing school) for children with state-certified instructors, adult and family courses, corporate team-building events, birthday parties, and a multi-location pass (12 entries for the price of 10) valid across all gyms.

Product overview

Climb Up operates the largest network of indoor climbing gyms in France with 32+ locations. The core offering centers on two primary climbing disciplines: Bloc (bouldering) and Voies (rope climbing), both available at every facility. These are complemented by a structured portfolio of add-on services: Fun Climbing provides playful, accessible climbing for children and families; the École d'Escalade offers weekly courses for children aged 3+ with certified instructors; and various course types address adults, families, and corporate groups. Additional offerings include birthday packages, school holiday programs, outdoor climbing trips, and a multi-entry card pass valid across all locations. The company also provides automatic belay devices and assisted belay systems for solo climbing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fun Climbing: A fun, accessible version of climbing designed as a playground for children from age 4 and families.

Products and services

• Bloc (Bouldering) Climb Up offers indoor bouldering (Bloc) on walls of varying difficulty for all skill levels, accessible to climbers without ropes or harnesses, with problems regularly refreshed by experienced openers.
• Voies (Rope Climbing) Indoor lead and top-rope climbing on secured routes with automatic belay devices (enrouleurs automatiques) and routes up to 13 meters high, served by state-certified instructors.
• Fun Climbing Playful, accessible climbing experience designed for children from age 4 and families, featuring colorful walls, automatic belay systems, and game-like challenges in a safe environment.
• École d'Escalade (Climbing School) Weekly climbing courses for children throughout the school year, run by state-certified instructors with age-adapted groups; positioning it as the largest climbing school in France (10,000+ enrolled children).
• Cours Découverte (Discovery Courses) Free introductory climbing lessons for beginners, led by experienced instructors to learn the basics of climbing safely.
• Cours Adulte (Adult Courses) Structured climbing lessons for adults covering bloc and rope climbing, with cycle-based progression programs.
• Cours Famille (Family Courses) Family-oriented climbing sessions where parents and children learn and practice together under professional supervision.
• Anniversaire (Birthday Packages) Celebration packages for children's climbing birthday parties with themed activities and instructor-led games at Climb Up gyms.
• Entreprises – CSE (Corporate / Team Building) Corporate team-building events and B2B activities designed to strengthen team cohesion through climbing experiences, including Christmas events and CSE packages.
• Vacances Scolaires (School Holiday Activities) Climbing activities and workshops for children during school holidays, offered at discounted rates in Climb Up's climate-controlled facilities.
• Sorties Falaise (Outdoor Climbing Trips) Guided outdoor climbing excursions to natural rock sites, organized for climbing school students and partner climbing clubs.
• Carte/Pass 12 Entrées Promotional multi-entry card offering 12 climbing sessions for the price of 10, valid for use at any Climb Up location across France.
• Pass 3 Mois (3-Month Unlimited Pass) Recurring 3-month subscription pass priced at €150 (€110 for students) providing unlimited access to all Climb Up gyms in France, including free invitations for friends and 10% off shop purchases.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ children enrolled in the climbing school program across the network
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• PetzlOthersPetzl, a leading manufacturer of climbing and safety equipment, is featured as a partner across Climb Up locations. The partnership provides climbing hardware, belay devices, harnesses, and safety gear used throughout Climb Up's facilities.
• MilletOthersMillet, a French outdoor and climbing equipment brand, is listed as a partner across Climb Up locations. The partnership provides climbing apparel and technical gear for instructors and facilities.
• FFME (Fédération Française de la Montagne et de l'Escalade)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFFME, the French Climbing and Mountaineering Federation, is listed as a partner. Climb Up works with FFME-affiliated climbing clubs, providing facilities and support for club activities and competitions.
• TenayaOthersTenaya, a Spanish climbing shoe manufacturer, is listed as a partner across Climb Up locations, providing climbing footwear and equipment for sale and rental.
• CousinOthersCousin, a French manufacturer of technical textiles and equipment for climbing, is listed as a partner across Climb Up locations.
• DecathlonOthersDecathlon is listed as a partner at the Climb Up Aix – Bouc Bel Air location, situated within the Decathlon Village. The partnership provides equipment retail synergy and co-location benefits.
• Au Vieux CampeurOthersAu Vieux Campeur, a French outdoor gear retailer, is listed as a partner at several Climb Up locations, providing climbing equipment retail and expertise.
• AS GrimperOthersAS Grimper (associação de praticantes de escalada), a climbing community/organization, is listed as a partner at the Marseille – La Valentine location.
• GENAE (Club)OthersGENAE (Gymnase Escalade Nature Activité Extra) is a climbing club listed as a partner at the Aix – Bouc Bel Air location, facilitating club sessions and community events.
• Airbus, Émil.es, Sopra Steria, Committee, Glady, ST, Dassault, Meyclub, Viséo, SafranOthersMultiple corporate partners are listed as clients of the Climb Up Aix – Les Milles climbing club B2B program, utilizing the facility for team-building, corporate events, and employee activities. These include major French and international companies.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Basic-Fit: Large European low-cost fitness club chain with subscription-based access across multiple countries. Comparable as a membership-driven recreational facility operator at much larger scale, but offering general fitness rather than specialized climbing.

Direct peers

• Block'House: French indoor climbing gym chain with multiple locations across France. Directly comparable as a French competitor offering bouldering, courses, and membership passes to the same recreational climbing market.
• Vertical'Art: French/European indoor climbing gym chain with locations in France and neighboring countries. Comparable as a multi-site climbing operator targeting similar climbing enthusiasts with subscription/membership models.
• Bouldering Project: US-based indoor climbing gym chain focused on bouldering with community-oriented amenities. Comparable as a climbing-focused gym operator with multi-location footprint and community/event-driven programming.
• Movement Climbing, Yoga & Fitness: US-based indoor climbing gym chain combining climbing, yoga, and fitness with multi-location membership models. Comparable as a multi-site climbing operator offering subscription-based access and ancillary services like yoga/fitness.
• Arkose: French indoor climbing gym chain offering bouldering, rope climbing, and fitness services. Directly comparable as a French climbing gym network competing for the same consumer base, with overlapping product (bloc/voies) and similar subscription-based access models.

Regional players

• Pure Climbing: UK-based indoor climbing gym chain. Comparable as a multi-site climbing operator with subscription-based access and structured courses, but operating in a different geography from Climb Up.
• Climbing District: Italian-origin climbing gym chain expanding across Europe. Comparable as a multi-site climbing gym operator with similar product mix (bouldering, rope climbing, courses), but primarily competing outside France.
• Flashpoint Climbing: UK-based indoor climbing gym chain with multiple locations. Comparable as a multi-site climbing gym operator, but primarily serving the UK market rather than France.
• High Point: Dutch indoor climbing gym chain with multiple locations across the Netherlands. Comparable as a multi-site climbing operator with subscription access and courses, but focused on the Benelux market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ClimbUpgroupe
• Instagraminstagram.com/climb_up_officiel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/climbup

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 Climb Up