Clip 'n Climb

What Clip 'n Climb does

Clip 'n Climb is the creator of the fun climbing category, founded in 2005 in Christchurch, New Zealand, by John Targett and Tim Wethey. The company designs and manufactures auto-belay-equipped climbing walls and over 40 sensory-rich challenges across its Classic, Prima, and Narrow product lines, marketed primarily to families with children (ages 4+), schools, corporate groups, and fitness-oriented adults. Its technology stack rests on two proprietary safety systems: the TRUBLUE auto belay, built around a patented magnetic brake developed in 2007 with Holmes Consulting and commercialized through a joint venture with Head Rush Technologies, and the BelayMate connector launched in 2017, which reduces operator staffing needs.

The business model is a hybrid equipment-vendor-plus-franchise/originator. In the UK, Clip 'n Climb sells franchises to SMB operators with comprehensive training, marketing, and inspection support. Globally, the company monetizes through white-label/OEM installations (notably 24 customized sites with European leisure operator JumpYard across Sweden, Spain, Portugal, and Germany), brand licensing, and recurring equipment sales and servicing — including a certified TRUBLUE service center offering 62-point inspections and emergency repairs. End-consumer revenue at centers derives from session tickets, birthday parties (typically 20-30 EUR per participant), team-building programs, Climb Fit fitness classes, Rock Star/Rock Star toddler sessions, and SEN-inclusive programming. The company is operationally headquartered in Kelbrook, Lancashire, UK, with the legal parent Entre-Prises headquartered in Saint-Vincent-de-Mercuze, France, as a subsidiary of ABEO, a sports equipment group with €230M consolidated revenue across 50+ companies. Sister brand ELI Play (also under ABEO) supplies complementary indoor playground and trampoline products, allowing bundled multi-activity offerings.

Clip 'n Climb claims 400+ centers across 50 countries and 10 million+ cumulative guests over 20 years; operational scale is supported by 125 employees and four regional offices (UK, France, USA, China), with newer geographies opening in Indonesia (2025) and the Middle East via partner SEVEN!. The 2024 Artifact product launch, a modular four-line tower, signals continued catalog refresh and footprint optimization for smaller venues.

Name

Clip 'n Climb

Legal name

ENTRE-PRISES

Website

https://clipnclimb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Clip 'n Climb is the originator of the fun climbing category (founded 2005, New Zealand), designing 40+ auto-belay climbing challenges and distributing them to family entertainment centers globally through UK franchising, white-label OEM installations, and brand licensing across 50+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indoor Recreation Equipment

NAICS

Sporting Goods Retailers (45911)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Ropes Courses & High/Low Challenge Courses (THAAACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adventure & Aerial Parks (Ropes Courses, Zipline Parks, Climbing Parks) (THAJAEAI), Via Ferrata & Adventure Climbing Parks (THAAACAE)

Keywords

• Indoor climbing equipment
• Active entertainment franchise
• Auto belay systems
• Climbing wall manufacturing
• Fun climbing attractions

Headquarters

HQ city

Kelbrook, Lancashire

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Franchise Fees and Licensing: Clip 'n Climb generates revenue through franchise fees for operators opening Clip 'n Climb centers, and brand licensing fees for white-label partnerships.
2. Ticket Sales and Session Fees: Revenue from climbers paying for climbing sessions at franchise and company-owned centers.
3. Birthday Parties and Events: A successful Clip 'n Climb center can host up to 15 birthday parties per week. Average pricing of 20-30 EUR per person for birthday party packages including extras like costumes, invitations, and party favors.
4. Equipment Sales and Servicing: Sale and servicing of climbing challenges, TRUBLUE auto belay systems, BelayMate devices, and PPE inspection/maintenance services. Includes safety inspections, routine maintenance, emergency repairs, and PPE inspections.
5. Café and Restaurant Operations: Some centers generate additional revenue through on-site cafés, with the Bali center featuring a vegetarian and vegan restaurant.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Clip 'n Climb designs, manufactures, and franchises fun climbing walls and challenges for commercial operators worldwide. The company offers over 40 unique climbing challenges (Classic, Prima, and Narrow categories) suitable for ages 4 and up, complemented by proprietary safety equipment including the TRUBLUE auto belay system and the BelayMate connection device. The business operates through UK franchising, global white-label/OEM installations, and brand licensing to leisure operators.

Product overview

Clip 'n Climb is a fun climbing franchise and experience platform featuring over 40 unique climbing challenges designed for all ages (4+). The core offering includes Classic Challenges, Prima Challenges, and Narrow Challenges, complemented by proprietary safety equipment including the TRUBLUE Auto Belay (developed with Head Rush Technologies) and BelayMate connection system. The company also offers comprehensive services including TRUBLUE maintenance, inspections, and staff training, along with activity programs such as birthday parties, team building, Climb Fit fitness classes, toddler classes, and Rock Star sessions. As part of the ABEO group, Clip 'n Climb also distributes ELI Play indoor play equipment including trampoline parks and soft play areas. The business operates primarily through franchising, with over 400 centers in 50 countries worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BelayMate: A connector device for climbers using auto belay devices, reducing staff supervision needs and improving safety. Launched in 2017.
• TRUBLUE iQ

Products and services

• Clip 'n Climb Fun Climbing The core fun climbing concept featuring over 40 unique climbing challenges designed to stimulate multiple senses simultaneously, suitable for ages 4 and up regardless of climbing level, with challenges ranging from 6.4 to 10.4 meters in height. Sold to franchise and white-label operators worldwide.
• TRUBLUE Auto Belay TRUBLUE iQ Auto Belay device featuring patented magnetic brake technology, designed to be more durable and lightweight than previous versions. Provides safe controlled descent for climbers and reduces the need for staff belay management.
• BelayMate A proprietary connection system for climbers using self-belay devices, reducing the need for staff supervision and increasing climber safety. Developed by Clip 'n Climb in 2017 and used in multiple Clip 'n Climb centers worldwide.
• Artifact Challenge The newest addition to the Clip 'n Climb challenge range, a visually striking free-standing tower with four climbing lines of mixed difficulties, constructed from recurring modules stacked and rotated 90 degrees, with textured surfaces for enhanced grip.
• Classic Challenges Standard climbing challenges including Aliens, Amazing, Big Cheese, Checkerplate, Dark Tower, Leap of Faith, Stairway to Heaven, and other unique designs with varied textures and interactive elements.
• Prima Challenges Premium challenge series including Blocks, Boulder, Fizzure, Helix, Illusion, Koral, Pinball, Ping, Polarized, Smiley, and Trigg, designed with minimal angles and specific design features.
• Narrow Challenges Challenges designed for smaller spaces and corners, including Ascendor (double challenge with two difficulty levels), Constructor, and other narrow-format walls.
• ELI Play Products Indoor play equipment including indoor playgrounds, trampoline parks, ninja parkour courses, soft play areas for toddlers, and interactive HiT iT! tag arenas. Part of the ABEO group, manufactured in the Netherlands and distributed alongside Clip 'n Climb installations.
• TRUBLUE Service Centre
• Inspections and Maintenance Services
• Staff Training

Quantifiable outcome

• Centers can host up to 15 birthday parties per week generating significant recurring revenue
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• JumpYardcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017JumpYard is a leading European indoor leisure park operator founded in Sweden in 2017. Clip 'n Climb has completed 24 installations for JumpYard across Sweden, Spain, Portugal, and Germany, with additional projects planned for 2026-2027. JumpYard operates 27 parks total.
• Entre-PrisesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Entre-Prises made a strategic investment in Clip 'n Climb in 2015 when co-founder Tim Wethey left the company. Entre-Prises, founded in 1985 by climbing enthusiasts, is a pioneer in climbing wall industry known for designing, manufacturing, and installing custom climbing solutions worldwide.
• ABEOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015ABEO is a world leader in sports equipment and entertainment, owning Entre-Prises which holds a strategic stake in Clip 'n Climb. ABEO comprises over 50 companies worldwide with consolidated revenue of 230 million EUR.
• Head Rush TechnologiescoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2007Head Rush Technologies collaborated with Clip 'n Climb to develop the TRUBLUE auto belay system specifically for the climbing industry. Clip 'n Climb is certified by Head Rush Technologies to service and maintain TRUBLUE equipment.
• ELI PlaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerELI Play is Europe's leading manufacturer of indoor playgrounds, trampoline parks, and sports facilities, operating from the Netherlands. As a sister company under the ABEO group, ELI Play supplies trampoline areas and other attractions at JumpYard locations alongside Clip 'n Climb installations.
• SEVEN!minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClip 'n Climb partnership with SEVEN! for expansion into Saudi Arabia, with over 360 centers worldwide leading to expansion into the Middle East market.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Urban Air Adventure Park: US-based adventure park franchise offering trampolines, climbing walls, ropes courses, and obstacle attractions. Directly comparable as a multi-activity family entertainment franchise.
• Movement Climbing, Yoga & Fitness: Largest US climbing gym chain. While focused on traditional roped climbing rather than auto-belay fun climbing, competes for the same climbing consumer and shares the operator-side business model.
• iFly Indoor Skydiving: Global franchise offering indoor skydiving experiences. Competes for family/group leisure spend and the same operator partners in active entertainment malls and FECs.
• Head Rush Technologies: Co-developer of the TRUBLUE auto-belay system with Clip 'n Climb and certified servicing partner. Operates broadly across the climbing and active entertainment industry with broader auto-belay and ride technology offerings.
• Sky Zone: Largest trampoline park franchise globally. Competes with Clip 'n Climb for the same family active entertainment dollar and operator partnerships within multi-activity venues.

Direct peers

• Entre-Prises: Sister company and parent of Clip 'n Climb, Entre-Prises designs, manufactures and installs custom climbing walls worldwide. Directly comparable as a climbing wall manufacturer and solutions provider serving the same leisure operator customer base.
• Fun Spot Manufacturing: US-based manufacturer of trampolines, climbing walls, and active entertainment equipment. Listed as a Clip 'n Climb regional contact and directly competes in the indoor climbing attractions equipment market.
• Go Ape: UK-based aerial adventure and ropes course operator/franchise. Closely comparable as an adventure climbing/aerial course operator in the same target geography and customer demographic.
• ELI Play: Europe's leading manufacturer of indoor playgrounds, trampoline parks and ninja courses. Fellow ABEO group company that supplies complementary attractions alongside Clip 'n Climb at multi-activity venues like JumpYard.

Regional players

• Altitude Trampoline Park: US-focused trampoline park franchise. Adjacent category competing for the same family active entertainment spend, but primarily serves the US market where Clip 'n Climb is underrepresented.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/clipnclimbworld
• Facebookfacebook.com/clipnclimb.world
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clipnclimb
• Instagraminstagram.com/clipnclimbint

Compliance2 records

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 Clip 'n Climb