Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge
Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs physically demanding SCUBA, sailing, and mountaineering expeditions for combat wounded and injured U.S. veterans, combining rehabilitation with field research in orthotics, TBI, and PTSD.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSt. Petersburg, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge does
Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge (CWVC), legally Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2010 (per firmographics; one source cites 2012) and headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, with a five-person staff. The organization serves combat wounded and injured U.S. military veterans — including those with amputations, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and spinal cord injuries — by running physically demanding outdoor expedition programs (SCUBA, sailing, and mountaineering) that double as field-research opportunities for orthotics, prosthetics, TBI, and PTSD studies. Participants are recruited through VA hospitals, the USSOCOM Care Coalition, university partners, and veteran referrals, and must obtain medical clearance, prosthetics fit verification, and physical readiness certification prior to selection.
CWVC's product mix comprises four core programs — SCUBA Challenge (Florida Keys, with coral reef restoration work alongside Mote Marine Laboratory), Sailing Challenge (Sea Star Base Galveston), Mountaineering Challenge (Aconcagua, Denali, Alaska, Colorado), and a multi-disciplinary Field Research Program — supported by Reef Restoration and youth cross-mentorship engagements with SCUBAnauts International. Expedition outcomes have included summits of Aconcagua (22,841 ft) and Kilimanjaro, a record-setting 500-coral planting day with 36 volunteers in 2017, and peer-reviewed publications through the University of Hartford and St. Petersburg College's J.E. Hanger College of Orthotics and Prosthetics.
Revenue mechanics are entirely donation-based: individuals, foundations (notably a $160,000 Bronze Buffalo Foundation pledge in July 2022 and a $2,000 Channel 10 WTSP grant in March 2016), and corporate sponsors provide cash and in-kind support (dive boats, logistics, flight services from Derby Lane, At the Water's Edge, Operation Second Chance, and Veterans Airlift Command). The organization operates at no cost to qualifying veterans. In June 2024, CWVC announced it had joined Operation No Person Left Behind Outdoors (NPLB) and would continue its mission under the NPLB banner while accessing an expanded outdoor adventure portfolio.
Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge
- Legal name
- Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge, Inc.
- Website
- https://combatwounded.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs physically demanding SCUBA, sailing, and mountaineering expeditions for combat wounded and injured U.S. veterans, combining rehabilitation with field research in orthotics, TBI, and PTSD.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Veteran Rehabilitation Services
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Endurance Stage & Destination Challenges (Multi-day Tours, Charity Challenges) (MPAKAIAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Environmental Conservation & Sustainability Volunteering (EDAIAGAB), Volunteer Safety, Safeguarding & Risk Management Services (EDAIAGAN)
Keywords
Where Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St. Petersburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: CWVC relies on donations from individuals and organizations to fund challenge expeditions and operations. Major donations have been received from foundations like Bronze Buffalo Foundation ($160,000 pledged).
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide funding, in-kind donations (dive boats, equipment, logistics support), and services. Sponsors include Derby Lane, At the Water's Edge, and others.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge (CWVC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs physically demanding outdoor challenge expeditions — SCUBA diving, adaptive sailing, and high-altitude mountaineering — for combat wounded and injured veterans. During these expeditions, participants voluntarily take part in field research studies in orthotics and prosthetics, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and spinal cord injury, with findings published through university research partners. The organization funds expeditions through donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships, providing the programs at no cost to qualifying veterans.
Product overview
Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge (CWVC) operates as a nonprofit rehabilitation organization offering physically and psychologically demanding outdoor challenge expeditions led by combat wounded veterans. The organization runs three primary programs: SCUBA Challenge (underwater diving expeditions in Key West), Sailing Challenge (adaptive sailing from Galveston, TX), and Mountaineering Challenge (high-altitude expeditions including Aconcagua, Denali, Alaska, and Colorado). All challenge expeditions incorporate field research programs focused on orthotics & prosthetics, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and PTSD. CWVC has recently merged with Operation No Person Left Behind Outdoors (NPLB), continuing operations under the NPLB banner. The organization also partners with Mote Marine Laboratory for coral reef restoration efforts as part of its environmental mission.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SCUBA Challenge
Quantifiable outcome
- Participants successfully summit extreme mountains including Aconcagua (highest in Western Hemisphere) and Mount Kilimanjaro
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Mote Marine Laboratory & AquariumcoreCWVC has partnered closely with Mote Marine Laboratories since 2012, supporting their coral reef restoration program. CWVC participants work alongside scientists to outplant new colonies of staghorn coral and create new colonies in underwater nurseries during annual SCUBA challenges in the Florida Keys.
- University of HartfordcoreUniversity of Hartford has been a research partner during SCUBA Challenges, gathering data on prosthetics over the past several years. They have published findings to advance the field of orthotics and prosthetics.
- SCUBAnauts InternationalcoreCWVC has partnered with SCUBAnauts Int'l for all SCUBA Challenges and other events. Youth divers and CWVC participants interact during week-long challenges, creating cross-mentoring opportunities between generations.
- Sea Star Base GalvestoncoreSea Star Base Galveston has hosted several Sailing Challenges from their home port in Galveston, TX. They provide shore instruction followed by on-the-water drills to develop sailing skills, culminating in two-day regatta competitions.
- Derby LanemajorDerby Lane has been a staunch supporter of CWVC's SCUBA Challenges since the onset, providing funding support, dive boats and crews, and general logistics support essential to challenge operations.
- At the Water's EdgemajorOwned and operated by Bert McCasland, this sponsor donates time and expertise to maintaining SCUBA equipment and training combat wounded/injured veteran diving novices to qualify as basic SCUBA Divers, as well as training others as Master Divers.
- Alaska Mountaineering SchoolcoreAMS hosted several Mountaineering Challenges during CWVC's early days, providing basic mountaineering skills training followed by treks across glaciers and cross-country skiing. Medical practitioners accompanied CW/IVs monitoring physiological and temperament changes.
- Operation Second ChancemajorOperation Second Chance has been a staunch supporter by voluntarily providing individual and corporate flight support to move combat wounded/injured veterans (with families) to challenge sites who otherwise couldn't participate.
- Veterans Airlift CommandmajorVeterans Airlift Command has supported CWVC Challenges by voluntarily providing individual and corporate flight support moving combat wounded/injured veterans (with families) to challenge sites who otherwise wouldn't be able to participate.
- St. Petersburg College - J.E. Hanger College of Orthotics and ProstheticscorePartnership focused on orthotics and prosthetics research during SCUBA challenges. Students and faculty participate in research activities observing how prosthetics perform during diving activities.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Move United (formerly Disabled Sports USA): National nonprofit network providing adaptive sports and recreation opportunities for people with disabilities, including veterans. Directly comparable to CWVC's SCUBA, sailing, and mountaineering challenges delivered through a community-based adaptive-sports framework.
- Team Red, White & Blue: Veteran service organization that builds community through physical fitness, outdoor activities, and social engagement. Closely comparable to CWVC in using outdoor adventure as the core engagement modality for veteran reintegration.
- The Mission Continues: Nonprofit empowering veterans to continue service through volunteer deployments and leadership development. Comparable to CWVC in targeting post-service veteran purpose and community reintegration, though delivery is community-service rather than expedition-based.
- Team Rubicon: Veteran-led nonprofit that mobilizes military veterans to serve communities through disaster response and other high-impact service projects. Shares CWVC's veteran-service model, event-driven programming, and reliance on challenge-based mission delivery.
- Adaptive Adventures: Nonprofit providing adaptive sports (cycling, skiing, watersports) for individuals with disabilities including veterans. Comparable to CWVC in modality (outdoor challenge-based rehabilitation) and target population overlap.
- No Barriers USA: Nonprofit delivering transformative outdoor experiences (climbing, expeditions, leadership programs) for veterans, people with disabilities, and others facing challenges. Closely mirrors CWVC's expedition-driven rehabilitation model and adventure-therapy positioning.
- The Heroes Project: Nonprofit that climbs mountains (including the Seven Summits) with wounded veterans, integrating adventure rehabilitation with visibility-building expeditions. Directly comparable to CWVC's mountaineering challenges and summit-based mission delivery.
- Operation Second Chance: Veteran-support nonprofit that provides financial assistance, scholarships, and adaptive-equipment support to wounded veterans and their families. Comparable beneficiary focus on combat-wounded service members and is already a documented CWVC logistics partner.
Broad incumbents
- Wounded Warrior Project: The largest U.S. nonprofit serving post-9/11 wounded veterans through direct programs, mental health support, and physical wellness initiatives. Highly comparable mission to CWVC but operates at vastly larger scale and broader programmatic scope rather than focused expedition-based rehabilitation.
- Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA): Largest post-9/11 veteran service organization focused on policy advocacy, community building, and direct veteran support. Comparable beneficiary base to CWVC but operates through policy/lobbying and member services rather than expedition delivery.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge social profiles
Digital presenceCombat Wounded Veteran Challenge financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge
What does Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge do?
Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge (CWVC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs physically demanding outdoor challenge expeditions — SCUBA diving, adaptive sailing, and high-altitude mountaineering — for combat wounded and injured veterans. During these expeditions, participants voluntarily take part in field research studies in orthotics and prosthetics, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and spinal cord injury, with findings published through university research partners. The organization funds expeditions through donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships, providing the programs at no cost to qualifying veterans.
Is Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge a public or private company?
Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge founded?
Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge based?
Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge is headquartered in St. Petersburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Grants are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships.
Who are Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Move United (formerly Disabled Sports USA), Team Red, White & Blue, The Mission Continues, Team Rubicon, Adaptive Adventures, No Barriers USA, The Heroes Project and Operation Second Chance. Broad incumbents are Wounded Warrior Project and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).
Does Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge have an API?
No public API is recorded for Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge.
What industry is Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge in?
Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge's product category is Veteran Rehabilitation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAIAG, Endurance Stage & Destination Challenges (Multi-day Tours, Charity Challenges), with a secondary code of EDAIAGAB, Environmental Conservation & Sustainability Volunteering. Its NAICS code is 813 and its SIC code is 8600.