Copenwater

What Copenwater does

Copenwater Svømmeklub is a Danish non-profit sports association founded in 2015 and headquartered at Amager Strandpark in Copenhagen. Operating as Denmark's largest open water swimming community, it serves water enthusiasts ranging from beginners to experienced winter swimmers, competitive athletes, and families. The core membership product provides access to open water training groups, indoor pool training during colder months, and a year-round calendar of community events, with sauna memberships available as an optional add-on at four Copenhagen locations (Nordhavn, Teglholm Brygge, Reffen, and Amager Strandpark Nord).

The commercial surface is deliberately simple: an annual basic membership of 300 DKK (approximately 40 EUR) runs December 1 through November 30 with automatic renewal via the Conventus membership system, supplemented by sauna add-on fees and structured training course fees. Beyond the core swim training portfolio, Copenwater has expanded into expedition-style products (WaterTrek, a coastal swimming expedition concept launched in 2022 with Friluftsrådet funding), sub-branded programming (Den Blå Højskole on Bornholm, Copenhagen Beach Swim, Danish Championships in Ice Swimming), and partnership-driven member benefits (equipment discounts with Ocean Dive, SwimEars, Svømmespecialisten, Friluftsland). The organization is governed by a volunteer board of five members and supported by one part-time operational hire added in 2022, with no external investors, no funding rounds, and no material technology stack beyond the membership management platform and a WordPress-based website.

Name

Copenwater

Legal name

Copenwater Svømmeklub

Website

https://copenwater.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Copenwater Svømmeklub is a Danish non-profit founded in 2015, operating as Denmark's largest open water swimming community. It offers annual memberships, coached training, sauna access, and swimming expeditions to enthusiasts across Copenhagen and select Danish coastal locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports & Recreation Services

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Open Water Swimming Events (OWS Races, Swim Challenges) (MPAKAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hot Springs, Lagoons & Water-Based Wellness (Thermal Pools, Floating Spas) (THAJAJAN), Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB)

Keywords

• Open water swimming
• Swim community
• Winter swimming
• Sauna facilities
• Swimming training

Headquarters

HQ city

København, Danmark

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Basic Membership Fees: Annual membership fee of 300 DKK covering access to training sessions, community events, and member benefits. Membership runs from December 1 to November 30. Automatic renewal through Conventus membership system.
2. Sauna Membership Add-ons: Optional sauna membership add-on available for members at facilities in Nordhavn, Teglholm Brygge, Reffen, and Amager Strandpark locations. Provides access to sauna facilities in addition to swimming activities.
3. Training Course Fees: Revenue from organized training courses including indoor pool training (September-May), outdoor open water training (June-September), youth groups, and freediving/breathing technique courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Copenwater is a non-profit Danish swimming association that operates as an open water swimming community, offering paid annual memberships (300 DKK) that grant access to coach-led open water and indoor pool training sessions, sauna facilities at multiple Copenhagen waterfront locations, social events, and expedition-style swimming tours (WaterTrek) exploring Danish coastal areas.

Product overview

Copenwater is Denmark's largest open water swimming community, founded in 2015, offering a comprehensive suite of water-based activities centered around open water swimming. The core offering consists of open water training groups and indoor pool training, complemented by WaterTrek expedition tours that enable members to explore Danish coastal areas and islands. Additional offerings include sauna memberships at multiple Copenhagen locations, freediving and breathwork programs, youth groups, and annual events such as Copenhagen Beach Swim. The organization operates from Amager Strandpark and Nordhavn, with strategic partnerships supporting its mission to spread joy and community around open water activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WaterTrek: A concept within Copenwater for exploring Denmark's beautiful coasts and water areas through swimming trips with RuckRafts equipment, focusing on nature and community.
• Copenhagen Beach Swim
• Den Blå Højskole

Products and services

• Copenwater Annual Membership Annual membership (300 DKK) providing individuals access to Copenwater's open water and indoor swimming training sessions, sauna facilities at partner locations, social events, and the WaterTrek expedition program across Copenhagen.
• Open Water Training Groups (Åbent Vand Hold) Coach-led open water swimming training sessions for members at various skill levels (beginners to experienced winter swimmers), held in summer and winter seasons at Amager Strandpark and Nordhavn.
• Indoor Pool Training Groups (Indendørs Hold) Indoor pool-based group training sessions at Copenhagen swimming halls during the colder months (September-May), allowing members to maintain swimming fitness when outdoor water temperatures drop.
• WaterTrek Expedition Tours Swimming expedition tours (day trips and weekend adventures using RuckRafts equipment) that allow members to explore Denmark's coastal areas, islands, and waterways from the water, with nature stays and community experiences.
• Sauna Membership (Saunaer) Optional sauna membership add-on providing access to sauna facilities at four Copenhagen waterfront locations (Nordhavn, Amager Strandpark Nord, Refshalevej, and Teglholm) for contrast therapy combined with open water swimming.
• Freediving & Breathwork (Fridykning og Åndedræt) Freediving and breathwork training courses teaching breath control and underwater diving techniques, offered as a winter-season activity to members.
• Youth Groups (Ungehold) Swimming groups and programs designed for younger members (youth and young adults aged 18-25) seeking active outdoor lifestyle and social community through water activities.
• Copenhagen Beach Swim Annual open water swimming event held in Copenhagen as part of the Swimmable Cities initiative, promoting urban swimming and community participation.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ocean DivecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 June 2022Ocean Dive is a swimming equipment retailer in Copenhagen offering wetsuits from Zone3, Orca, Blueseventy, and other gear. Copenwater members receive special discount codes and can purchase equipment at events. Partnership includes co-hosting World Oceans Day 2022 event at Amager Strandpark with focus on Blue Mind theory and community swimming.
• Ocean DiveminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEquipment retailer partnership offering Copenwater members discounts on swimming gear including wetsuits, goggles, and neoprene equipment.
• SwimEarsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership providing ear protection products for open water swimmers, helping prevent Swimmer's Ear and Surfer's Ear conditions.
• SvømmespecialistenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwimming equipment specialist retailer partnership offering member discounts on swimming gear and equipment.
• FriluftslandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOutdoor equipment retailer partnership for member discounts on outdoor and water sports gear.
• Swimmable Cities AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCopenwater has signed the Swimmable Cities Charter along with 153 other organizations. The alliance, originating from the Paris Olympics, aims to share knowledge, solutions, and political momentum for cities to create safe, healthy, and swimmable waterways. Copenwater participates in global conferences and initiatives to promote water quality, accessibility, and biodiversity.
• Amager StrandminorOthersBeach venue partnership providing access to Amager Strandpark locations for open water swimming activities and community events.
• Nordhavn IFminorOthersLocal sports club partnership in the Nordhavn district for collaborative sports activities and community development.
• DGIminorOthersPartnership with Danmarks Gymnastik Foreninger og Idrætsforeninger (DGI), a national sports federation supporting open water swimming training and education.
• Svøm DanmarkminorOthersPartnership with the Danish national swimming federation for competitive swimming and open water swimming development.
• Rent Hav (Clean Sea)minorOthersPartnership with environmental organization focused on clean seas and marine conservation, aligning with Copenwater's mission of ocean stewardship.
• Bevæg dig for livet - SvømningminorOthersPartnership with Danish national sports initiative promoting swimming as a path to lifelong health and fitness.
• Friluftsrådet (Danish Outdoor Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceived funding from Friluftsrådet's Vandfriluftsliv (Water Outdoor Life) grant to develop WaterTrek concept - exploring Denmark's coasts and waterways through swimming expeditions with focus on nature experiences and local knowledge.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• DGI: Danish national sports federation supporting gymnastics and sports associations across Denmark, including open water swimming programming. Comparable as an established national federation that partners with and supports local sports clubs like Copenwater, with broader multi-sport scope.
• Svøm Danmark: Danish national swimming federation governing competitive and recreational swimming in Denmark. Comparable as the broader swimming organization Copenwater partners with; it sits in the same aquatic sports ecosystem and represents an incumbent governing body with overlapping reach into open water swimming.

Emerging players

• Badeschiff Berlin: Floating pool and sauna facility on the River Spree in Berlin combining open water swimming with sauna/wellness. Comparable to Copenwater's combined cold-water-plus-sauna offering, though operating as a single commercial venue rather than a multi-location membership club.
• Allmänna Bad: Stockholm-based outdoor swimming and cold plunge culture brand with community, events, and content. Comparable to Copenwater as a Scandinavian open water swimming culture brand building a community around cold water immersion, though primarily a content/community brand rather than a coaching-heavy club.

Direct peers

• SwimTrek: UK open water swimming holiday and expedition company offering guided swimming trips worldwide. Comparable to Copenwater's WaterTrek expedition product as a provider of organized, guided open water swimming experiences for enthusiasts, though operating as a commercial tour operator rather than a membership club.
• The Outdoor Swimming Society: UK membership community dedicated to wild and open water swimming with training guidance, events, and advocacy. Comparable as a peer open water swimming membership organization serving enthusiasts from beginners to experienced cold water swimmers, although UK-focused and digital-first.
• Bluetits Chill Swimmers: UK-based community of cold water swimmers organized into local groups with open water swim sessions and social events. Most directly comparable to Copenwater as a grassroots, member-driven open water swimming community, though with an informal rather than membership-club structure.

Regional players

• Københavns Havnebad: Public Copenhagen harbor bath providing free open water swimming access in the same metropolitan area. Comparable as a regional open water swimming resource for Copenhagen residents, potentially competing for casual swimmers who do not need coaching or community structure.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/copenwater

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 Copenwater