Straight Up Abilities, Inc

What Straight Up Abilities, Inc does

Straight Up Abilities (SUPA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 2016 by Robin Olive and headquartered in Venice, California. It delivers inclusive dance, music production and DJ training, theater, and individual coaching to students with and without disabilities—primarily individuals with Down syndrome and autism, ages 4–95. SUPA operates through 20 weekly in-person classes across five physical locations (Los Angeles/Venice, Orange County, Las Vegas, Anaheim, Indiana) and 11 weekly Zoom sessions reaching students in eight states, with a New York City location launching Fall 2026 at Chelsea Piers.

The technology stack is intentionally lightweight and operational rather than differentiated: a Next.js/Cloudinary-backed website, DanceStudio-Pro for online enrollment and payments, and Zoom for virtual instruction. The proprietary asset is not software but the curated curriculum, performance pedagogy, and a documented student-to-teacher pipeline that turns graduates into paid instructors (e.g., Michelle Kim, SUPA's first hired graduate). Student-produced music is released commercially on Apple Music and Spotify, and the All-Stars performance troupe (capped at 30 members) deploys to world-class venues including the Royal Opera House, SoFi Stadium, Disney World, Disneyland Paris, and the Special Olympics World Games.

SUPA's revenue model combines three streams: sliding-scale tuition (monthly subscription model with pricing not publicly disclosed), individual and corporate donations from named funders including Disney, Adobe, Southern Cross, LATC, and the Bhatia Foundation, and government/ foundation grants channeled through active vendor contracts with LAUSD, Magnolia School District, Anaheim Unified, and Orange County schools. FY2024 reported revenue was $390,954 (106% YoY growth, the organization's first positive net income year at $12,239), with 84%+ of expenses directed to programs and a Candid 2026 Gold Seal of Transparency attesting to fiscal reporting quality.

Name

Straight Up Abilities, Inc

Legal name

Straight Up Abilities, Inc

Website

https://straightupabilities.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Straight Up Abilities is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization serving 485+ students with and without disabilities weekly across five locations and nationwide virtual classes, delivering inclusive dance, music, theater, and coaching programs with documented outcomes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Inclusive Performing Arts Education

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Adaptive & Para-Sport Training Programs (MPAKAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Adaptive & Para-Sport Event Organizers (MPAKADAM)

Keywords

• Inclusive performing arts
• Adaptive dance education
• Disability arts programs
• Music production training
• Special needs arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Venice

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and corporate donations form a major revenue stream. Organization has major donors including Disney, Adobe, Southern Cross, LATC, and Bhatia Foundation. Gold Seal of Transparency — Candid 2026 certification indicates strong donor trust.
2. Sliding-Scale Tuition: Sliding-scale tuition model keeps programs accessible. Revenue verified at $390,954 FY2024. Students ages 4-95 served.
3. Government and Foundation Grants: Grants cover program structure. Organization holds active vendor contracts with multiple school districts. 84%+ program expense ratio demonstrates effective grant utilization for direct student services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Straight Up Abilities (SUPA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization delivering professional dance, music/DJ, theater, and coaching instruction to students with and without disabilities. Programs operate across five physical locations (Los Angeles, Orange County, Las Vegas, Anaheim, Indiana) plus a nationwide virtual Zoom program, with performances at world-class venues including the Royal Opera House, SoFi Stadium, and Disney World.

Product overview

Straight Up Abilities is a performing arts education nonprofit offering a multi-disciplinary portfolio of programs including Dance, Music & DJ, Theater & Acting, Individual Coaching, and Virtual Classes. The organization operates across 5+ locations (Los Angeles, Orange County, Las Vegas, Anaheim, Indiana) with nationwide virtual access via Zoom. Key sub-brands include the All-Stars Performance Team (30-member professional troupe) and SUPA Rollettes Experience. The organization also delivers School Assemblies to school districts under active vendor contracts. The model emphasizes radical inclusion with students of all abilities learning side-by-side, and includes a student-to-teacher pipeline.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• All-Stars Performance Team: SUPA's professional performance troupe of 30 members, auditioned and rehearsed for deployment on stages including Royal Opera House London, Disney World, and Special Olympics World Games.
• Music & DJ Program
• SUPA Rollettes Experience

Products and services

• Dance Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% student retention rate (industry benchmark 60-70%)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

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

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rollettes ExperiencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Co-presenting the SUPA Rollettes Experience dance event for ages 8+ with physical or intellectual disabilities. June 2026 event in Los Angeles. Partnership combines Rollettes Experience's event platform with SUPA's inclusive arts programming.
• LAUSDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive vendor contract with Los Angeles Unified School District for school assemblies and inclusive arts programming within district schools.
• Special OlympicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for performances at Special Olympics World Games. SUPA students performed at the World Games in Florida.
• The Music CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrestigious Los Angeles performing arts venue partner. Keith Wyffels, Associate Vice President, has provided testimonial praising SUPA's work.
• Abilities ExpominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for disability-focused events and expos.
• Knott's Berry FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntertainment venue partner for performances and community events.
• Electric LodgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerformance venue partner in Venice, CA area.
• Millennium Dance ComplexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLas Vegas dance studio location where SUPA holds dance classes. Premier dance education facility partner.
• VSAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization on arts and disability. Partnership for inclusive arts advocacy and programming.
• Tierra del SolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting artists with developmental disabilities. Partner for inclusive arts programming.
• OC DOEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrange County Department of Education partnership for school-based inclusive arts programs.
• JSPACCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJewish Satellite Parents of All Children with Challenges. Parent organization partner for Saturday virtual JSPACC classes.
• Magnolia School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive vendor contract in Anaheim area. Historical partnership dating back to Robin Olive's early teaching at this district in 2008.
• Anaheim UnifiedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool district vendor contract for inclusive arts programming in Anaheim Unified schools.
• Orange County School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCountywide school district partnership for inclusive arts education programs.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves5 records

Direct peers

• National Dance Institute: NYC-based dance education nonprofit serving tens of thousands of children annually. Comparable as a multi-site, school-partnered performing arts education nonprofit with a similar educator pipeline orientation.
• AXIS Dance Company: Oakland-based integrated dance company employing professional dancers with and without disabilities. Closely comparable to SUPA's All-Stars performance troupe model and its radical inclusion ethos.
• Tierra del Sol: California-based nonprofit supporting artists with developmental disabilities. Already a SUPA partner; closely comparable mission and student population.
• Candoco Dance Company: Leading UK-based integrated dance company working with disabled and non-disabled dancers. Comparable professional integrated-dance model relevant to SUPA's All-Stars and London Royal Opera House ambitions.
• Infinite Flow Dance: LA-based inclusive dance nonprofit employing dancers with and without disabilities. Direct geographic and model competitor to SUPA in the Southern California inclusive dance space.
• Heidi Latsky Dance: NYC integrated dance company whose work centers performers with and without disabilities. Closely mirrors SUPA's mission of inclusion on the world's biggest stages (e.g., Lincoln Center, Royal Opera House analog).
• VSA (Kennedy Center): International organization on arts and disability, headquartered at the Kennedy Center. Directly comparable to SUPA as a nonprofit advancing inclusive arts participation; SUPA already lists VSA as a partner, underscoring the overlap.

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: Large national nonprofit providing disability services including arts-adjacent programming. Comparable in mission breadth and corporate donor base (often co-listed with Disney, etc.), though not arts-specific.
• Special Olympics: Global sports organization serving people with intellectual disabilities. Already a SUPA partner; broader in scope (sports rather than arts) and orders of magnitude larger, but overlaps on the disability community and major donor universe.

Regional players

• The Music Center: Premier LA performing arts venue and programming organization. Listed as a SUPA partner; comparable as a regional performing arts anchor but operates venues rather than inclusive education programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/StraightUpAbilities
• Facebookfacebook.com/straightupabilities
• Instagraminstagram.com/straightupabilities
• TikToktiktok.com/@straightupabilities
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/straightupabilities

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 Straight Up Abilities, Inc