Surfing Swami Foundation

What Surfing Swami Foundation does

Surfing Swami Foundation is a Section 8 non-profit organization registered in India in 2017, founded in 2014 by Surfing Swami (Jack Hebner), who established India's first surf club, Mantra Surf Club, in 2004 in Mulki, Mangalore. Headquartered in Mangalore, Karnataka, the foundation provides free training, equipment, coaching, and competition exposure to coastal youth and young athletes in surfing, Stand Up Paddling (SUP), beach lifeguarding, and surf instruction, with a stated annual reach of over 25 children trained and 15 athletes sponsored.

Its core offerings span three program lines — Athlete and Youth Development, Ocean Conservation, and Surf/SUP Development — delivered through event and program platforms including the NMPA Indian Open of Surfing (national championship, seven editions), India Paddle Festival (international SUP event with APP World Tour), Grom Search (regional talent identification), and Waves of Change (corporate volunteering). The foundation operates under the aegis of the Surfing Federation of India and partners with Mantra Surf Club for training infrastructure and coaching.

The foundation's business model is donation- and sponsorship-driven, with no fees charged to beneficiaries. Revenue is sourced from individual donations, CSR partnerships (program proposals with documented outcomes), event sponsorships (title and co-sponsors such as NMPA, Karnataka Tourism, Cycle Pure Agarbathi, KSMC), athlete sponsorship programs, and in-kind contributions. Following the founder's passing in January 2020, operations continue under a board of directors chaired by Dhananjay Shetty with Gaurav Hegde as Managing Director, supported by a small staff (1-10 employees) plus coaches, volunteers, and advisors.

Name

Surfing Swami Foundation

Legal name

Surfing Swami Foundation

Website

https://surfingswamifoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Surfing Swami Foundation is a Mangalore-based Section 8 non-profit that provides free surfing and SUP training, equipment, and competition pathways to underprivileged coastal youth in Karnataka, funded through donations, CSR partnerships, and event sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Sports Development Non-Profit

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Surf Schools & Surf Camps (THAAAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Surfing & Kitesurfing Experiences (Lessons, Camps) (THAJAJAJ), Sailing & Water Sports Teams/Clubs (Sailing, Rowing, Surfing) (MPAKABAH), Surf, Kitesurf & Wind Sports Adventures (THAJABAK)

Keywords

• Surfing youth development
• Ocean conservation programs
• Stand up paddling training
• Athlete development pathways
• Coastal community outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Mangalore

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Direct donations from individuals supporting youth development, athlete support, ocean conservation, Surf/SUP development, and community programs. The foundation operates as a Section 8 non-profit organization.
2. CSR Partnerships: Corporate Social Responsibility partnerships with companies supporting documented program work across youth development, ocean conservation, Surf/SUP development, athlete support, events, and community programs. Includes program proposals, scope, budget outlines, and impact reporting.
3. Sponsorships: Event sponsorships and athlete sponsorship programs where brands and organizations provide financial or in-kind support for specific programs, events, equipment, or athlete development activities.
4. Volunteering and In-Kind Support: Contributions of time, skills, and resources from volunteers and supporters for events, cleanups, school programs, documentation, and community activities.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Surfing Swami Foundation is a Section 8 non-profit that provides free surfing and Stand Up Paddling (SUP) training, equipment, coaching, competition support, and athlete development pathways to underprivileged coastal youth along India's Karnataka coastline. Its work spans three integrated lines: athlete and youth development, ocean conservation (beach cleanups, awareness, responsible events), and surf/SUP sport development, delivered through signature events including the NMPA Indian Open of Surfing and India Paddle Festival, supported by individual donations and CSR partnerships.

Product overview

Surfing Swami Foundation operates as a multi-program non-profit organization focused on youth development through surfing and ocean sports in India. The foundation offers a unified platform of interconnected programs including Athlete and Youth Development (training, equipment access, mentoring, competition exposure), Ocean Conservation (beach cleanups, awareness, youth participation), and Surf/SUP Development (clinic programs, training systems). Key event platforms include the NMPA Indian Open of Surfing (national surfing championship), India Paddle Festival (international SUP event), Grom Search (regional youth talent identification), and Waves of Change (corporate volunteering program). The foundation also provides equipment support, CSR partnership opportunities, and school/community programs. All programs are connected by the goal of helping young people, athletes, coastal communities, and the ocean grow stronger together, with a focus on building India's surfing future from the shoreline up.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Athlete and Youth Development

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 25 children trained annually in surfing, beach lifeguarding, surf instructor, and SUP skills from less privileged coastal communities.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Mantra Surf ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004India's first surf club established in 2004, co-founded by Surfing Swami. Mantra Surf Club and Surfing Swami Foundation work together on athlete training, event organization, beach cleanups, and community programs. The club provides training infrastructure and coaching for foundation-supported athletes.
• Surfing Federation of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Governing Body of Surfing in India. The foundation operates events under the aegis of the Surfing Federation of India, which provides technical standards, judging structure, competition credibility, and alignment with national competitive pathways.
• Karnataka TourismmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment tourism department supporting championship and connecting it with coastal Karnataka's story. Karnataka Tourism presented India Paddle Festival 2025, positioning the region as a destination for surfing, beach culture, adventure travel, and responsible coastal tourism.
• NorthernSky Properties / Blue Bay Eco BeachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for NMPA Indian Open of Surfing 2026 at Blue Bay Eco Beach, Thannirbavi (Blue Flag-certified beach). NorthernSky Properties preserves and maintains the venue, providing a clean, accessible beach environment for athletes and events.
• APP World TourmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of Paddle Surf Professionals providing international platform for India Paddle Festival. Brings top international paddlers to compete alongside emerging Indian athletes on a global stage.
• Department of Youth Empowerment and SportsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment department supporting youth and athlete development aspects of championships. Reinforces importance of creating structured opportunities for young people in emerging sports such as surfing.
• NCC (National Cadet Corps)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NCC cadets for beach cleanup events, engaging youth in ocean conservation and community service.
• Incredible IndiamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational tourism campaign presenting India Paddle Festival 2025 alongside Karnataka Tourism, showcasing India's coastal sport potential to international audience.
• Thundermonkey Surf Gear Pvt LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated venture of Surfing Swami, part of the surf industry template created in India. Provides surf equipment and gear support for athletes.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Surf Aid International: Australia/Indonesia-based nonprofit using surfing as a vehicle for community health and education in remote coastal communities. Closest international analog in combining sport, youth development, and coastal community welfare.
• Waves for Change: South Africa-based nonprofit using surfing as therapy and youth development for under-resourced coastal communities. Directly comparable in combining free surf instruction, mental health/wellbeing, and youth pathways for marginalized coastal youth.
• Mantra Surf Club: India's first surf club, established in 2004 by Surfing Swami in Mulki, Karnataka. Co-founded relationship with Surfing Swami Foundation, sharing training infrastructure, coaches, and beach access - effectively the operational backbone for foundation athlete training.

Broad incumbents

• Surfrider Foundation: US-based grassroots nonprofit focused on protecting oceans and beaches through conservation, activism, and education. Comparable in mission (surf + ocean stewardship + community) but operates at much larger scale with chapter-based model.

Others

• International Surfing Association: World-recognized governing body for surfing, recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Provides the international regulatory and Olympic-pathway context within which national surfing development organizations like Surfing Swami Foundation operate.
• Surfing Federation of India: National governing body for surfing in India, with which the foundation operates the Indian Open of Surfing under official aegis. Provides technical standards, judging, and national competitive pathway alignment.
• APP World Tour: Association of Paddle Surf Professionals running the international competitive Stand Up Paddling tour. Existing partnership with Surfing Swami Foundation for the India Paddle Festival; comparable in hosting international water-sport events.

Emerging players

• Save The Waves Coalition: California-based nonprofit dedicated to protecting surf ecosystems and World Surfing Reserves. Comparable in combining surf sport advocacy with coastal conservation, though focused on protected-area designation rather than direct youth training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@surfingswamifoundation504
• Facebookfacebook.com/surfingswamifoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/surfing-swami-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/surfingswamifoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Surfing Swami Foundation