Safe Bar Network

What Safe Bar Network does

Safe Bar Network is a U.S. nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in January 2020 and headquartered remotely in Kansas City, MO, that provides active bystander and de-escalation training to alcohol-serving venues including bars, restaurants, nightclubs, breweries, and festivals. The core product is a one-hour facilitator-led conversation that teaches hospitality staff to recognize and intervene in overconsumption, harassment, and other harm, built on a proprietary methodology that includes the "Pivot to Hospitality" technique (setting firm boundaries by pivoting from restriction to offer) and the Huddle Up conversation guide (available in English and Spanish). Supporting assets include quick-tip PDFs, a mocktail recipe guide, a high-volume venue training module, and a post-training evaluation system that consistently reports 97\u2013100% participant satisfaction and an A+ (99.3/100) venue rating.

The organization's business model is donation- and sponsorship-funded: training is delivered at no cost to member venues, while revenue comes from tax-deductible contributions and corporate sponsorships from beverage and hospitality industry leaders including Brown-Forman, Anheuser-Busch Brewers Collective, Stone Brewing, Boston Beer Company, Tito's Handmade Vodka, and LineLeap. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven\u2014venues enroll through a 15\u201330 minute membership call, certified facilitators earn $175 per session and $100 per successful referral, and the network has scaled to 270+ member venues across 32 states plus an international program (SAFE Bar Network Türkiye) launched in 2023. Distribution is reinforced by government nighttime economy partnerships (New Orleans, Pittsburgh), industry associations (USBG, Pink Boots Society, California Restaurant Association, Women of the Vine & Spirits / 86 Harassment), and sexual assault prevention organizations (San Miguel Resource Center, Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Northwest Arkansas Center for Sexual Assault).

Underlying technology is light: a Wix-hosted website, organic social presence across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn, downloadable PDF resources, and email/newsletter communications. There is no proprietary software platform or AI/ML component; the value proposition rests on the human-delivered training methodology, the facilitator network, and the member venue community.

Name

Safe Bar Network

Legal name

SAFE Bar Network

Website

https://safebarnetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Safe Bar Network is a U.S. nonprofit 501(c)(3) that provides free active bystander and de-escalation training to bars, restaurants, breweries, and other alcohol-serving venues to prevent overconsumption, harassment, and harm, funded by beverage industry sponsorships and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality Safety Training

NAICS

Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Nightclub, Bar & Entertainment Venue Security (BPAKACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Neighborhood & Sports Bars (THAFAEAA), Event Security, Safety & Compliance Services (MPAIAFAH)

Keywords

• Hospitality safety training
• Active bystander training
• Nightlife safety programs
• Alcohol service training
• Workplace de-escalation

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: The SAFE Bar Network is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Donations from individuals and organizations support the training programs. Since formation in January 2020, they have received nearly $1 million in donations from 30+ organizations and individuals.
2. Sponsorships: The organization receives support from leaders in the beverage and hospitality industry through sponsorship tiers and options. Major sponsors include Brown-Forman, Anheuser Busch, Stone Brewing, Boston Beer Company, LineLeap, Tito's Handmade Vodka, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The SAFE Bar Network is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that provides active bystander and de-escalation training to alcohol-serving venues (bars, restaurants, breweries, nightclubs). It delivers one-hour conversation-based training sessions on-site to help staff prevent overconsumption, harassment, and other forms of harm, while supporting workplace culture and customer retention.

Product overview

The SAFE Bar Network is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of training and resource products focused on alcohol server safety and bystander intervention. The core offering is the SAFE Bar Training program—a one-hour conversation-based training that teaches hospitality staff to notice uncomfortable situations, build active bystander skills, and create workplace cultures that prevent harm. Supporting products include SAFE Night Out introductory sessions, the Huddle Up Conversation Guide (available in English and Spanish), Quick Tips for preventing overconsumption, and the Mocktail Guide featuring non-alcoholic recipes. The organization also operates a Social Media Ambassador Program for volunteer advocates, a Facilitator Program for certified trainers, and an Internship Program in marketing, communications, and PR. Regional programs include SAFE Bar NOLA (partnered with the City of New Orleans) and SAFE Bar Türkiye (international expansion with Brown-Forman). A new High Volume Venue Training module is being developed for high-volume nightlife environments. Evaluation tools track training effectiveness and participant outcomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SAFE Bar Training A one-hour on-site training conversation that teaches bar and restaurant staff to notice uncomfortable behavior, build active bystander skills, de-escalate risky situations, and create workplace cultures that prevent overconsumption, harassment, and other forms of harm. Offered at no cost to member venues.
• SAFE Night Out Sessions

Quantifiable outcome

• Venue closures below national average for member venues
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• Brown-FormanflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrown-Forman partnered with SAFE Bar Network to launch SAFE Bar Network Türkiye in May 2023. In April 2023, 180 Brown-Forman sales team members received training at their annual sales meeting in Antalya. Brown-Forman is a major spirits company and supports both Türkiye and US operations as both a sponsor and strategic partner.
• City of New Orleans Office of Nighttime Economy (ONE)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of New Orleans Office of Nighttime Economy partnered with SAFE Bar Network to provide de-escalation training for nightlife establishments. Current member venues include 12 Mile Limit, The Domino, Barrel Proof, and Kajun's Pub. This partnership provides venues with certification, skills to prevent harm, and aligns with ONE's mission to strengthen nightlife infrastructure.
• Pittsburgh Office of Nighttime EconomycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreates safe spaces for visitors and residents of the Pittsburgh area by encouraging safe operation of food, beverage, and entertainment businesses and helping them coexist with the community.
• San Miguel Resource CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership brings the Safe Festival Program to Telluride, Colorado. The center promotes social change through education and community awareness and advocates for individuals affected by domestic or sexual assault.
• United States Bartenders' Guild (USBG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA nonprofit that empowers bartenders nationwide, offering career advancement and opportunities in the pursuit of elevating the craft. Partnership supports bartender training and professional development.
• Pink Boots SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA nonprofit that inspires women and non-binary individuals to advance their careers in the fermented and alcoholic beverage industry by raising funds for educational scholarships.
• Women of the BevolutioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecognizes the need for greater representation in the hospitality industry and works to create more inclusive spaces. Partner organization supporting diversity in hospitality.
• 86 HarassmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn initiative by Women of the Vine & Spirits that combats sexual harassment and gender-based violence in the beverage, alcohol, and hospitality industries. Free 24-hour helpline with trained advocates.
• CHOW (Culinary Hospitality Outreach Wellness)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports hospitality workers' wellness to help improve the hospitality industry. CHOW's mission is to support the lives of food, beverage, hospitality workers through no-cost resources.
• Another Round Another RallycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA nonprofit that provides financial and educational resources for the hospitality industry, with the goal of creating innovative and dynamic workspaces for everyone.
• Turning Tables NOLAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelps Black and Brown hospitality professionals in New Orleans by providing educational tools, platforms for exposure, and mentorship opportunities.
• Spokane Cocktail WeekcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA non-profit that provides education, support, and resources to help Pacific Northwest hospitality professionals. Partnered to bring safe nightlife training to event participants.
• LineLeapcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial networking app with over 1.5 million users and 500 partnered bars. Donated $1 to SAFE Bar Network for every shirt sold during their bar crawl. Helps customers skip lines while venues enhance guest satisfaction.
• Brave Noise BeercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocates for transparency in breweries and fosters inclusive spaces for everyone in the beer industry. A global beer collaboration that partnered with SAFE Bar Network and other non-profits.
• Nantucket Business AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with SAFE Bar Network to bring training to Nantucket, Massachusetts. 10 bars including Cru, Island Kitchen, Rose and Crown, Billie's, The Pearl, Cisco Brewers, Sandbar, Queequeg's, Town, Tree Bar, and Kitty Murtagh's participated with 240 people trained.
• College Bar AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA group of successful high-volume bars in the USA that partner with SAFE Bar Network for training and safety initiatives.
• Regarding HercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBreaks down barriers for women entrepreneurs, specifically in the food and beverage industry. The organization has 1,000 members across the U.S.
• 24HourDallasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA nonprofit improving Dallas's nightlife through cultural innovation, safety, and more with their three-year plan.
• Bartenders BridgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual highlight bringing together passionate members for an intense three-day conference filled with education, networking, and fun.
• Beer & BalletminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCombines dance and beer in a unique experience, breaking traditional barriers of performance to create space for both beer lovers and dance enthusiasts.
• Breedlove Entrepreneurship CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports entrepreneurs that are later-stage women of color who are undercapitalized.
• Madison Brooks FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides financial help, advocates for the safety of young girls and spreads awareness of organ donation.
• Women of the Bevolution - Bevolution Brave Voices FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffers financial aid, mental health services, job coaching and legal assistance to hospitality workers.
• Southern SmokecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhether there are unforeseen hardships or mental health needs, their funds and resources help hospitality workers.
• ARAR (Applications Currently Available)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides applications for aid to hospitality workers experiencing hardship. ARAR will be adding more applications.
• California Restaurant AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnites the restaurant industry by advocating, influencing legislation, supporting the community, and more.
• Northwest Arkansas Center for Sexual AssaultcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with SAFE Bar Network to provide training to local bars in Northwest Arkansas.
• Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault (WCASA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with SAFE Bar Network and Wisconsin's Coalition Against Sexual Assault to offer bystander intervention training to alcohol-serving establishments in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• United States Bartenders' Guild (USBG): USBG is a nonprofit association that supports bartender professional development and elevates the craft. It is an existing SAFE Bar partner but not a direct competitor — more of a complementary industry-association peer that serves the same bartender audience.
• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): RAINN is the largest US anti-sexual-violence organization and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline. It is a partner-adjacent peer — overlapping mission with SAFE Bar Network — but focuses on victim services and national policy rather than bar staff training.

Emerging players

• Right To Be (formerly Hollaback!): Right To Be is a nonprofit that trains bystanders to intervene in harassment in public spaces, including nightlife and transit settings. It overlaps meaningfully with SAFE Bar's bystander-intervention methodology but is broader in target environment and not specific to alcohol-serving venues.
• A Call to Men: A Call to Men trains organizations on healthy masculinity and violence prevention, including workplace and public-space harassment intervention. Its bystander and culture-change training methodology intersects with SAFE Bar's mission and represents an adjacent competitor in the broader prevention-training space.
• Green Dot Etc. Green Dot is a bystander-intervention training program that teaches communities and workplaces how to prevent violence and harassment. It competes with SAFE Bar in the broader bystander-training market and could expand into nightlife venues as the category grows.

Direct peers

• TAM (Techniques of Alcohol Management): TAM is an established alcohol management training program used by bars, restaurants, and alcohol retailers to train staff on responsible service and intervention. It is a comparable compliance-oriented training product targeting the same nightlife venue customers as SAFE Bar Network.
• ServSafe Alcohol (National Restaurant Association): ServSafe Alcohol is the dominant responsible alcohol-service certification program administered by the National Restaurant Association and widely required by state regulators. It directly competes with SAFE Bar Training for the same venue-compliance training budget and could easily add bystander modules to its existing curriculum.
• TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS): TIPS is a leading alcohol server and seller training program sold to bars, restaurants, and retailers to promote responsible beverage service. It is the most direct commercial analog to SAFE Bar Training, with overlapping content on intervention, de-escalation, and over-service prevention for hospitality staff.

Regional players

• Drinkaware (UK): Drinkaware is a UK-based alcohol-harm charity funded by the drinks industry that promotes responsible drinking through education and venue partnerships. It is structurally similar to SAFE Bar Network — industry-funded, training-oriented, hospitality-targeted — but operates in the UK rather than the US market.

Broad incumbents

• Responsibility.org (Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility): Responsibility.org is a national nonprofit funded by leading distillers and suppliers to fight drunk driving and underage drinking. It shares SAFE Bar Network's beverage-industry-funded nonprofit structure and shared mission of responsible alcohol service, but operates at a broader policy level rather than training individual venues.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtiktok.com/@safebarnetwork
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCR2TDklMJYbG8rAonSd7X2A
• Facebookfacebook.com/safebarnetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/safebarnetwork
• Instagraminstagram.com/safebarnetwork
• TikToktiktok.com/@safebarnetwork

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Safe Bar Network