What Porkbelly Ventures, Llc does

Pork Belly Ventures, LLC is a family-owned charter, outfitter, and mobile-support company headquartered in Council Bluffs, Iowa, with its operational workshop and 'Pork World Headquarters' in nearby Minden, Iowa. Founded in 1994 by the brother/sister team of Pete Phillips and Tammy Pavich — who wrote the company name on a bar napkin and started with 100 riders, one rented baggage truck, and approximately four crew members — the company now operates with a part-time crew of over 100 during events and has served approximately 1,400 riders annually on RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa) for the past several years.

The core offering is comprehensive weeklong support for multi-day cycling tours: baggage transport, reserved campsites, hot private air-conditioned showers, catered dinners, live music, bike mechanics, massage therapy, yoga, phone-charging, e-bike charging, and a SAG motor coach service, priced at $614 per rider and $774 per non-rider. Supporting infrastructure is largely proprietary and custom-built in-house over nearly three decades — including shower trailers (which the company was first to offer on RAGBRAI), the 'Royal Flush' 20-foot flushing restroom trailer, phone/charging trailers, and PHAT Rooms (mobile hotel-grade accommodations on semi-trailers, now at six units with a seventh under construction). Layered revenue streams include tent rental ($605 per tent), PHAT Room rentals, shuttle services to/from Omaha and Des Moines, midweek laundry, indoor sleeping, and a Bike Flights partnership for bike shipping.

Revenue mechanics are predominantly event-ticket driven via online registration on pkbelly.com, with an annual billing cadence tied to a six-month operating season (May–October) covering RAGBRAI, four self-organized signature rides (Bicycling Around Minnesota, Pony Express Gravel Dash, Arkansas Graveler), about a dozen contracted Midwestern bike tours, running events, music festivals, steam-engine shows, and motorcycle and snowmobile rallies. There is no external funding; the company is privately held, owner-operated, and explicitly structured around family involvement (Phillips' three children, wife Kay, brother-in-law Mike Pavich), a year-round core crew of six, and a referral-based recruitment model for seasonal staff.

Name

Porkbelly Ventures, Llc

Legal name

Pork Belly Ventures, LLC

Website

https://pkbelly.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Pork Belly Ventures is a family-owned Iowa company founded in 1994 that builds and operates custom mobile infrastructure — shower, restroom, charging, and hotel trailers — to provide weeklong charter and outfitter support for RAGBRAI and other Midwestern cycling events, serving approximately 1,400 riders per year.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Event Support Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (56152), Recreational Goods Rental (532284)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Cycling Events (Road Races, Gran Fondos, Sportives) (MPAKAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bike Rental, Demo & Tour Operators (Retail-Adjacent) (CRAMAHAJ), Cycling, Mountain Biking & E-bike Adventures (THAJABAF)

Keywords

• Cycling event services
• Mobile event infrastructure
• Charter bike tours
• Outdoor event support
• Cycling outfitter services

Headquarters

HQ city

Council Bluffs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Weeklong Support Services: Primary revenue stream providing comprehensive support for RAGBRAI and other cycling events including baggage transport, campsites, showers, meals, entertainment, and amenities. $614 per rider, $774 per non-rider.
2. Tent Rental Service: Optional rental tent service with setup done by PBV crew. $605 per tent for one or two occupants, additional $100 for third occupant.
3. Shuttle Services: Pre and post RAGBRAI transportation from Omaha, Des Moines, and East/West shuttle services.
4. Add-on Services: SAG service ($40), midweek laundry service ($35), indoor sleeping ($25/night), massage therapy, optional suppers in camp, cold beverages.
5. Bike Shipping: Partnership with Bike Flights for shipping bikes to and from RAGBRAI.
6. PHAT Room Rentals: Mobile hotel rooms available for rent outside RAGBRAI for family reunions, sporting events, or outdoor multi-day events. Price varies by length of rental and location.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Porkbelly Ventures provides charter, outfitter, and mobile support services for long-distance cycling events, most notably RAGBRAI. Its core offering is the Weeklong Support package, which delivers baggage transport, reserved campsites, hot private showers, catered dinners, live music, phone and e-bike charging, on-site bike mechanics, massage therapy, SAG service, and access to PHAT Room mobile hotel accommodations for approximately 1,400 riders each July.

Product overview

Porkbelly Ventures operates as a cycling event service provider offering a portfolio of products centered around RAGBRAI charter services and organized cycling tours in the Midwest. The core offering is the Weeklong Support package for RAGBRAI, supplemented by various modules including PHAT Rooms (mobile hotel accommodations), Rental Tent Service, Shuttle Services, and Partial Week Support. PBV also operates its own signature cycling events (BAM, Pony Express Gravel Dash, Arkansas Graveler) and offers Custom Rides for groups. All services are supported by proprietary mobile infrastructure including custom-built shower trailers, restroom trailers, and charging trailers. The company also provides a smartphone app for event navigation and updates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RAGBRAI Charter Service (Weeklong Support) Weeklong charter service for RAGBRAI providing mobile camp infrastructure, baggage transport, reserved campsites, hot private showers, catered dinners, live music, phone and e-bike charging, on-site bike mechanics, massage therapy, SAG service, and camp amenities for approximately 1,400 riders each July.
• Partial Week Support Flexible pro-rated support for riders participating in only consecutive days of a multi-day cycling event, priced at $95 per person per day.
• PHAT Rooms (Portable Hotel Accommodation Trailers) Mobile hotel-style guest rooms on semi-trailers with queen or twin bed configurations, air-conditioning, carpeting, electrical outlets, and linens. Available for rent at non-RAGBRAI events (family reunions, sporting events, multi-day outdoor events) with limited availability and a waitlist on RAGBRAI.
• Rental Tent Service Professional tent setup and takedown service for riders, with PBV crew handling daily setup at each overnight town and baggage transport included. Available only to weeklong-support riders at $605 per tent for one or two occupants.
• Shuttle Services Pre- and post-RAGBRAI motor coach transportation from Omaha Eppley Airport, Des Moines airport hotels, and East/West end-town to start-town routes, plus midweek enter/exit shuttle options.
• Bicycling Around Minnesota (BAM) PBV-operated 5-day supported cycling ride across Minnesota scheduled August 12-16, 2026, featuring the company's mobile infrastructure and crew on Midwest rail-trails.
• Pony Express Gravel Dash PBV-operated 1-day gravel cycling event scheduled September 12, 2026, supported by the company's mobile infrastructure.
• Arkansas Graveler PBV-operated 6-day gravel cycling event scheduled October 6-11, 2026, supported by the company's mobile infrastructure.
• Custom Rides Bespoke fully supported cycling events for private groups and cycling clubs on trails or routes of their choosing, with PBV providing full mobile support infrastructure and crew.
• Mobile Infrastructure Trailers (Shower, Restroom, Charging) Custom-built mobile infrastructure trailers available for contracted use at third-party events, providing hot showers with private dressing stalls, flushing restroom facilities, and secure phone/device charging.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served approximately 1,400 riders each July for past several years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Bike FlightsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Bike Flights to provide bike shipping to and from RAGBRAI. PBV has done the lion's share of bike shipping to and from RAGBRAI through this partnership. They work together to keep costs down and provide excellent service.
• Moores PortablesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides contracted porta-toilets for PBV campsites during events.
• Partner Bike ShopminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull-service bike shop partner that sets up in camp daily from 3 PM to help with minor repairs and major repairs after they get off the daily route.
• Local Caterers and VendorsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPBV works with local caterers in each overnight town for evening meals. They invite LOCAL breakfast and lunch vendors into campsites, working strictly with LOCAL caterers to benefit host communities and riders alike.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Trek Travel: Premium cycling tour operator running guided multi-day cycling trips across the U.S. and internationally with full logistical support. Highly comparable to PBV in the experience-oriented, supported cycling tour model, though it operates at much larger scale and broader geography.
• DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co. Boutique cycling tour operator focused on small-group, fully supported rides with high-touch service. Comparable to PBV in delivering premium, supported multi-day cycling experiences to enthusiast riders.
• Escape Adventures: Cycling tour operator specializing in supported mountain bike and gravel tours across North America. Comparable to PBV in supported, multi-day cycling tour delivery, especially in the gravel format that overlaps with PBV's own rides.
• VBT Bicycling Vacations: Long-running guided cycling vacation company offering fully supported bike tours across the U.S. and Europe. Comparable to PBV in the all-inclusive supported cycling experience model.
• RAGBRAI Charters (other private operators): Multiple small private operators (e.g., Bike World Iowa, various individually-operated charters) provide competing RAGBRAI charter services with similar bag-transport, camping, and shower support. These are PBV's closest direct competitors for RAGBRAI riders, though they generally lack PBV's custom-built infrastructure scale.
• Adventure Cycling Association: Nonprofit that organizes supported cross-state cycling tours and routes. Comparable to PBV in producing multi-day, supported group rides with established event infrastructure, though more route-led and less amenity-led.
• Bicycle Adventures: Family-owned supported cycling tour company running multi-day bike tours in the U.S. and abroad. Comparable to PBV in the family-operated, supported multi-day tour model and enthusiast-rider customer base.

Emerging players

• Pedal the Plains / Colorado Classic (event organizers): Multi-day cycling event organizers that contract mobile support vendors. Comparable to PBV on the B2B event-support side of the business, representing the kind of organizers PBV could serve as it expands its mobile infrastructure rental capabilities.

Regional players

• Country Cycling Tours: Midwest-focused cycling tour operator offering supported bike tours in rural U.S. settings. Comparable to PBV in geography and customer base, though with less custom-built infrastructure and a different scale.

Broad incumbents

• Backroads: Established active-travel company offering cycling, walking, and family trips with full support. Comparable to PBV in delivering supported, amenity-rich cycling experiences, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pork-belly-ventures

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Porkbelly Ventures, Llc