Iowa Gym-nest

What Iowa Gym-nest does

Iowa Gym-Nest (doing business as IGN) is a privately held, family-owned gymnastics and athletic development facility founded in 1973 in Iowa City/Coralville, Iowa. The company operates two physical locations (2550 Holiday Road, Coralville and 545 Olympic Court, Iowa City) and delivers recreational, developmental, and competitive gymnastics, tumbling, ninja-style, and fitness programs for participants ranging from infants (6 months) to adults. Programs are organized into a structured skill-progression taxonomy with bird-themed levels (Chickadees, Duckies, Blue Jays, Toucans), ninja levels (Wyrmlings, Couatls, Wyverns, Dragons, Hydras), and competitive team tracks including XCEL (Bronze through Diamond), Development Program (Level 3-10), TOPs/Elite, and Tumbling & Trampoline. Specialized offerings include Dragon Spectrum for neurodivergent children, Acro and Tumbling for Dance, HomeSchool Physical Fitness, and an annual High Performance Camp.

Name

Iowa Gym-nest

Legal name

Iowa Gym-Nest

Website

https://iowagymnest.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Iowa Gym-Nest (IGN) is a family-owned gymnastics school founded in 1973 operating two facilities in Iowa City/Coralville, offering recreational and competitive gymnastics, tumbling, ninja, and fitness programs for children and adults.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Gymnastics Training Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Athlete Development & Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) (HSADAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA), Physical Activity & Motor Development Programs (Health-Focused) (EDACAMAI)

Keywords

• Gymnastics training
• Youth gymnastics classes
• Tumbling and trampoline
• Ninja fitness programs
• Competitive gymnastics teams

Headquarters

HQ city

Iowa City

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, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Recreational Gymnastics Classes: Weekly gymnastics classes for children across various age groups and skill levels, from Baby Birds (6 months) through Adult gymnastics. Classes are structured with different skill levels (Chickadees, Duckies, Blue Jays, Toucans, etc.) and meet on weekly schedules.
2. Specialty Programs: Specialty programs including Dragon Ninja courses, Acro and Tumbling for Dance, HomeSchool Physical Fitness, and Dragon Spectrum for neurodivergent students.
3. Camps: Full-day and half-day camps during school breaks including summer camps, No School No Worries camps, and High Performance camps for competitive gymnasts.
4. Birthday Parties: 90-minute birthday party packages where IGN staff sets up, entertains, and cleans up. Price based on number of children attending.
5. Lunch Bunch: Hour-long supervised play sessions offered on a punch card or drop-in basis.
6. Open Gyms: Open gym sessions for children and adults with pay-per-session pricing.
7. Skill Clinics: Specialized skill clinics for athletes ages 6-17 focusing on tumbling skills, offered at $10 per session.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Iowa Gym-nest (IGN) provides recreational and competitive gymnastics, tumbling, ninja, and fitness programs for children (ages 6 months to 17) and adults delivered through weekly classes, camps, birthday parties, open gyms, and skill clinics at two physical facilities. Programs span an inclusive pathway from infant parent-participation classes through beginner and intermediate recreational tracks, into competitive team programs (XCEL, Development, Prep, TOPs/Elite, Tumbling & Trampoline), plus specialized offerings such as Dragon Ninja courses, Acro for Dance, HomeSchool PE, and Dragon Spectrum for neurodivergent students.

Product overview

Iowa Gym-Nest (IGN) offers a comprehensive gymnastics and athletic development program spanning from infants (6 months) to adults, organized into three interconnected layers: recreational classes (Baby Birds through Adult Gymnastics) teaching fundamental to advanced skills across gymnastics, tumbling, trampoline, and ninja-style programs; competitive team tracks (XCEL, Development, Prep, TOPs/Elite, Tumbling & Trampoline) for athletes seeking competition; and special events (birthday parties, camps, open gyms, skill clinics) that provide flexible participation opportunities. The Dragon Spectrum program offers specialized inclusion for neurodivergent students, while the Pre-Team and accelerated programs bridge recreational and competitive paths.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Baby Birds Free weekly 30-minute parent-infant bonding class for babies 6 months to 1 year old, featuring sensory stimulation and physical play activities like rocking, rolling, and tummy time. Requires annual membership.
• Bouncing Birds Parent-participatory class for toddlers who are walking to age 2, featuring motor activities with music and play to support social development.
• Tumble Birds Gymnastics class for boys and girls ages 3-4, focusing on tumbling, trampoline, balance beam, rings, and bars skills with certified teachers.
• Advanced Tumble Birds Invite-only advanced gymnastics class for ages 3-4, building on Tumble Birds curriculum with more advanced skill development.
• Pre-Team Girls Invite-only preparatory class meeting twice weekly for 2 hours, designed to prepare gymnasts for the competitive Team program with advanced skills training.
• Beginner Girls Gymnastics class for girls ages 5-7 covering all Olympic events (vault, bars, balance beam, tumbling, trampoline) with USA Gymnastics certified instructors.
• Intermediate Girls Advanced gymnastics class for girls ages 8-17 focusing on perfecting basic skills, learning advanced skills, and combining multiple skills together.
• Accelerated and Advanced Girls Invite-only two-hour weekly class focusing on continued skill development on Olympic events while introducing advanced skills like back handsprings and tap swings.
• Beginner Boys Gymnastics class for boys ages 5-9 covering vault, single bar, rings, parallel bars, tumbling, and trampoline with USA Gymnastics certified instructors.
• Intermediate Boys Advanced class for boys ages 10-17 focusing on perfecting basic skills, learning advanced skills, and combining multiple skills together.
• Beginner Tumbling & Trampoline One-hour class for boys and girls ages 5-9 covering tumbling and trampolining skills with USA Gymnastics certified instructors.
• Novice/Advanced Tumbling & Trampoline Invite-only 90-minute class for students who have completed Beginner T&T, covering Sparrows, Quails, Pheasants, and Finches levels.
• Dragon Ninja Explore Class for boys and girls ages 3-5 focused on developing basic strength and motor skills through circuits, games, and adventure activities.
• Dragon Ninja Adventure Class for ages 5-8 building strength, balance, and confidence through progressive skill development across Wyrmlings, Couatls, and Wyverns levels.
• Dragon Ninja Challenge Class for boys and girls ages 8-17 featuring challenging skills progression through Couatls, Wyverns, Dragons, and Hydras levels.
• Dragon Spectrum Specialized class for children ages 5-17 with neurodivergent diagnoses, offering a quiet and controlled environment with an obstacle course format and parent/helper participation.
• Adult Gymnastics Drop-in gymnastics class for adults held several Sundays per month, with skills tailored to each participant and included open gym access.
• HomeSchool Physical Fitness Physical fitness class for homeschool children ages 5-12, providing an active option during school hours.
• Acro and Tumbling For Dance One-hour class for dancers ages 7-17 focusing on acro skills from cartwheels to aerials and walkovers to back handsprings, using spring floor, trampolines, and foam pit.
• Birthday Parties 90-minute birthday party packages including 1 hour of gym games and play time plus 30 minutes for food and presents, with IGN staff handling setup and cleanup. Price based on number of children attending.
• Camps Full and half-day camps featuring gymnastics, outdoor play, themed crafts, snacks, and games, with early drop-off and late pick-up options available; includes summer camps, No School No Worries camps, and High Performance camps.
• Lunch Bunch Hour-long unstructured play time in the gym offered Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays at the Coralville location during school year months.
• Open Gyms Open play sessions for anyone under 18 featuring Olympic trampolines, foam pit, spring floor, balance beams, and uneven bars at $20 per session.
• Skill Clinics Specialized tumbling skill clinics for athletes ages 6-17, offered in beginner (walkovers, aerials) and advanced (back handsprings, back tucks) sessions at $10 per session.
• Adult Open Gyms Two-hour open gym sessions for adults only with certified staff assistance available at $5 per person per session.
• High Performance Camp Annual intensive camp for competitive gymnasts levels 2-7 and Xcel gymnasts ages 6-18, featuring 7 hours of gymnastics daily at $425 per gymnast with a $100 deposit and complimentary camp leotard.
• Tumbling and Trampoline Team (Beginner, Advanced) Competitive team groups for male and female athletes competing in USAG, USTA, and AAU meets for Rod Floor, Double Mini, and Trampoline events.
• XCEL Track Competitive team program through Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond levels with minimum 2 practices per week and flexible scheduling.
• Development Program Track Competitive team for Level 3-10 athletes committed to 4-hour practices 3-5 times per week based on level.
• Prep Team Entry-level competitive team for athletes ages 5-9 at Level 2 and Xcel Bronze level, providing a positive first competition experience.
• TOPs/Elite Track Accelerated training program for athletes progressing toward TOPs, Hopes, and Elite levels, requiring high commitment and frequent travel.

Quantifiable outcome

• Produced state champions, national competitors, and well-rounded individuals over 50+ years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TAG Gymnastics: U.S. gymnastics operator with structured recreational class ladders, XCEL/DP competitive teams, and Ninja programming. Strong comparability on Dragon Ninja-style offerings and competitive track structure.
• Gold Medal Gymnastics: Multi-location U.S. gymnastics operator offering recreational classes, competitive teams (XCEL, Development, T&T), and birthday parties. Closely mirrors Iowa Gym-Nest's program stack and revenue model.
• AeroKids Gymnastics: Youth gymnastics and ninja warrior program operator with age-segmented classes, camps, and birthday parties. Comparable early-childhood through pre-teen programming structure and ninja-style curriculum.
• My Gym: Franchise children's fitness and gymnastics program for ages 6 weeks to 10 years. Comparable infant/toddler starting age (similar to Baby Birds and Bouncing Birds), structured weekly classes, and birthday party revenue stream.
• Wright's Gymnastics Academy: Long-established Midwest gymnastics school offering recreational and competitive USAG programs. Comparable 30+ year operating history, multiple competitive tracks, and family-oriented community positioning.
• The Little Gym: Franchise-based youth gymnastics and motor-skill development program for children ages 4 months through 12 years. Highly comparable age-segmented curriculum, birthday party offerings, and progressive skill levels with parallel programming structure to IGN's Baby Birds through Advanced classes.
• ASI Gymnastics: Large U.S. gymnastics club operator with multiple locations offering recreational and competitive gymnastics, tumbling, and ninja-style programming. Directly comparable business model of structured weekly classes, competitive team pathways, camps, and birthday parties.
• Gymnastics Factory: Multi-location gymnastics facility offering recreational and competitive programs plus birthday parties and camps. Similar full-stack youth gymnastics business model with comparable revenue streams.

Regional players

• Cedar Valley Gymnastics Academy: Iowa-based gymnastics club in nearby Cedar Falls/Waterloo serving a similar regional market. Directly comparable recreational-to-competitive program mix; Rec Director Danielle Rowe is a former CVGA gymnast, providing direct lineage to Iowa Gym-Nest.

Broad incumbents

• USAG Member Clubs (national network): USA Gymnastics-affiliated club network (~4,000+ clubs nationwide) within which Iowa Gym-Nest competes. The parent-organization context for credentialing, competitive pathways, and competitive benchmarking.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iowa-gym-nest

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Iowa Gym-nest