Acquisition led by BVC CEO Chris Barton is rooted in the loss of his daughter, Alexis Christine Barton, and his commitment to preventing drowning across every type of water environment

DALLAS, Sept. 16, 2026 – Barton Venture Capital (“BVC”) today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of Wave Systems Inc. (“WAVE”) in a strategic purchase led by BVC CEO Chris Barton. The acquisition brings WAVE under Barton’s direct leadership and sets the company on a new path: building a comprehensive, AI-powered drowning prevention platform that combines wearable and camera-based technology to protect swimmers across clear and dark water — from commercial pools and public waterfronts to residential backyards. WAVE’s Board of Directors and ninety shareholders have approved the transaction which is scheduled to close in the next several weeks.

For Barton, the acquisition is personal.

“Every public pool, camp, lake, waterfront and home pool deserves modern tools to protect swimmers.” said Chris Barton, CEO of Barton Venture Capital. “That’s the platform we have built and will expand globally.”

“In 2003, I lost my daughter Alexis in a lakefront drowning accident. That day is what eventually led me to WAVE, and it’s what drives this acquisition today,” said Chris Barton, CEO of BVC. “As a technology entrepreneur for more than 35 years, my goal is to rapidly expand WAVE with powerful AI tools that give every public pool, camp, lake, waterfront and home pool the tools to prevent the kind of tragedy my family experienced — so other families don’t have to carry what we carry.”

Barton first became involved with WAVE in 2024 as a board member and BVC investor and was named CEO in 2025. He led the company’s transition to an affordable, subscription-based, hardware-as-a-service model — GUARDian℠ — built around wearable IoT devices worn by swimmers and lifeguards. Today, WAVE is the largest digital assistive lifeguard technology provider in North America, with systems deployed across 40 U.S. states and Canada.

A Platform for Every Body of Water

Barton’s vision is to grow WAVE into a comprehensive, AI-driven assistive lifeguard platform for every type of water environment. Building on WAVE’s existing wearable IoT technology, the company is now adding AI-powered, camera-based systems for commercial pool operators and residential pools. The goal is a single, one-stop platform that brings modern drowning detection technology to any body of water — whether professionally staffed or largely unsupervised.

New AI Camera-Based Safety Solution

As part of this expanded mission, WAVE has introduced WAVE Vision℠, an AI camera-based solution that supports lifeguards and monitor swimmers in real time. Paired with Wade, WAVE’s AI-powered prompting assistant, pool operators can use voice or typed commands to query recorded video for lifeguard and swimmer performance, safety compliance, and other activity on and around the pool deck.

DROWNING STATISTICS

Drowning is the #1 cause of accidental injury-related death for children under the age of five. It is the #2 cause for ages 1-14. The CDC says in swimming pools, Black children ages 10-14 years drown at rates 7.6 times higher than White children.

Drowning Facts | Drowning Prevention | CDC.

About Barton Venture Capital

Barton Venture Capital is led by Chris Barton, a technology entrepreneur and investor whose career spans building and backing companies across some of today’s most consequential sectors, including SaaS, artificial intelligence, nuclear energy, water technology, quantum computing, healthcare, and telecommunications. Barton brings an operator’s perspective to every investment, having built and sold technology businesses himself before turning to investing and helping other founders scale theirs. Through BVC, he continues to identify and grow technology companies solving significant, real-world problems — most recently with the acquisition of Wave Systems Inc. to build a comprehensive, AI-powered platform to end preventable drowning.

About Wave Systems Inc.

Wave Systems Inc. (“WAVE”) is the largest digital assistive lifeguard technology provider in North America, with systems deployed across 40 U.S. states and Canada. WAVE’s products protect swimmers in both clear and dark water using wireless IoT wearables and AI-powered, camera-based solutions. Under new ownership, WAVE is expanding into a full-scale drowning detection platform serving commercial and residential pool applications nationwide, with plans for continued international expansion.

Media Contact
Chris Barton, Managing Partner
Barton Venture Capital
210 S. Galena St. Ste 25
Aspen, CO 81611
1-970-742-2000
[email protected] 

The New England Plunge Pool Pioneer Expands Its Offerings with Pool Pairings Designed for the Modern Outdoor Retreat

Pembroke, N.H. — September 2026 — Soake Pools, the renowned New England-based plunge pool manufacturer, introduces its first Dual Pool packages, responding directly to the growing appetite for at-home wellness and outdoor spaces designed with the same intention as any room in the home.

The four made-to-order, pre-cast concrete Dual Pool pairings give homeowners and designers a clear starting point for a complete outdoor water experience. Each pairing was carefully designed around a different wellness ritual or activity circuit, from hot and cold contrast therapy to the natural progression of swimming, soaking, and recovery:

• The Soake Sanctuary, Full 7×13 Plunge + 7×7 Hot Tub—Swim, soak, and settle into a layered experience that moves from light activity to deep, restorative warmth. A complete escape at home.
• Hot + Cold, Warm 7×13 Full Plunge + 4×4 Cold Plunge—A daily reset designed to energize and restore. Move from swim to cold immersion for a ritual that sharpens focus and leaves you completely recharged.
• Contrast Therapy, 7×7 Hot tub + 4×4 Cold Plunge—Inspired by the boutique spa, this pairing brings the ease of a hot tub together with the invigorating clarity of cold immersion in a grounding ritual for everyday life.
• Recovery Set, 4×4 + 4×4 Dual Plunge—Minimal in form and striking in presence, two cold plunges set side by side for shared ritual, athletic recovery, or repeated immersion.

“Soake Pools are personal, designed to reflect each homeowner and the way they live,” explains Soake Pools Co-Founder, Karen Larson. “The Dual Pool packages are all about year-round flexibility and adaptability, with different pairings designed to seamlessly complement almost any lifestyle and routine, from daily wellness and relaxation to athletic recovery.”

Each pool is custom-made with proprietary concrete for year-round use, hand-tiled by an in-house team of artisans, and shipped from Soake’s New Hampshire facility ready to install. 

Soake Pools have always been designed to give homeowners a place that feels entirely their own. Whether that means quiet solitude or entertaining, its latest offerings make each unique vision even more attainable.

To learn more about the new dual pool packages and in-house tile collection, please contact [email protected]. For more information about Soake Pools, please visit soakepools.com.

About Soake Pools: Co-founded by Karen and Brian Larson in 2014, Soake® Pools disrupted the industry as the first company to offer hand-tiled precast concrete plunge pools for the home. Today, Soake Pools is the leading prefabricated plunge pool manufacturer in North America, designing luxury, space-saving pools for year-round use and enjoyment. At Soake Pool’s New England facility, its plunge pools are made to order in a controlled environment using proprietary concrete and state-of-the-art tile, continually setting the standard with new dimensions, luxury finishes, and innovations in quality control, safety and usability with impressive turnaround timelines. Fully customizable and delivered ready to install, each Soake Pool is equipped for hot dips in the winter and cooling soaks in the summer, with cold plunge and resistance system offerings that support athletic recovery and enhance at-home wellness routines. The monolithic concrete design offers accessibility in size and pricing, while saltwater filtration, low water usage, and variable speed pumps support sustainability, require less maintenance, and lower costs. Delivering backyard luxury retreats with demonstrated ROI in home value, Soake Pools offer countless physical and mental wellness benefits at a fraction of the footprint and expense of a traditional pool.

Media Contact:
UpSpring
T: 646.722.8146
E: [email protected]

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona (August 31, 2026) – Dansons Capital Group, in partnership with Accrual Equity Partners (AEP) and Hydro Construction (HydroCon), completed the acquisition of Shasta Pools, Phoenix Metro’s most recognized pool builder, and announced an immediate expansion into the broader home services market with plans to grow the brand into a national powerhouse. Founded in 1966 by brothers Bob and Skip Ast, the third-generation, family-owned pool business has built or renovated more than 150,000 pools across Maricopa County and is among the country’s top premier pool builders. The acquisition, finalized August 6, positions the company with a competitive edge as it enters a new phase of accelerated growth

Building on Shasta’s track record of success, the ownership group will grow the company’s core business divisions, including residential and commercial pool construction and renovation, Shasta Signature Series luxury pool designs, backyard hardscaping solutions, extended warranties, and e-commerce supplies. The deal also directs new capital into Shasta’s high-volume, recurring pool maintenance business, establishing a scalable foundation for an expanded home services portfolio. 

Expanding the Home Services Model

Shasta Pools will also debut Shasta Home Services, the first step in the company’s expansion into a comprehensive home services platform. Shasta enters the space with more than 200,000 customer relationships, route density in Central Arizona, and a 60-year brand homeowners have entrusted with their homes. The company plans to aggressively expand the platform organically and through partnership across the essential services every home depends on.

In addition, work has begun on a new, state-of-the-art design center and headquarters in Scottsdale that will centralize operations and give customers a welcoming, creative atmosphere to reimagine their yards. The campus will also anchor a technology-driven contact center staffed by a world-class team that creates a single point of contact for every Shasta customer, from pool service to the company’s expanding home services platform.

A Partnership Rooted in Shared Values

Dansons Capital Group, a family business led by CEO Dan Thiessen, President Jeff Thiessen, and COO Jordan Thiessen, built and grew a portfolio of backyard-focused businesses including Pit Boss Grills, which they scaled into a worldwide brand before selling in June 2023. 

Jeff Thiessen sparked a relationship with the Ast family during the construction of his own backyard pool, a personal experience that gave him firsthand insight into the industry’s potential. Recognizing the Ast family’s shared values and significant opportunity with strategic investment, he partnered with AEP and HydroCon to pursue that growth together.

“Shasta Pools has national industry brand recognition and has been an Arizona legacy for the last 60 years and we’re excited to reinvest in the company and catapult its growth into the next 60 years,” said Jeff Thiessen, President, Dansons Capital Group. “We’ve already met with more than 200 employees to learn what they love about Shasta Pools and hear their ideas of how we can grow the company and continue providing our customers with amazing customer service.”

Dan Thiessen will serve as Chairman and lead the new ownership team to identify and hire top industry talent and grow Shasta’s home services platform to develop it into a national brand.  

Legacy Preserved, Future Secured

“This was the right time to bring in a new ownership team to take Shasta Pools to the next level and the next generation of growth,” said Skip Ast Jr., who served as president at Shasta Pools. “My father and my family built this company on a commitment to quality to every homeowner who trusted us with their backyard, their budget, and their own family. We’re confident that the new leadership team’s commitment to uphold that will never change. Knowing this team shares our values and will invest in our team gives Shasta Pools the foundation to grow stronger than ever.”

Ast helped build Shasta Pools to a dominant force in the industry, with multiple divisions topping $100 million in combined revenue. The company holds membership in the prestigious Master Pools Guild, one of only 110 members globally.

A Different Approach to Private Equity

“Partnering with Shasta Pools represents the future of home services. A trusted, generational brand, Shasta brings 200,000 loyal customer relationships with a genuine commitment to the people who serve them every day,” said Jacob Tilzer, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Accrual Equity Partners. “Together with our partners at Dansons Capital Group and Hydro Construction, we all share a belief that enduring businesses are built on trust, earned one customer at a time. We’re proud to build alongside this team as Shasta grows into a nationwide home services brand.”

The new ownership group brings more than 150 years of combined expertise in building, scaling, and optimizing service industry brands. Each company shares a faith-based approach to business grounded in stewardship, integrity, and care for the communities they serve. Shasta Pools’ brand will continue its community programs, including swim lessons, support for foster care, and initiatives serving first responders. 

ABOUT DANSONS CAPITAL GROUP:

Dansons Capital Group, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a family-owned and family-managed investment firm built on shared values, integrity and long-term vision. The firm was established by the founders of Dansons, Inc., the company that launched and sold Pit Boss Grills. The company takes a hands-on approach, actively seeking opportunities across global markets and multiple asset classes. Its growing portfolio includes strategic real estate development holdings across multiple countries, oil drilling technologies, and limited partnership investments. Guided by a deep commitment to quality and the communities they serve, the Thiessen family leads with gratefulness for the blessings God has given them and in turn supports those less fortunate. Dansons Capital Group continues to identify and cultivate opportunities that reflect their family’s values and generational vision.

ABOUT ACCRUAL EQUITY PARTNERS:

Accrual Equity Partners (AEP) is a founder-led, privately funded private equity group built on the belief that every person, every percentage, and every product matters. This commitment, known as the “Power of One,” drives AEP’s mission to empower businesses and secure legacies across fragmented, service-based industries. AEP partners with founder-led and family-owned businesses to overcome barriers and unlock their full potential through strategic investment, operational performance enhancement, and advisory services. For more information, visit accrualequitypartners.com/

ABOUT SHASTA POOLS:

Shasta Pools is Arizona’s trusted name in custom pool building, proudly serving the Valley since 1966. For 60 years, Shasta has transformed backyards into beautiful, functional spaces where families relax, entertain and enjoy life. The company specializes in new pool construction, remodeling, pool service and landscape design with plans for expansion into the home services market to provide customers with complete home care solutions. Learn more at ShastaPools.com.

ABOUT HYDRO CONSTRUCTION:

Hydro Construction, LLC (HydroCon) was founded in 1986 to serve Arizona’s commercial pool construction and renovation market. Under the leadership of Curt Lonsdale, the company’s commercial pool construction division now manages some of the largest and most complex projects in the country.