Green Bean Studios
Green Bean Studios is a Manchester-based children's edutainment studio developing the proprietary Green Bean IP across books, ECO toys, music, animated/live-action video, and live events for children from birth to seven, sold via D2C e-commerce, retail partners including Waterstones, and digital streaming platforms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersTrafford Park, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Green Bean Studios does
Green Bean Studios Ltd is a Manchester-based, founder-led children's edutainment studio that develops the proprietary Green Bean IP across retail, media, and live experiences for children from birth to seven years. Its core product is the Green Bean Collection®, a collectable series of children's books, ECO toys (developed in partnership with Lancaster University's Eco Innovation Centre using natural, biodegradable materials), games, and merchandise aligned with the UK Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework. The company extends the same IP into screen-based formats via the Green Bean & Friends™ sub-brand, including live-action storytelling on YouTube Kids, an in-development 2D animated series (11 min x 26 episodes with £250K R&D budget), a six-part Precious Moments TV series, and children's music productions such as the Time To Dance album distributed on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.
The business operates a hybrid go-to-market combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce through the Green Bean Collection shop, wholesale distribution via national retailer Waterstones, digital streaming and YouTube Kids distribution, community-building through the Precious Moments Ambassadors campaign, and emerging IP licensing and franchising. Customer segments are primarily parents/caregivers and early years educators (teachers, nursery staff, SEND specialists), with secondary reach into grandparents, retailers/distributors, and broadcasters. Strategic partners include the National Literacy Trust, Action for Children, KPMG (Black Entrepreneurs Award 2024), Innovate UK (£50K Inclusive Innovation Award), the Centre for Sustainable Innovation at the University of Salford, and local councils across Greater Manchester for community outreach.
The company is privately held, founder-controlled by Anita Frost (described as a multiple award-winning entrepreneur with 20+ years of child development expertise), and is registered as a UK private limited company. Between 2020 and 2024 it grew headcount from 2 to 26 and raised £287,000 cumulatively across grants, awards, angel investment, and local economic grants, with an additional £100,000 secured in 2024 alongside a reported 162% year-over-year sales increase. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.
Green Bean Studios firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Green Bean Studios
- Legal name
- Green Bean Studios Ltd
- Website
- https://greenbeanstudios.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Green Bean Studios is a Manchester-based children's edutainment studio developing the proprietary Green Bean IP across books, ECO toys, music, animated/live-action video, and live events for children from birth to seven, sold via D2C e-commerce, retail partners including Waterstones, and digital streaming platforms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Green Bean Studios industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Children's Edutainment Products
- NAICS
- Office Supplies, Stationery, and Gift Retailers (4594)
- SIC
- Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944), Dolls & Stuffed Toys (3942)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Children’s Activity & Practice Books (Workbooks, Puzzles, Handwriting) (EDAGAIAE)
Keywords
Where Green Bean Studios is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Trafford Park
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Green Bean Studios business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Retail & Product Sales: Sale of ECO toys, children's books, games, and merchandise through own e-commerce storefront and wholesale to retailers. Collectible series achieving retail sales across USA, UK, Scotland, and Ireland with established prototypes for expansion into eco clothing, apparel, and merchandise licensing.
- Media/EdTech Content: YouTube Kids content (live-action storytelling), TV series development, and animated content licensing. Revenue from advertising on video platforms and future licensing to broadcasters.
- Music Productions: Children's music album sales and streaming through Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. VIP demo events and future music-related entertainment.
- Live Events & Attractions: Immersive events, author events, brand engagements, storytelling sessions, and planned visitor attractions. Community-building through Precious Moments Ambassadors campaign.
- IP Licensing & Franchising: Licensing of Green Bean IP for merchandise, franchise opportunities, and visitor attractions. Expansion planned for eco lines clothing/apparel merchandise licensing, franchise opportunities, and visitor attractions.
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels10 records
Green Bean Studios product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Green Bean Studios develops and sells a collectable children's edutainment product line called the Green Bean Collection®, comprising children's books, eco-friendly toys, and games featuring the Green Bean & Friends characters. The studio also produces multimedia content for young children, including a live-action YouTube Kids storytelling series, the 'Time To Dance' children's music album, and an in-development 2D animated TV series, all designed to support early childhood learning aligned with the UK's EYFS framework.
Product overview
Green Bean Studios is an award-winning edutainment studio that creates a multi-product portfolio spanning Retail (Green Bean Collection® featuring eco toys, books, and games), Media/EdTech (TV series, animation, and music productions), and Immersive Events/Attractions. The core product is the Green Bean Collection®—a collectable series of children's books and eco toys aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework. Media offerings include the Green Bean & Friends™ brand featuring YouTube Kids content, animated series in development, and music albums. All products share a unified mission to encourage children from birth to seven to play, learn, and have outdoor adventures while promoting sustainability and literacy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Green Bean Collection: Collectable series of children's books, toys, games and entertainment - the company's core retail brand
- Green Bean & Friends
- Green Bean TV
- Green Bean Music
- Precious Moments Ambassadors
Products and services
- Green Bean Collection® A collectable series of children's books, eco-friendly toys, and games featuring the Green Bean & Friends characters, designed to help preschool children (approximately 0-7 years) learn and develop through fun adventures with a multi-sensory, SEN-supportive approach.
- Time To Dance Music Album Green Bean Studios' debut children's music album, released after a private showcase, featuring tracks built around the Green Bean & Friends characters and stories to extend the brand into the audio/music category.
- Green Bean Storytelling (YouTube Kids Live-Action Series) A live-action storytelling series hosted on YouTube Kids featuring fun adventures for preschool children aged 2-5 years, hosted by Green Bean Studios as part of the Green Bean & Friends multimedia content offering.
Quantifiable outcome
- 162% increase in sales year-over-year
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Green Bean Studios
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Green Bean Studios technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Green Bean Studios partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Masood Entrepreneurship CentreminorUniversity of Manchester's entrepreneurship centre hosting Female Founders Network event featuring Green Bean Studios founder Anita Frost on Women in Social Entrepreneurship.
- Women in Business SocietyminorStudent society collaboration for Female Founders Network special edition event on Women in Social Entrepreneurship.
- National Literacy TrustcoreStrategic partnership with National Literacy Trust for literacy initiatives and Earth Day campaigns, supporting the company's mission to encourage reading among children.
- Christian HughesminorYouTube Kids expert Christian Hughes partnered with Green Bean Studios to provide expertise in children's digital content distribution.
- Centre for Sustainable Innovation - University of SalfordcorePartnership with University of Salford's Centre for Sustainable Innovation supporting Green Bean Studios' sustainability initiatives and children's brand development.
- Action For ChildrencoreNational charity partnership supporting children and families, aligned with Green Bean Studios' community outreach and ambassador programs.
- EurekaminorPartnership with Eureka (The National Children's Museum) for children's entertainment and educational content collaboration.
- Centre for Global InnovationminorInnovation-focused partnership supporting global expansion and creative development initiatives.
- Lancaster UniversitycoreAcademic partnership including Eco Innovation Centre collaboration to research and develop ECO books and toys using sustainable and biodegradable materials.
- Manchester Metropolitan UniversityminorUniversity partnership supporting research, development, and talent collaboration in the creative sector.
- WaterstonescoreNational book retailer partnership for retail distribution of Green Bean Collection books and products across UK stores.
- Creative UKcorePartnership with Creative UK supporting the creative sector business and UK economy contribution.
- Local Councils across Greater ManchestercorePartnerships with local councils across Greater Manchester supporting community outreach, ambassador engagement, and children's development initiatives.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Green Bean Studios competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Moonbug Entertainment: Digital children's entertainment company (CoComelon, Little Baby Bum) specializing in preschool content distribution and IP licensing. Comparable as a children-focused content plus licensing business.
- Bluey (BBC Studios / Ludo Studio): Australian-British preschool animated series with global merchandising, toy lines, and licensed products. Comparable format (animated preschool), demographic (2-7), and integrated consumer-products play.
- CoComelon (Moonbug Entertainment): Leading digital-first preschool content brand with massive YouTube Kids viewership and broad merchandise licensing. Comparable target audience and content-to-product monetization model.
- Ladybird Books (Penguin Random House): Heritage UK children's imprint producing books for early-years and preschool audiences, including EYFS-aligned titles. Comparable as an early-years book brand targeting parents and educators.
- Aardman Animations: UK-based animation studio with globally recognized preschool IP (Shaun the Sheep, Timmy Time). Comparable as a UK-headquartered children's animation studio pursuing merchandising and licensing, though substantially larger and more established than Green Bean.
- Peppa Pig (Hasbro / Entertainment One): Iconic global preschool animated IP with extensive toy, book, and licensing empire. Comparable as a foundational preschool character franchise spanning TV, publishing, and consumer products.
- Paw Patrol (Spin Master): Multi-format preschool property combining animated TV with a major toy and merchandise line. Comparable integrated IP-toy strategy targeting the same early-years demographic.
- Hey Duggee (Studio AKA / BBC): Award-winning British preschool animated series with strong educational positioning and merchandise tie-ins. Comparable to Green Bean & Friends in format, age target, and EYFS-aligned content strategy.
Direct peers
- Usborne Publishing: Independent UK children's book publisher with strong educational and activity-book catalog, sold globally. Comparable as an independent UK publisher of children's activity, sticker, and educational books targeting early-years consumers.
- Tonies: Audio storytelling system for young children with proprietary character figurines and curated audio content. Directly comparable to Green Bean's multi-format (toy + audio/content + collectible) preschool IP strategy and target age range.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Green Bean Studios social profiles
Digital presenceGreen Bean Studios financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Green Bean Studios leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Green Bean Studios funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Green Bean Studios M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Green Bean Studios
What does Green Bean Studios do?
Green Bean Studios develops and sells a collectable children's edutainment product line called the Green Bean Collection®, comprising children's books, eco-friendly toys, and games featuring the Green Bean & Friends characters. The studio also produces multimedia content for young children, including a live-action YouTube Kids storytelling series, the 'Time To Dance' children's music album, and an in-development 2D animated TV series, all designed to support early childhood learning aligned with the UK's EYFS framework.
Is Green Bean Studios a public or private company?
Green Bean Studios is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Green Bean Studios founded?
Green Bean Studios was founded in 2004. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Green Bean Studios based?
Green Bean Studios is headquartered in Trafford Park, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Green Bean Studios make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Retail & Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are media/EdTech Content, music Productions, live Events & Attractions and IP Licensing & Franchising.
Who are Green Bean Studios's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Moonbug Entertainment, Bluey (BBC Studios / Ludo Studio), CoComelon (Moonbug Entertainment), Ladybird Books (Penguin Random House), Aardman Animations, Peppa Pig (Hasbro / Entertainment One), Paw Patrol (Spin Master) and Hey Duggee (Studio AKA / BBC). Direct peers are Usborne Publishing and Tonies.
Does Green Bean Studios have an API?
No public API is recorded for Green Bean Studios.
What industry is Green Bean Studios in?
Green Bean Studios's product category is Children's Edutainment Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGAIAE, Children’s Activity & Practice Books (Workbooks, Puzzles, Handwriting). Its NAICS code is 4594 and its SIC code is 3944.