WaterBear Network
WaterBear Network operates a free global streaming platform serving a 700,000-plus purpose-driven community with hundreds of environmental and social-impact documentaries, monetizing through brand partnerships and NGO collaborations rather than viewer subscriptions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What WaterBear Network does
WaterBear Network operates a free, ad-free streaming platform dedicated to nature, environmental, and social-impact documentaries, serving a global community of over 700,000 registered users who have generated 17 million-plus cumulative views across hundreds of award-winning titles. The platform is accessible globally via web browsers (app.waterbear.com), mobile devices, and dedicated Smart TV applications, and is differentiated by its "Watch for Impact" feature, which converts viewer watch time into verified real-world outcomes such as plastic bottles removed from oceans (15,000), trees planted (6,500), meals provided (2,026), and charitable donations ($10,000 to Oceans Initiative). Underlying technology is built on third-party SaaS infrastructure rather than proprietary systems: Vimeo OTT delivers video streaming and viewer account management, Google Firebase Authentication handles identity, Google Analytics (with Consent Mode v2) provides audience measurement, Brevo manages email newsletters, and Infomaniak (Switzerland) hosts the MariaDB-backed web and database layer.
The business model is freemium (currently full free access, with the Terms of Use reserving the right to introduce paid features), with revenue generated through brand partnerships (Rolex, Nikon, Patagonia) and NGO/impact organization collaborations (SeaLegacy, Greenpeace, Jane Goodall Institute, Oceans Initiative) rather than direct user payments. Go-to-market is product-led and community-led, combining free self-serve registration, organic social channels (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn), earned media (The Guardian, Forbes, Vogue), and community referral. WaterBear is operated by OurFrame SA, a Swiss non-profit specializing in impact-driven audiovisual production that joined forces with WaterBear in 2025-2026 to bring advanced impact-measurement capabilities to the platform. The company is B Corp certified and has won 14 industry awards for impact-driven storytelling, including a 2026 NYF TV & Film Awards shortlist.
WaterBear Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WaterBear Network
- Legal name
- OurFrame SA
- Website
- https://waterbear.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- WaterBear Network operates a free global streaming platform serving a 700,000-plus purpose-driven community with hundreds of environmental and social-impact documentaries, monetizing through brand partnerships and NGO collaborations rather than viewer subscriptions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WaterBear Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Documentary Streaming
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Video Streaming Platforms (SVOD/AVOD/TVOD) (BPAMAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Creator Analytics, Measurement & Attribution Platforms (MPACABAJ)
Keywords
Where WaterBear Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
WaterBear Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Free Streaming (FVOD): WaterBear provides free documentary streaming to all users. Content is provided on a free-to-watch (FVOD) basis with no subscription fees. The company reserves the right to introduce paid features or subscriptions in the future. Revenue is generated through brand partnerships, NGO collaborations, and impact-driven sponsorships rather than direct user payments.
- Brand Partnerships: WaterBear generates revenue through partnerships with brands (e.g., Rolex, Nikon, Patagonia) who align with environmental and social causes. Brands collaborate to reach WaterBear's purpose-driven audience and support missions that matter through storytelling.
- NGO and Impact Organization Collaborations: WaterBear supports NGOs and impact organizations by providing visibility for their causes through storytelling and an engaged community. Partnerships with organizations like SeaLegacy, Greenpeace, and the Jane Goodall Institute create a network effect that drives platform usage and supporter engagement.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free access to entire documentary catalogue |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
WaterBear Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WaterBear provides a free streaming platform (app.waterbear.com) that hosts hundreds of award-winning nature, environmental, and social-impact documentaries and short films available on demand with no subscription fee. The platform's defining capability is the "Watch for Impact" feature, which converts viewer watch time into verified real-world outcomes such as plastic bottles removed from oceans, trees planted, meals provided, and donations to conservation partners. Content is curated and distributed by OurFrame SA, a Swiss non-profit, and the platform includes dedicated Smart TV applications in addition to web and mobile access.
Product overview
WaterBear Network operates a unified streaming platform focused on nature and environmental documentaries. The core offering is the WaterBear Streaming Platform (accessible via app.waterbear.com), which provides free access to hundreds of award-winning documentaries and short films. The platform's key differentiator is the Watch for Impact feature, which converts viewer watch time into measurable real-world outcomes such as plastic bottle removal, tree planting, and meal donations. WaterBear is accessible via web browsers and dedicated television applications, and is operated by OurFrame SA.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- WaterBear Streaming Platform A free, on-demand streaming platform offering hundreds of award-winning nature, environmental, and social-issue documentaries and short films, accessible globally via web browser, mobile, and dedicated Smart TV applications. Includes the proprietary Watch for Impact capability, where viewing minutes are converted into verified environmental and social outcomes (plastic bottles removed, trees planted, meals provided, donations to conservation partners). Free self-serve registration; no subscription or monthly fee required.
Quantifiable outcome
- 15,000 plastic bottles prevented from reaching the ocean through Watch for Impact campaign
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use WaterBear Network
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
WaterBear Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature2 records
WaterBear Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, support and flagship.
- OurFramecoreWaterBear joined forces with OurFrame, a Swiss non-profit specializing in impact-driven audiovisual production. This collaboration brings advanced expertise in understanding and measuring how stories influence awareness, behaviour, and broader societal transformation. OurFrame now operates WaterBear through OurFrame SA, combining storytelling with impact measurement to make change visible, actionable, and scalable.
- Vimeo, Inc.coreVimeo provides video hosting, streaming delivery, and viewer account management through the Vimeo OTT platform. Video playback on WaterBear is delegated to Vimeo OTT. WaterBear uses Vimeo's infrastructure for video content delivery and viewer authentication.
- Google LLCcoreGoogle provides account creation and sign-in through Google Firebase Authentication, and Google Analytics for anonymous audience measurement. Google Analytics is loaded only with user consent through Google Consent Mode v2.
- Infomaniak Network SAcoreInfomaniak provides web hosting and database services (MariaDB) for WaterBear's infrastructure. Account data is hosted in Switzerland, ensuring data residency compliance.
- Sendinblue SAS (Brevo)supportBrevo is used for sending newsletters to WaterBear subscribers who have actively opted in. Brevo processes email addresses and consent metadata on behalf of WaterBear.
- SeaLegacyflagshipSeaLegacy is an international marine conservation organization that has partnered with WaterBear to share impactful stories about ocean conservation and extend their reach to WaterBear's global audience.
- GreenpeaceflagshipInternational environmental organization using WaterBear's platform to amplify their conservation message and reach WaterBear's engaged, purpose-driven community.
- Jane Goodall InstituteflagshipGlobal wildlife organization partnering with WaterBear to share stories about primate conservation and environmental awareness to WaterBear's global audience.
- RolexcoreLuxury watch brand supporting WaterBear's mission to drive environmental awareness through storytelling and brand partnerships.
- NikoncoreCamera manufacturer supporting filmmakers and environmental storytelling on the WaterBear platform through equipment and promotional partnerships.
- PatagoniacoreOutdoor apparel brand partnering with WaterBear for environmental storytelling, impact campaigns, and mission-aligned brand promotion.
- Oceans InitiativeflagshipMarine conservation organization benefiting from WaterBear's 'Watch for Impact: Protect Marine Mammals' campaign where every minute watched donated $1 to support saving the Pacific Northwest's endangered orcas. Campaign fully funded with $10,000 USD donated.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
WaterBear Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Gaia: Streaming platform offering consciousness, sustainability, and documentary-style content. Highly comparable to WaterBear given its nature/yoga/environmental focus and subscription-based documentary model.
- MagellanTV: Documentary streaming service focused on nature, history, science, and social-issue content. Directly comparable to WaterBear as a niche documentary streaming platform, though MagellanTV is paid subscription whereas WaterBear is FVOD.
- Curiosity Stream: Subscription-based factual and documentary streaming service founded by Discovery's John Hendricks. Closely comparable to WaterBear as a documentary-focused streaming platform targeting curious, mission-adjacent audiences.
- Sundance Now: Streaming service from AMC Networks featuring independent films and documentaries, including nature and social-issue content. Directly comparable to WaterBear in the documentary streaming niche.
- MUBI: Curated film and documentary streaming service with a focus on independent, arthouse, and auteur content. Comparable as a curated documentary/film streaming platform, though priced for cinephiles.
Emerging players
- Documentary+: Smaller, curated documentary streaming service focused on award-winning and independent non-fiction films. Comparable to WaterBear as a niche, documentary-first streaming platform with similar content ethos.
Broad incumbents
- BritBox: Subscription streaming joint venture (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5) offering British programming including nature documentaries. Comparable in the specialty documentary/nature streaming category.
- Crackle: Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment's free ad-supported streaming service with a broad portfolio including documentaries. Comparable to WaterBear as a free, advertising-supported streaming alternative.
- Viaplay: Nordic streaming service with a substantial documentary and nature programming slate. Comparable to WaterBear in the documentary streaming category, though Viaplay serves as a broad incumbent rather than a niche impact-driven platform.
- Tubi: Fox-owned free ad-supported streaming service offering a broad catalog including documentaries. Comparable to WaterBear as a free, ad/sponsorship-supported streaming alternative with overlapping documentary content.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
WaterBear Network social profiles
Digital presenceWaterBear Network compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
WaterBear Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WaterBear Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
WaterBear Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WaterBear Network 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 WaterBear Network
What does WaterBear Network do?
WaterBear provides a free streaming platform (app.waterbear.com) that hosts hundreds of award-winning nature, environmental, and social-impact documentaries and short films available on demand with no subscription fee. The platform's defining capability is the "Watch for Impact" feature, which converts viewer watch time into verified real-world outcomes such as plastic bottles removed from oceans, trees planted, meals provided, and donations to conservation partners. Content is curated and distributed by OurFrame SA, a Swiss non-profit, and the platform includes dedicated Smart TV applications in addition to web and mobile access.
Is WaterBear Network a public or private company?
WaterBear Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was WaterBear Network founded?
WaterBear Network was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is WaterBear Network based?
WaterBear Network is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does WaterBear Network make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Free Streaming (FVOD) is the primary driver. The others are brand Partnerships and NGO and Impact Organization Collaborations.
Who are WaterBear Network's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Gaia, MagellanTV, Curiosity Stream, Sundance Now and MUBI. Documentary+ is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are BritBox, Crackle, Viaplay and Tubi.
Does WaterBear Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for WaterBear Network.
What industry is WaterBear Network in?
WaterBear Network's product category is Documentary Streaming. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAJAA, Video Streaming Platforms (SVOD/AVOD/TVOD), with a secondary code of MPACABAJ, Creator Analytics, Measurement & Attribution Platforms. Its NAICS code is 516210 and its SIC code is 7822.