Ventureland

What Ventureland does

Ventureland is a privately held creative studio founded in 2020 and headquartered in Culver City, California with a London office. It produces documentary films, documentary series, scripted series, podcasts, and branded content for global streaming platforms and major consumer brands. The company was co-founded by John Battsek, formerly managing director of Passion Pictures, together with Prettybird partners Kerstin Emhoff, Paul Hunter, and Ali Brown, consolidating senior production talent from two of the industry's branded and documentary shops.

The studio's core output is professional production services delivered through project-based engagements rather than a proprietary technology platform. Content is produced across unscripted documentaries ('The Rescue', 'WHAM!', 'Bobi Wine: The People's President'), documentary series ('BECKHAM', 'American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden', 'American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson'), one scripted series ('Government Cheese' on Apple TV+), branded campaigns (Square, Sephora, Ford, Meta, Expedia, LA Rams, Stacy's, Indeed), and podcasts distributed via Audible and Apple Podcasts. Distribution is concentrated with three major streaming buyers — Netflix, Apple TV+, and Hulu — and supported by co-production partnerships with Apple Studios, A24, MACRO, and Studio 99.

Revenue is generated through negotiated project fees across documentary, scripted, branded, and podcast production, with no disclosed standard pricing or recurring SaaS-like model. The company has no disclosed external funding rounds, no parent company, and no publicly reported revenue figures; ownership remains with the four co-founders, with Kerstin Emhoff as CEO and John Battsek as Managing Director. Recent expansion of leadership (Head of Film hire Dan Janvey in November 2024, VP of Strategic Partnerships Jesse Uram in August 2024) signals a build-out of film and partnership infrastructure.

Name

Ventureland

Legal name

Ventureland

Website

https://venture.land

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ventureland is an independently-owned creative studio producing award-winning documentaries, documentary series, scripted series, branded content, and podcasts for streaming platforms such as Netflix, Apple TV+, and Hulu, and major consumer brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Documentary and Film Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Docuseries & Episodic Nonfiction (TV/Streaming) (MPADADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Content Production (Video, Design, Copy, Studio) (BPAFAAAF)

Keywords

• Documentary production
• Branded content production
• Scripted series production
• Podcast production
• Creative studio services

Headquarters

HQ city

Culver City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Production Studio Services: Ventureland generates revenue by producing documentary series, films, podcasts, and branded content for streaming platforms (Netflix, Apple TV+, Hulu), brands (Square, Sephora, Ford, Expedia), and distribution partners. The company was co-founded by industry veterans from Passion Pictures and Prettybird in 2020.
2. Branded Content Production: Production of branded content and marketing campaigns for corporate clients including Square, Sephora, Ford, Meta, Expedia, LA Rams, Stacy's Pita Chips, and Indeed. This includes documentary-style branded content and commercial productions.
3. Podcast Production: Production of podcasts including 'Dear Cousin: The Stalking of Susan Fensten', 'My Last Meal', 'Stories of the Stalked', 'VS Voices', and 'Death at Deepcut' distributed through Audible and Apple.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ventureland is a creative production studio that develops, produces, and delivers documentary films, documentary series, scripted series, podcasts, and branded content campaigns for major streaming platforms (Netflix, Apple TV+, Hulu), brand clients (Square, Sephora, Ford, Expedia, Meta, LA Rams, Stacy's Pita Chips, Indeed), and audio platforms (Audible). The studio operates a global creator network to deliver award-caliber non-fiction and branded storytelling across multiple formats.

Product overview

Ventureland is a modern creative studio that produces award-winning documentaries, documentary series, podcasts, branded content, and scripted series. The company's portfolio spans multiple content formats including unscripted documentaries (The Rescue, WHAM!, BECKHAM), documentary series (American Manhunt, Government Cheese), podcasts (Dear Cousin, Death at Deepcut), and branded content campaigns. Ventureland collaborates with world-class talent to deliver content across all genres and mediums, serving streaming platforms like Netflix, Apple TV+, and Hulu, as well as brand partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kylie A three-part Netflix documentary series exploring the life and career of Australian pop icon Kylie Minogue, featuring personal archives, home movies, and new interviews with friends, family, and collaborators.
• The Last First: Winter K2 A documentary chronicling the 2021 expedition attempting the first winter ascent of K2, exploring the tragic outcomes of competitive mountaineering at extreme altitudes.
• Murder in Monaco A documentary unpacking the mysterious 1999 murder of billionaire banker Edmond Safra in his Monaco penthouse.
• Government Cheese A surrealist family comedy series set in 1969 San Fernando Valley, following the Chambers family as they pursue lofty dreams after patriarch Hampton Chambers is released from prison.
• American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden A three-part Netflix docuseries delving into the 12-year hunt for Osama bin Laden, featuring firsthand accounts from people who tracked him down.
• American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson A four-part documentary series investigating the 1994 murder case of O.J. Simpson, featuring new interviews with key figures from the trial.
• BECKHAM A four-part Netflix docuseries following David Beckham's meteoric rise from humble beginnings to global football stardom, featuring never-before-seen footage.
• The Deepest Breath A documentary telling the story of two free divers whose paths crossed at the pinnacle of the freediving world, exploring the rewards and risks of chasing dreams through ocean depths.
• WHAM! A BAFTA-nominated documentary chronicling George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley's journey from school friends to 80s pop icons, featuring archival interviews and footage.
• Bobi Wine: The People's President An Oscar-nominated documentary charting the rise of Ugandan pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine as he fights the ruthless regime led by Yoweri Museveni.
• The Rescue An Academy Award-winning documentary chronicling the dramatic 2018 rescue of twelve Thai boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in Northern Thailand.
• Ventureland Podcast Collection A collection of investigative and narrative podcasts including Dear Cousin: The Stalking of Susan Fensten, My Last Meal, Stories of the Stalked, VS Voices, and Death at Deepcut, distributed through Audible and Apple Podcasts.
• Ventureland Branded Content Branded content campaigns produced for clients including Square, Expedia, Sephora, Meta, LA Rams, and Stacy's Rise Project, featuring documentary-style storytelling for marketing and brand engagement purposes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature for 'Bobi Wine: The People's President'
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Apple StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApple Studios co-produces 'Government Cheese' series with Ventureland, starring David Oyelowo. Ventureland serves as executive producer with Ali Brown executive producing for Ventureland.
• MACRO Television StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMACRO Television Studios co-produces 'Government Cheese' alongside Ventureland. Charles D. King and Marta Fernandez executive produce for MACRO.
• A24coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA24 collaborated on 'The Deepest Breath' documentary along with Motive Films, Ventureland, and RAW.
• Apple Original FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApple Original Films acquired global rights to 'The Last First: Winter K2', a Sundance selection directed by Amir Bar-Lev and co-produced by Propagate Content, Object Studios, and Ventureland.
• Apple StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApple Studios co-produced 'The Rescue' documentary about the Thai cave rescue, directed by E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin.
• Instinct ProductionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVentureland is co-producing an Eton College series with Instinct Productions as announced in the Par Avion Pictures slate.
• NetflixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetflix distributes multiple Ventureland productions including 'Kylie' documentary series, 'BECKHAM', 'WHAM!', 'American Manhunt' series, and 'The Deepest Breath'.
• AudiblecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAudible distributes Ventureland podcasts including 'Death at Deepcut', 'Stories of the Stalked', and 'Dear Cousin: The Stalking of Susan Fensten'.
• Onyx CollectiveminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor'Searching for Soul Food' was produced in association with Onyx Collective for Hulu.
• Studio 99coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio 99 co-produced the Emmy-winning 'BECKHAM' documentary series alongside Ventureland.
• PrettybirdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVentureland was co-founded by Prettybird partners Kerstin Emhoff and Ali Brown. Prettybird is known for innovative branded content production.
• 11filmsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner11films and Ventureland partnered on a documentary about undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Prettybird: Branded content and commercial production company co-founded by Ventureland's Kerstin Emhoff, Paul Hunter, and Ali Brown. Strongly comparable on the branded-content and creative-for-brands side of Ventureland's business.
• Propagate Content: Global content studio co-producing documentaries and unscripted series with Ventureland (e.g., 'The Last First: Winter K2'). Highly comparable on format mix and platform buyer base.
• Studio 99: Sports-focused production company that co-produced the Emmy-winning 'BECKHAM' docuseries with Ventureland. Comparable on premium sports-documentary production for global streamers.
• Motive Films: Independent film and documentary production company that collaborated with Ventureland on 'The Deepest Breath'. Comparable on prestige documentary production and co-production partnerships.
• Lightbox: Documentary and non-fiction production company producing series and features for Netflix and other streamers. Comparable on format (premium docuseries) and on platform relationships.
• Passion Pictures: London-based documentary and branded content studio and the prior employer of Ventureland co-founder John Battsek. Highly comparable on format (documentary features and series for global platforms) and on founder/relationship DNA.

Emerging players

• XTR: Documentary-focused production and distribution studio producing premium feature docs and series for streamers. Comparable on documentary-format output and platform-buyer base.
• MACRO Television Studios: Television studio focused on underrepresented voices that co-produced 'Government Cheese' with Ventureland. Comparable on premium scripted series production for major streamers.

Broad incumbents

• A24: Independent film and television studio and direct collaborator with Ventureland on 'The Deepest Breath'. Comparable as a prestige content studio serving streaming platforms, though A24 operates at meaningfully larger scale across narrative film, TV, and documentary.

Regional players

• Instinct Productions: UK-based factual and documentary producer that co-produces with Ventureland (e.g., announced Eton College series via Par Avion Pictures slate). Comparable on premium UK documentary production.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/venturelandstudio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ventureland
• Instagraminstagram.com/venture.land/?hl=en
• Xx.com/venture_land

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Ventureland