What Bionaut does

Bionaut s.r.o. is a privately held Czech film and television production company founded in 1999 and headquartered in Prague (Dělnická 47, Praha 7). The company produces original fiction, documentary, and animated films and television series, and operates a portfolio of specialized sub-brands covering the full production chain: Bionaut Films (core production), Bionaut Animation (animation services, crew assembly, post-production with 2D/3D/full CG and VFX supervision), Bionaut Docs (documentaries), Bionaut Dark (English-language genre films), Bionaut Works (service production and co-production support in Czechia, Slovakia, and Poland), Audionaut (audio series and podcasts, including Planet Dark horror audio), and Zero Gravity (marketing, merchandising, and distribution).

The company monetizes through five identifiable streams: original production with theatrical, broadcast, and streaming licensing; service production and co-production fees including rebate/incentive administration; animation services; distribution of internal and external titles via the Zero Gravity label; and podcast/advertising revenue through Audionaut. Customers and channel partners span Czech Television (long-running documentary/series partner), TV Nova/VOYO, Netflix, Prime Video, Max/HBO, DAFilms, and international sales agents. Operations are internationalized through the Planet Bionaut network — jointly controlled joint ventures Kosmonaut in Poland, Raketa in Slovakia, and Aeronaut in Serbia — providing access to regional production incentives (Czechia 25-35%, Slovakia 33%, Poland 30%) and co-production financing from Czech, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and Lithuanian film funds. The company holds an International Emmy (2020, #martyisdead) and multiple Czech Lion, Czech Film Critics, and Cartoon Movie recognitions.

Bionaut is founder-led by Vratislav Šlajer (head producer, managing director) with a leadership bench of 14+ named department heads spanning line producing, post-production, animation, international coproductions, distribution, writing, and marketing. Go-to-market is event-driven (Series Mania, Annecy, Cartoon Movie, Berlinale/EFM, CEE Animation Forum) combined with channel-partner co-production relationships across Central Europe. Pricing is project-based and not publicly disclosed.

Name

Bionaut

Legal name

Bionaut s.r.o.

Website

https://bionaut.cz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bionaut is a privately held Czech film and TV production company founded in 1999, producing fiction, documentary, and animation across specialized sub-brands and a Central European Planet Bionaut network spanning Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, and Serbia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Prague

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Original Production: Bionaut produces its own fiction, documentary, and animated films and television series, earning revenue through theatrical releases, broadcast licensing, and streaming distribution deals.
2. Service Production & Co-production: Bionaut Works provides service production and co-production support to external projects in Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia. Revenue generated through production fees and regional financing facilitation.
3. Animation Services: Bionaut Animation facilitates animation production, assembly, and post-production services for external clients, including complete production chain from development to delivery.
4. Distribution: Zero Gravity label handles film marketing, merchandising and distribution activities for both internal and external productions.
5. Podcast & Audio Content: Audionaut label produces audio series and podcasts, generating revenue through podcast platforms and potential sponsorship.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bionaut is a Czech film and TV production company that develops, finances, produces, and distributes fiction, documentary, and animated films as well as television series and audio/podcast content. It operates specialized labels (Bionaut Animation, Bionaut Docs, Bionaut Dark, Audionaut, Zero Gravity) and provides service production and co-production facilitation to external clients across the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland via the Planet Bionaut network. The company manages the full production chain from development through post-production, including VFX and animation work.

Product overview

Bionaut is a Czech film and TV production company founded in 1999, producing fiction, documentary, and animated films and television series. The company operates multiple sub-brands: Bionaut Films (core production), Bionaut Animation (animation services), Bionaut Docs (documentaries), Bionaut Dark (English-language genre films), Audionaut (podcasts/audio), Zero Gravity (marketing/distribution), and Bionaut Works (service production). International operations are conducted through joint ventures in Poland (Kosmonaut), Slovakia (Raketa), and Serbia (Aeronaut). The company has been awarded an International Emmy, Czech Lion, and Czech Film Critics Awards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bionaut Animation: Animation production services, facilitation, and crew assembly for animated films across Central Europe with experience in production incentives in Czechia, Slovakia, and Poland.
• Bionaut Docs
• Bionaut Dark
• Bionaut Works
• Audionaut
• Zero Gravity
• Planet Dark
• Kosmonaut
• Raketa

Products and services

• Bionaut Films (Core Production) The core film and TV production division of Bionaut producing fiction, documentary, and animated films and television series for Czech and international markets, including commissioned content for broadcasters (Czech Television, TV Nova) and distribution through streaming platforms (Netflix, VOYO, Prime Video, Max/HBO, DAFilms) and theatrical release.
• Bionaut Animation Animation production services offering facilitation, experienced crews, production incentives management (25%/35% in Czechia, 33% in Slovakia, 30% in Poland), and complete production chain from development and financing to production and post-production for external animation studios and producers.
• Bionaut Works Service production and co-production support to external projects in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia, providing local crew expertise, production incentives management, and regional financing access through the Planet Bionaut network.
• Bionaut Docs Documentary production division creating documentary films and series meeting global entertainment standards for broadcasters including Czech Television and international partners.
• Bionaut Dark English-language genre film production label producing international horror and suspense projects for global audiences.
• Audionaut Audio series and podcast production label producing podcasts including It's a Wrap!, New & Old, Gotťák, Karina the Eagle Has Died, and other industry-focused and storytelling content distributed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other podcast platforms.
• Zero Gravity Film marketing, merchandising, and distribution label handling release, sales, and merchandising activities for Bionaut's internal productions and external films through theatrical, broadcast, and streaming channels.
• Kosmonaut (Poland) Polish joint venture (Kosmonaut Sp. z o.o.) for international TV and genre project development, production, and distribution in the Polish market as part of the Planet Bionaut network.
• Raketa (Slovakia) Slovak joint venture (Raketa s.r.o.) for international TV and genre project development, production, and distribution in the Slovak market as part of the Planet Bionaut network.
• Rosa & Dara and Their Great Summer Adventure Animated series for the entire family featuring seven-year-old twins Rosa and Dara, produced by Bionaut Animation and showcased at Cartoon Movie 2024 where it ranked #1.

Quantifiable outcome

• #martyisdead won International Emmy award
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kosmonaut (Poland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture established in Poland (Kosmonaut Sp. z o.o.) for developing, producing, and distributing international TV and genre projects in the Polish market. Part of the Planet Bionaut network.
• Raketa (Slovakia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture established in Slovakia (Raketa s.r.o.) for developing, producing, and distributing international TV and genre projects in the Slovak market. Part of the Planet Bionaut network.
• Aeronaut (Serbia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture established in Serbia for developing, producing, and distributing international TV and genre projects in the Serbian market. Part of the Planet Bionaut network.
• Czech Television (ČT)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing production partner for documentaries, series, and animated content. Productions include Doctor Martin, Hungry History, Marathon Gang, and various documentary projects.
• TV Nova / VOYOcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary broadcaster for What Haunts Us and Highland Badge series. VOYO serves as streaming platform for Bionaut productions.
• NetflixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational streaming partner for animated content including Hungry Bear Tales: To the Pole! and My Name is Edgar and I Have a Cow.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Endorfilm: Prague-based independent Czech film production company producing fiction, documentaries, and series. Comparable to Bionaut in scale, geography, and indie/arthouse positioning, often co-producing with Czech Television and international partners.
• Nutprodukce: Czech film and television production company producing feature films and series with international co-production partners. Similar to Bionaut in format mix, Prague base, and broadcaster relationships.
• Negativ: Czech independent film and television production company based in Prague. Directly comparable to Bionaut in producing fiction features, documentaries, and series for the Czech and international festival markets.

Broad incumbents

• Netflix: Global streaming platform that distributes Bionaut's animated titles (Hungry Bear Tales, My Name is Edgar). Functions primarily as a distribution and commissioning counterparty rather than a direct peer, but materially shapes Bionaut's international upside.
• TV Nova: Czech private broadcaster and Bionaut's primary partner for series such as What Haunts Us and Highland Badge. Functions both as commissioning buyer and competitor for audience attention in the Czech market.
• Barrandov Studios: The largest film and television studio complex in the Czech Republic, offering production facilities, post-production, and distribution. Broader incumbent than Bionaut, with significant overlap in production services and feature film output.
• HBO Max (Warner Bros. Discovery): Global streaming platform and commissioning buyer active in Central European original production. Comparable to Bionaut as a customer relationship (Max/HBO carries some Bionaut titles) and as a structural force in the regional content market.
• Czech Television (ČT): Czech public broadcaster and a long-standing commissioning partner of Bionaut. While not a direct production competitor, ČT is a key customer and a major force shaping Czech content production economics.

Regional players

• Opus Film: Major Polish film and television production company comparable in scale and format breadth to Bionaut. Operates in a neighboring regional market (Poland) and is a natural co-production or competitive counterpart for Central European projects.
• DPM Production (DPMK): Slovak film production company comparable in scale to Bionaut, operating in a neighboring market with similar Central European production economics and co-production structures.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKmpOWWGailUEaBo4-UVo7w
• Facebookfacebook.com/bionautfilms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bionaut
• Instagraminstagram.com/bionautfilms

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries10 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 Bionaut