Skybean S. R. O.

What Skybean S. R. O. does

SkyBean s.r.o. is a Slovak private limited company headquartered in Bratislava that designs, manufactures, and sells specialized aviation instruments and camera accessories for paragliding and paramotor pilots. The company operates with a team of 1–10 and runs a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model through its own storefront at skybean.eu, shipping globally with promotional free shipping to Europe, the US, and Canada. There are no resellers, distributors, or subscription revenue streams; all revenue comes from one-time hardware sales plus modest accessories and non-warranty repair services. No external funding or institutional investors are disclosed.

The core product portfolio comprises four flagship devices: the SkyBean2 mini audio vario (€80.49, 23g), the SkyDrop GPS vario with display (€283.74, 86g, FAI Category 1 IGC tracklog-certified), the SØ vario (€321.14) — a premium XC instrument with color LCD, AI-powered wind calculation, and 60-hour battery life — and the Chase XC, a foldable carbon-fiber follow camera (€104.88) compatible with GoPro, DJI Osmo Action, and Insta360 cameras. Underlying technology combines barometric pressure sensing (MS5611 sensor), GPS tracking, IMU sensor fusion with Kalman-filter implementations for instant vario response, Bluetooth and USB-OTG connectivity, and proprietary firmware that is continuously updated. An accessory ecosystem (helmet mounts, riser mounts, replacement batteries, bungee ropes, magnetic mounts, spare parts) and LCD repair services generate supplementary revenue.

SkyBean serves a distributed base of individual paragliding and paramotor pilots globally, with customer segments spanning recreational pilots, hike-and-fly enthusiasts, competition pilots (Red Bull X-Alps), and acro pilots. Marketing is digital-first and community-led via YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and newsletter, with broad integrations into third-party flight computer apps (XCTrack, FlySkyHy, XCSoar, FlyMe, LK8000, and others) for both Android and iOS. The company has no public revenue disclosure, no patents or certifications listed, and operates independently without a parent company.

Name

Skybean S. R. O.

Legal name

SkyBean s.r.o.

Website

https://skybean.eu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SkyBean s.r.o. designs and sells lightweight variometers, GPS flight instruments, and foldable follow cameras for paragliding and paramotor pilots, selling direct-to-consumer globally through its own e-commerce store.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Flight Instruments

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Glider & Sailplane Manufacturing (IMABAAAG)

Keywords

• Paragliding flight instruments
• Paramotor aviation equipment
• GPS variometers
• Chase camera accessories
• Aviation electronics

Headquarters

HQ city

Hurbanova Ves

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: One-time sale of physical aviation instruments and accessories. Products include variometers (SkyBean2, SkyDrop, SØ vario), chase cameras (Chase XC), and accessories (helm mounts, cables, batteries, cases). No subscription or recurring revenue model.
2. Accessories and Spare Parts: Sales of replacement parts, mounts, cables, and accessories for existing products. Items include helmet mounts (€5), USB-C cables (€7), double battery kits (€32.50), riser mounts, pockets, and replacement parts.
3. Repair Services: Non-warranty repair services for devices including LCD repair (€39/€32.50 depending on EU/non-EU), device repair service fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SkyBean designs, manufactures, and sells aviation flight instruments and follow cameras for paragliding and paramotor pilots. The product portfolio includes variometers (audio-only, GPS with display, and high-end XC variants) and a foldable carbon fiber chase camera, sold globally through a direct-to-consumer e-commerce store with proprietary firmware and accessories.

Product overview

SkyBean S.r.o. is a paragliding and paramotor aviation equipment manufacturer based in Slovakia. The product portfolio includes four main devices: SkyDrop (GPS vario with display), SkyBean2 (mini audio-only vario), SØ vario (high-end XC vario with color display and AI features), and Chase XC (foldable action camera followcam). Products are designed for paragliding and paramotor pilots, with a focus on lightweight design, long battery life, and integration with popular flight computer apps. The company also offers accessories including mounts, cables, replacement parts, and repair services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SkyDrop: Full featured combined GPS vario with display, instant vario response, IGC tracklogs, and Bluetooth connectivity for Android and iOS flight tracking apps.
• SkyBean2
• SØ vario
• ChaseXC

Products and services

• SkyDrop GPS vario Full-featured combined GPS vario with display weighing 86g, featuring instant vario response, IGC tracklogs, GPS navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, airspace warnings, and 25h battery life. Designed for paragliding and paramotor pilots who need a complete flight computer with barometric and GPS data.
• SkyBean2 mini audio vario Sensitive and durable mini audio vario weighing 23g with CR2032 battery lasting 150+ hours. Connects to Android phones via USB OTG for use with XCTrack flight app. Designed for paraglider pilots seeking an extremely lightweight audio-only vario without a display.
• SØ vario XC vario Super bright XC vario with 4.2" LCD display (400x300 px), instant vario, GPS, IGC tracklog, BLE telemetry, AI-powered wind calculation, thermal assistant, and 60h battery life. Supports portrait and landscape modes with custom colors. Designed for cross-country and competition paragliding pilots.
• Chase XC foldable chasecam First truly foldable chasecam followcam for paragliding with full carbon fiber body and umbrella-style folding. Compatible with GoPro 5-13, DJI Osmo Action, and Insta360 cameras. Features bungee rope safety system and magnetic release. Weight 150g without camera. Designed for paragliding and paramotor pilots filming their flights.
• SkyDrop LCD repair service Non-warranty LCD repair service for SkyDrop vario. Costs €39 excluding VAT (€32.50 for non-EU). Customers contact via email before shipping. Designed for pilots whose devices have sustained LCD damage outside warranty.

Quantifiable outcome

• Battery life up to 60 hours tested by X-Alps pilot in extreme conditions
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

AI capability2 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• XCTrackcoreTechnology or IntegrationAndroid flight computer app that integrates with SkyBean devices. SkyBean2 connects via USB OTG as baro probe. SkyDrop connects via Bluetooth for telemetry data. One of the primary integration partners.
• FlySkyHycoreTechnology or IntegrationiOS flight computer app with Bluetooth connectivity to SkyDrop vario. Primary iOS integration partner for SkyDrop (not compatible with Apple devices via cable).

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Naviter: Slovenian manufacturer of the Oudie line of flight computers and varios for paragliding. Naviter competes directly with SkyBean in the XC vario category and operates from a neighboring Central European geography with overlapping customer bases.
• Flymaster: Portuguese manufacturer of GPS flight instruments for paragliding, including the Live series and NAV series varios with display screens. Flymaster serves the same pilot segments as SkyBean and is a direct competitor in the higher-end XC vario category.
• LX Navigation: Slovenian manufacturer of varios and flight instruments for glider/sailplane and free-flight aviation. LX Navigation is a direct competitor in the variometer category and operates from the same Central European region with overlapping customer segments in paragliding and gliding.
• Brauniger: German manufacturer of flight instruments for paragliding and other air sports, including the IQ-Basis, IQ-Fun, and Competino varios. Brauniger competes directly with SkyBean in the same customer segment with overlapping product categories and similar pricing tiers.
• Syride: French manufacturer of compact varios (Sys'One, Sys'Evolution, Sys'GPS) for paragliding and hang gliding. Syride competes with SkyBean's lightweight audio vario segment (SkyBean2) and shares a similar direct-to-consumer go-to-market model targeting enthusiast pilots.
• Flytec: Swiss manufacturer of variometers and flight instruments for paragliding, hang gliding, and ultralight aviation. Flytec is one of the most established names in the paragliding instrument market and competes directly with SkyBean's SkyDrop, SkyBean2, and SØ vario product lines.
• Compass Instruments: German manufacturer of varios for hang gliding and paragliding, including the Baron, Cargo, and Manuals models. Compass is a smaller specialist competitor with a similar niche focus on free-flight instruments comparable to SkyBean's product line.

Broad incumbents

• Garmin: Global incumbent in GPS and aviation electronics, with aviation-specific products (G3X, aera series) and wearables that overlap broadly with the navigation and instrument category. Garmin is not a direct competitor in paragliding varios but represents the scale incumbent any niche aviation instrument maker must defend against.

Others

• FlySkyHy: iOS flight computer app for paragliding that connects to SkyDrop via Bluetooth for telemetry. FlySkyHy is a primary integration partner for iOS pilots and an adjacent software platform that complements SkyBean's instruments but also represents the smartphone-substitute dynamic.
• XCTrack: Android flight computer app for paragliding that integrates with SkyBean's varios via Bluetooth and USB OTG. XCTrack is a core integration partner but also an adjacent platform — pilots using XCTrack on a phone with baro sensor represent a substitute path that could partially displace dedicated hardware sales.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat1 record

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/fhorinek
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/SkyBeanVarios
• Facebookfacebook.com/skybeanvario
• Instagraminstagram.com/skybean_vario
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/skybean-vario

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Skybean S. R. O.