Czech startup Elredo has raised more than €1 million (approximately $1.13 million) to expand its audiobook production business in the United States. The company, founded by Matěj Schmalz, already counts international publishers Wiley and HarperCollins among its clients. The investment round was led by Czech fund JIC Ventures, with participation from Sweden's Bond Ventures, the Central Bohemian Innovation Center, and private investors. Most of the funding will support U.S. expansion and sales, while approximately 20 to 30 percent will go toward further developing the company's technology.

Elredo is addressing a familiar challenge in publishing: producing audiobooks can be expensive and time-consuming, leaving many titles without an audio edition. Its platform, Elredo Voice, uses artificial intelligence to handle much of the production process, including narration, quality checks, and audio mastering. Founder Schmalz has said the technology can reduce production costs by as much as 80 percent compared with traditional methods. That could make it practical for publishers to produce audio versions of older books, specialized publications, and titles that might otherwise be too costly to record.

The company has already produced dozens of audiobooks available for sale and has hundreds more in development. Alongside its international clients, Elredo works with Czech publishers Albatros Media and Euromedia Group. Its services extend beyond production to distribution, with access to more than 160 sales channels worldwide. Publishers pay an initial production fee, while Elredo also receives a share of subsequent audiobook sales.

To strengthen its position in the American market, Elredo has begun establishing operations in New Jersey, near major publishing companies and industry partners in the New York area. The expansion involves relocating members of its commercial, production, and support teams to the United States, including founder Matěj Schmalz. Elredo has also been accepted into a startup accelerator in New Jersey, supporting its efforts to build relationships with American publishers and grow its U.S. business.

Elredo's ambitions extend beyond producing English-language audiobooks. The company is developing automated translation capabilities that could help publishers release existing titles in multiple languages and reach new international audiences. It is also working toward a goal of producing up to 1,000 audiobooks per month in 2027, a significant increase from its current output. With new investment and an expanding U.S. presence, Elredo is looking to scale its technology beyond audiobook production and help publishers reach readers and listeners across international markets.

Presented by the CzechTrade team in Chicago, USA

Sources: Forbes Česko, CzechCrunch, JIC, Hospodářské noviny