The startup founded in 2020 4.screen is developing a platform for real-time driver interaction that connects digital vehicles in real time with the businesses along their route. Global and local brands can thus interact with drivers directly through their car screens. Leveraging vehicle sensor data such as location, engine type, car make, and fuel level, the platform provides drivers with contextual information about nearby businesses and locations such as parking lots, restaurants, or shops. This is designed to help drivers decide where and when to stop during their journey.
4.screen aims to enable companies to reach their consumers directly on the go, address the most relevant target audience at the right time, increase brand awareness, and measurably boost store visits. The Munich-based company has already successfully gone live with several automobile manufacturers in Europe, including Audi, Skoda, and Mercedes-Benz.
International plans
In January 2021, 4.screen achieved a first financing round and raised a seven-figure sum. Now follows the Series A round of €21 million. The company intends to use the fresh capital to advance its global expansion plans and further develop the platform. S4S Ventures and Continental Corporate Venture Capital, among others, are participating in the round. In addition to capital, both investors also bring strategic advantages: S4S Ventures' advertising and marketing expertise, and Continental VC's expertise in automotive technology. 4.screen also receives additional support from the two venture capital firms Summiteer and BayBG, as well as from business angels from the automotive industry – including Matthias Müller, former CEO of VW, and Bram Schot, former CEO of Audi.
Fabian Beste, Co-founder and CEO of 4.screen, says about the Series A:
"We are delighted to have completed our Series A financing round and to have the confidence of strong investors. S4S Ventures brings outstanding expertise in marketing and advertising, while Continental Corporate Venture Capital contributes invaluable experience and knowledge in the field of global mobility. We are now well positioned to expand our operations beyond Europe and provide exceptional experiences to drivers and companies worldwide. We are grateful for the support of our valued investors and look forward to the journey ahead."
Expansion to North America
Sanja Partalo, Co-founder and Managing Partner at S4S Ventures, commented:
"4.screen is opening up one of the digital advertising industry's most important untapped channels with remarkable speed and scale. Their ability to integrate with OEMs' core systems and leverage valuable data signals has enabled them to build a truly differentiated offering within the digital advertising industry. Their platform will create a new breed of advertising formats and marketing experiences, for which 4.screen and its partners are uniquely positioned in the automotive industry."
And Martin Sorrell, Founder and Chairman of S4Capital and co-founder and partner of S4S Ventures, says:
"As a completely new and distinct channel, 4.screen offers a rare and exciting opportunity. The automotive industry has always recognized the tremendous importance of advertising—and Fabian and his team are driving the industry's push into digital transformation and the immense value it can unlock for the driver, the automotive company, the advertiser, and the digital advertising ecosystem as a whole. We are excited to invest ahead of the expansion into North America, which has the potential to reach many times the number of users 4.screen already has in Europe."
