Driver interaction platform company 4.screen announced the successful closure of its €21 million Series A funding round led by S4S Ventures and Continental Corporate Venture Capital. Based in Munich, 4.screen was co-founded in 2020 by 3 ex-BMW digital product specialists.
4.screen enables global and local brands to interact with drivers in real-time via their car screens, using ground-breaking in-car technology and unique data signals, only accessible through their platform. By utilizing car sensor data, such as location, engine type, car brand, and fueling or charging levels, the platform provides drivers with contextual information about nearby businesses like parking, restaurants, or shops – and provides marketers using its platform with targeting precision. Plus 4.screen enables businesses to target the most relevant audience at any given moment, driving brand awareness and creating a notable pickup in-store visit.
So far, 4.screen successfully launched with multiple car makers in Europe, including Audi, Skoda, and Mercedes-Benz, and is live with several million users actively using the platform today. And it counts more than 60 global consumer brands as customers, including Shell and McDonald’s, and is now targeting expansion in the EU and North America through the rest of the year. And 4.screen enables OEM touch point and use-case agnostic services that are backward integrated into existing car models (going back to 2018), which means that the platform can be scaled at zero marginal cost and at the click of a button.
The business-to-driver interaction via the car screen is one of the digital advertising industry’s most significant untapped channels. And according to a study by Ptolemus Consulting, the number of connected vehicles has reached 260 million and is expected to rise to 600 million by 2030 at which point the overall market value is estimated by McKinsey to surpass €300 billion.
What the funding will be used for: The funding round will be used to accelerate 4.screen’s global expansion plans and further advance its platform. And the co-leads S4S Ventures and Continental VC brings strategic benefits in addition to capital. S4S Ventures brings advertising and marketing expertise and Continental VC offers expertise in automotive technology. 4.screen also received backing from 3 German venture capital firms, Summiteer, BayBG and FRIBA Investment and from business angels from the automotive industry, including Matthias Müller, former CEO of VW, and Bram Schot, former CEO of Audi.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are delighted to have closed our Series A funding round and to have secured the trust from strong investors. S4S Ventures brings outstanding business expertise in marketing and advertising, while Continental Corporate Venture Capital adds invaluable global mobility experience and knowledge. We are now well positioned to expand our operations beyond Europe and deliver exceptional experiences to drivers and businesses worldwide. We are grateful for the support of our valued investors and excited for the journey ahead.”
— Fabian Beste, Co-founder and CEO of 4.screen
“4.screen is opening up one of the digital advertising industry’s most significant untapped channels, with remarkable speed and at scale. Their ability to integrate into the OEM’s core systems and utilize the rich data signals has enabled them to build a truly differentiated offering within the digital advertising industry. Their platform will give rise to a new breed of ad formats and marketing experiences, which 4.screen and their automotive partners are uniquely positioned to provide.”
— Sanja Partalo, Co-founder and Managing Partner at S4S Ventures
“As an entirely new and distinct channel, 4.screen is a rare and exciting opportunity. The automotive industry has always recognised the huge importance of advertising, and Fabian and his team are driving the industry’s advance 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 delighted to be investing ahead of the expansion into North America, which brings the potential to reach many multiples of the users 4.screen already has in Europe.”
— Sir Martin Sorrell, Founder and Chairman at S4Capital, and Co-Founder and Partner at S4S Ventures
“We are pleased to announce that our Corporate Venture Capital Unit invested into 4.screen, a cutting-edge technology company that is revolutionizing the way we consume and interact with digital content in the car. Their innovative solution combined with an excellent team, make them a standout player in the industry. We are confident that our involvement will not only drive the growth of 4.screen, but also pave the way for a new era of e-commerce in mobility.”
— Jürgen Bilo, Managing Director of Continental’s Corporate Venture Capital Unit
“As an investor in 4.screen, I am delighted to have witnessed the company’s exceptional progress and accomplishment in securing its series A funding round. 4.screen’s technology has the potential to transform the in-car experience, creating massive opportunities for car brands to connect drivers with their surroundings. The digitalization of vehicles is set to revolutionize both the automotive industry and the digital advertising industry, and 4.screen is at the forefront of this change.”
— Matthias Müller, investor and former CEO VW
“Having witnessed the impressive progress of 4.screen, I am excited about the opportunity it presents for car brands and businesses. By enabling real-time interaction with drivers, 4.screen’s technology creates an entirely new marketing channel. I see the potential for companies like Shell to leverage this channel and reach millions of drivers in a personalized way.”
— Bram Schot, investor, Board Member Shell and Senior Advisor Carlyle Group
