Celebrating 5 Years of 4screen: A Journey of Innovation, Growth, and Impact 

August 2020, Munich, Germany: What began as an ambitious idea between three automotive industry experts has now grown into a globally active company – integrated in millions of cars, trusted by 15 leading automakers including Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Hyundai, and Kia, with more to come, and chosen by more than 100 advertisers such as McDonald’s, Shell, and Waitrose. This month, we celebrated five years of 4screen – and the remarkable journey that brought us here. 

From Vision to Reality: The 4screen Story

4screen was born from the shared vision of Fabian Beste, Christoph Mahlert, and Simon Hecker. With years of experience in the automotive industry and deep expertise in digital product development and integration, they saw a clear gap: Despite rapid technological progress, cars still lacked seamless and dynamic interaction with their surroundings – such as local businesses and services in real time. This connection is not only essential for creating an excellent driver experience, but also forms the foundation for new, third-party business models that the automotive industry had long been searching for. 

The founders set out to close this gap with a groundbreaking idea: the world’s first driver interaction platform, connecting businesses with on-the-go drivers in real time, directly through the car interface. Working in close collaboration with leading automakers, 4screen introduced a new standard for how drivers can interact with their environment safely and seamlessly on the move. 

That idea is closely tied to what inspired our brand name: the fourth screen. After the television, the computer, and the smartphone, the in-car display has emerged as the next major digital touchpoint. At 4screen, we are unlocking its potential – transforming it into a dynamic channel that benefits drivers, businesses, and automakers alike. 

Five years on, our mission remains unchanged: to connect a fragmented world by uniting businesses, drivers, and mobility providers. 

4screen’s operationally active founders: Fabian Beste (left) and Christoph Mahlert (right) 

A Journey Marked by Milestones 

Our journey has been defined by ambitious milestones each year. Here’s a look at how far we’ve come in just five years.  

2020/2021 

4screen was founded in Munich in August 2020, with our first office opening just a few months later in December. Within the following year, we earned the trust of renowned automotive leaders, including Mathias Müller (former Volkswagen CEO), Bram Schot (former Audi CEO), and Frank Lindenberg (former Mercedes-Benz CFO), who invested early in our vision. At the same time, more than 30 brands and over 50,000 locations also joined as lead partners, laying the foundation for our platform launch. 

2022

A major milestone came in July when we went live commercially in Germany with Mercedes-Benz, followed shortly after by Škoda and Audi within the same year. In October, we expanded into the UK market and began onboarding business clients – a journey that has since grown into more than 100 global brands using our platform across markets today. Our momentum that year was further highlighted by becoming a pitch finalist at SXSW in Austin, USA – a clear sign of international recognition for our vision. 

2023

The year began with a major milestone: closing a €21M Series A in March, one of the largest in the industry at the time. This funding supported significant expansion into new European markets, including France, Italy, and Spain. Our automotive network also grew notably, with more car brands including Hyundai and Kia – ranked among the global top three automakers in unit sales – joining the platform.

We also increasingly established strong presences at major industry events, making our product experienceable through live in-car demos on site, for example at IAA Mobility, DMEXCO, and CES.

2024

At the beginning of the year, we marked our commercial launch in the US, expanding our platform into one of the world’s most significant markets. This was accompanied by further growth across Europe, with launches in Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden. Alongside this expansion, our progress was recognized with several industry nominations and wins, including the renowned WirtschaftsWoche Best of Technology Award. We also welcomed Zeekr, part of the Geely Holding Group, as a new automotive partner, adding to our expanding portfolio. 

2025

This year has already brought major milestones. We announced our global partnership with Stellantis, spanning iconic brands such as Fiat, Jeep®, and Ram – further cementing our position in the automotive industry. Moreover, in July we closed our $21M Series B funding round, ushering in the next stage of accelerated growth. 

Behind every milestone in our journey lies a story of teamwork, ambition, and results. From our first automotive partnership to winning renowned awards, each achievement has brought us closer to our vision. These milestones translate into tangible scale — here are some numbers that show the impact we’ve made. 

Reflections from the People Behind 4screen

Behind every achievement stand the people who made it happen. And there’s no better way to tell 4screen’s five-year story than through the reflections of those who experienced it firsthand. 

Fabian Beste – CEO & Co-Founder

Q: Favourite Insight Since Founding 4screen 

“Five years ago, we walked out of the notary with an idea and a lot of uncertainty. Today, thanks to friends & family, bold teammates, trusting partners, and investors who bet on us, 4screen is tapping into one of the biggest opportunities in mobility. Couldn’t be more thankful – and we are just getting started.”

Christoph Malhert – CTO & Co-Founder

  Q: Favourite Insight Since Founding 4screen 

“We’re still on Plan A, no pivots, no detours, and the scope of what’s possible has grown far beyond what we imagined at the start. Without the invaluable support of my family and the outstanding team we’ve built at 4screen, none of this would have been possible. I can’t wait to see how far we can go from here.”

Xaver Müller – Head of Automotive Integration, 4+ years at 4screen

 Q: What’s your favorite memory during your time at 4screen? 

“I have multiple favorite moments during my time here. Some remarkable ones are moving offices from Hauptbahnhof to our current location, seeing our 4screen content in a production vehicle for the first time, and spending time with the team at events. Those are the moments that make it a special place to work.” 

Q: How has 4screen changed since you first arrived? 

“Definitely the team size and competence. At the same time, the quality of work and motivation remains high. It’s great to see motivated and competent colleagues around you, and to grow and learn together with them.” 

Leonie Karb – Senior Product Manager, 4+ years at 4screen

 Q: What’s your favorite memory during your time at 4screen? 

“It’s hard to pick just one — we’ve hit so many milestones and celebrated countless achievements. But if I had to choose, I’d say seeing our car lineup at this year’s IAA will be one of those truly unforgettable highlights.” 

Q: How has 4screen changed since you first arrived? 

“When I started, 4screen was just a deck of slides and a few desks in a shared office. Now our platform is live, reaching millions of cars every day. We’ve grown incredibly fast — not just in scale, but in how we’ve built a strong culture and evolved as a team.”

Eva Meyer – Senior People & Culture Manager, 3 years at 4screen

Q: What’s your favorite memory during your time at 4screen? 

“When people come together — whether at summer or Christmas parties, Wiesn, or celebrating Series A and B. Those moments away from the screen build true connections.” 

Q: How has 4screen changed since you first arrived? 

“We’ve expanded People operations internationally, established entities in France and the US, and professionalised processes — all while keeping our fun, collaborative start-up atmosphere.”

Dan Padgett – Senior Strategic Sales Manager, 3+ years at 4screen

Q: What’s your favorite memory during your time at 4screen? 

“I think my favorite memories are the big milestones like OEM launches and funding round closings. It really solidifies that we’re building something unique and that others outside the company believe in as well.” 

Q: How has 4screen changed since you first arrived? 

“It’s kind of crazy to look back on. I started in the beginning of 2022 when we were maybe 30 people and had not yet launched in a single OEM. To see the platform go from an idea living in a PowerPoint to becoming reality is a cool thing to see. Obviously, we’ve grown quite a bit, but I think we still have the same scrappy, can-do spirit that got us where we are today.” 

Thomas Krex – Senior Software Engineer, 4+ years at 4screen

Q: What’s your favorite memory during your time at 4screen? 

“The go-live with our first OEM was a special moment. Everyone had worked so hard for it, and the excitement in the office made me proud to be part of the team.” 

Q: How has 4screen changed since you first arrived? 

“When we grew from 3 to over 60 people, processes became essential — but unlike many companies, they never slowed us down. Everyone remains motivated and supportive.” 

Inside the 4screen DNA

Looking at these reflections from our founders and long-term team members, certain themes come up repeatedly. They highlight not just what we’ve achieved, but how we’ve achieved it – capturing the DNA of 4screen: 

• Relentless innovation — pioneering in-car marketing from day one. 

• Speed with quality — scaling fast while maintaining excellence. 

• Trusted by industry leaders — winning early and lasting partnerships with major automakers and global brands. 

• Team spirit — a culture of collaboration, energy, and shared ambition. 

The Road Ahead 

Five years in, we’re just getting started. With our Series B powering the next phase of accelerated global growth, we’re focused on entering new markets, advancing technology and data, and deepening partnerships with brands and automakers. A key priority will be expanding even further in the US. 

To our team – past and present – our investors, partners, and clients: thank you for believing in our vision and helping us bring it to life. Here’s to the next chapter of 4screen – and many more milestones to come. 

If you’d like to be part of our journey – as a partner, client, or member of our team – we’d love to hear from you: https://4screen.com/contact-us/