pilot

What pilot does

pilot is an independent, owner-managed media agency group headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, founded in 1999. Operating as pilot Hamburg GmbH & Co. KG with a Swiss subsidiary (pilot suisse), the group employs more than 550 experts from over 60 specialist areas across seven offices in Germany (Berlin, Hamburg, Mainz, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart) and Switzerland (Zurich). pilot delivers integrated communications services spanning media planning and buying, programmatic advertising, performance marketing, retail media, geomarketing, influencer marketing, brand experiences, pharma marketing, and strategic consulting to enterprise brand clients.

The agency's service platform combines proprietary technology tools — Hive (deterministic ID solution for audience targeting), TGA (incremental advertising effectiveness measurement with predictive analytics), pilot PRESTO (research and impact planning), Apo Momentum (pharmacy market digitalization study), and pilot radar (marketing intelligence tracking) — with creative, content, and branded entertainment production. pilot is a founding member of the Local Planet network (sixth-largest global media agency network per COMvergence at $16.25bn billing, 137 markets, 12,000+ experts), using this network to extend its international media buying reach while maintaining local DACH execution through its 7 offices.

Revenue is generated through custom-quoted professional services engagements (media planning, programmatic, creative, pharma marketing, branded entertainment), acquired primarily via direct sales and competitive pitch processes. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and engagements are bespoke to client scope. Notable named clients include Vitakraft (media account won June 2026), Aral, ADAC, DEVK Versicherungen, and Carrera Revell Group. The agency also operates branded entertainment products (Carrera Racing Night, Creator Golf Masters) as discrete event-based offerings. CEO Kristian Meinken leads the group, with regional managing directors across each office.

Name

pilot

Legal name

pilot Hamburg GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://pilot.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

pilot is an independent, owner-managed German media agency group founded in 1999, operating 7 offices across Germany and Switzerland with 550+ experts. It delivers integrated media planning, programmatic, creative, pharma marketing, and proprietary branded entertainment events to enterprise brand clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Media Planning and Implementation Services: Core agency services including media planning, strategic partnerships, media buying, programmatic advertising, performance marketing, retail media, and geomarketing
2. Creation and Content Services: Creative services including creation, brand experiences, corporate communications, social media and content marketing, influencer marketing, and collaborations/events
3. Technology and Data Services: Data analytics, marketing insights, and advertising impact research services
4. Strategy and Consulting: Media strategy and orchestration, brand strategy, communications strategy, and pharma marketing consulting

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

pilot is an independent German media agency group that delivers integrated communications solutions for enterprise brands, combining media planning and buying, programmatic and performance marketing, creative content production, influencer/creator partnerships, branded entertainment events, and proprietary data/analytics tools. Services are delivered by interdisciplinary teams of 550+ experts across seven offices in Germany and Switzerland, with proprietary technology including Hive (deterministic ID targeting) and TGA (incremental advertising effectiveness measurement).

Product overview

pilot is a German independent media agency group offering an integrated communications service portfolio combining media planning, digital advertising, content creation, and technology-driven analytics. The core offering spans programmatic advertising, performance marketing, influencer/creator marketing, brand experiences, and strategic consulting. Proprietary tools include Hive (deterministic ID targeting) and TGA (incremental advertising measurement). The agency specializes in branded entertainment events (Carrera Racing Night, Creator Golf Masters) and serves clients across pharma, retail, automotive, and consumer goods sectors through seven offices in Germany and Switzerland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Media Planning & Media Realization

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 420,000 event views and 17 million+ total contacts through Carrera Racing Night event
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Local PlanetcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019pilot is a founding member and the official Local Planet agency for Germany. Local Planet is the largest global network of independent media agencies, spanning 137 markets with over 12,000 experts and $16.25bn billing volume, ranked as the sixth-largest media agency globally per COMvergence. pilot suisse became official Local Planet agency for Switzerland in June 2024.
• ReachConcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner for Carrera Racing Night branded entertainment events. ReachCon collaborated with pilot and MMD Studios to develop and execute the innovative event format.
• MMD StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner for Carrera Racing Night branded entertainment events, contributing to the creative development and execution of the multi-brand activation.
• DLS ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProduction partner for Carrera Racing Night event, supporting the operational execution and logistics of the branded entertainment format.
• ad-commminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTokyo-based partner agency where pilot employee Ina completed a 6-week exchange as part of the Local Planet Exchange Program, gaining insights into Japanese media strategy and cultural approaches.
• Weischer.EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic development partner for Carrera Racing Night 2.0, collaborating to further develop the multi-award-winning branded entertainment format.
• ApolloMasters (Stefan Kastenmüller)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organizer of Creator Golf Masters 2026, partnering with pilot to bring together golf creators and professional athletes in an innovative branded entertainment format.
• BISONminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMain partner and sponsor of Creator Golf Masters 2026, providing 5,000 EUR cryptocurrency prize and CMO participation in OMR panel discussion.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Serviceplan Group: Munich-based, Germany's largest independent integrated communications group offering media, creative, digital, and tech services across multiple specialist brands. Closest direct competitor to pilot by structure: independent, owner-managed, multi-brand agency group of similar scope and size competing for the same DACH enterprise clients.
• Jung von Matt: Hamburg-headquartered, one of Germany's leading independent creative-led agency groups with strong digital, brand experience, and media capabilities. Direct peer competing head-to-head with pilot for German enterprise brand work, especially in creative-driven and integrated communications pitches.
• Scholz & Friends: Hamburg-based independent agency group offering integrated advertising, digital, and media services. Comparable in size, geography, and independent ownership model, competing for the same DACH brand budgets as pilot, particularly in Hamburg-headquartered clients.
• Grabarz & Partner: Hamburg-based independent creative and media agency with strong creative reputation in Germany. Direct competitor to pilot for German enterprise pitches, particularly those prioritizing creative differentiation alongside media planning.
• Thjnk: Hamburg-headquartered independent agency group offering strategy, creative, and digital services. Comparable independent, owner-managed structure competing with pilot in the German mid-market and enterprise segment for integrated communications mandates.
• Kolle Rebbe: Hamburg-based independent creative and brand experience agency, now part of the Omnicom network but retaining strong independent operating culture. Comparable in geography and client base to pilot, frequently co-bidding on German brand and integrated communications pitches.

Broad incumbents

• GroupM: WPP's global media investment arm encompassing Mindshare, Wavemaker, EssenceMediacom, and GroupM Nexus. Competes with pilot on media planning, programmatic, and analytics for global enterprise clients, with vastly greater scale, procurement leverage, and proprietary ad-tech.
• Publicis Media: Publicis Groupe's media division encompassing Starcom, Zenith, and Digitas. Broad incumbent competing for the same DACH enterprise media budgets as pilot, with significantly larger scale, integrated creative-media offering, and global client relationships.
• Dentsu: Global advertising holding company with significant DACH operations (Dentsu Germany, Carat, iProspect). Competes with pilot on enterprise media and integrated communications, particularly for international clients seeking centralized agency partners.
• Ströer: German media company with strong out-of-home, digital, and programmatic advertising offerings. Competes with pilot on the digital media and performance marketing side, particularly for German enterprise clients seeking integrated online-offline media execution.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@pilot_Agenturgruppe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pilot-agenturgruppe/?originalSubdomain=de
• Instagraminstagram.com/pilot_agentur/?hl=de
• Xx.com/pilot_agentur
• Facebookfacebook.com/pilot.de

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

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 pilot