Smart AV

What Smart AV does

Smart AV operates as the European division of 4Wall Entertainment, Inc., a private US-headquartered live-event technology company. Its core business is the rental of professional video, lighting, rigging, and audio equipment, supported by full-service production capabilities including systems design, integration, and on-site technical staff. The company operates from three UK locations (London/Harlow, Blackburn, Aylesbury) and is part of a group with fifteen US offices, including a Las Vegas headquarters for global sales, production, and systems design. End markets include exhibitions and trade shows (e.g., Mobile World Congress, CES Las Vegas, ICE Totally Gaming), corporate and conference events, concert touring and festivals, theatre and West End productions, brand activations and product launches, and virtual production.

The technology stack is centered on rental inventory drawn from 28+ premium AV manufacturers — Absen, ARRI, ROE, ClayPaky, Martin, Samsung, Christie, Panasonic, Unilumin, Robe, Vari-Lite, and others — augmented by proprietary service offerings such as Studio 19 (an XR-enabled virtual production studio at London's Royal Lancaster hotel) and supporting digital tools including an LED Wall Calculator and an online Product Guide. The company also runs a dedicated Innovation R&D function and offers permanent AV integration services for venues, indicating a deliberate move beyond one-off rental into recurring installations.

The revenue model is predominantly project-based B2B equipment rental priced via custom quotes, supplemented by professional services (production labor, systems design, integration), used-equipment resale through usedlighting.com/newlighting.com, and rental of virtual production studio space. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales, with dedicated account management for marquee events and customers, supported by a content marketing and SEO-driven website for top-of-funnel demand generation. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is determined per project by scope, equipment mix, and service requirements.

Name

Smart AV

Legal name

4Wall Entertainment, Inc.

Website

https://smart-av.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Smart AV (4Wall Europe) is a UK-based B2B rental and production services company supplying video, lighting, LED, rigging, and audio equipment, plus virtual production, to exhibition, corporate, concert, theatre, and brand activation clients across the UK, Europe, and the US.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Harlow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Rentals: Primary revenue stream from renting video, lighting, rigging, and audio equipment for events. Equipment rental includes full service support for events of any scale.
2. Production Services: Full service production support including systems design, integration, and on-site technical support.
3. Used Equipment Sales: Sale of pre-owned lighting, video, and rigging equipment through dedicated used sales platform.
4. Virtual Production Studio: Rental and use of virtual production studio space (Studio 19) for virtual and hybrid events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Smart AV rents audio visual equipment and delivers production services for live events, exhibitions, concerts, theatre, and corporate shows. The offering spans video, lighting, LED video walls, rigging, and audio gear drawn from 28+ manufacturer partners, complemented by a dedicated virtual production studio (Studio 19), a secondary production space (Unit 2), AV integration, and used equipment sales.

Product overview

4Wall Europe is an equipment rental and production services company offering a comprehensive portfolio centered around lighting, video, and rigging equipment rentals. The core offerings include Video Solutions, Lighting Equipment, LED Video Walls, Rigging Equipment, and Audio Equipment, all available for rent. These core rental products are complemented by Virtual Production services featuring Studio 19, a state-of-the-art virtual production facility with XR technology and green screen capabilities. The company also provides AV Integration services for permanent installations, Innovation R&D support, and Used Sales for purchasing pre-owned equipment. Services span across various markets including exhibitions, conferences, concerts, theatre, brand activations, and virtual production, with the ability to support projects throughout the UK, Europe, and the US.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Studio 19: Virtual production studio featuring extended reality technology, green screen, and virtual production capabilities. Located in London's Royal Lancaster hotel.

Products and services

• Video Solutions Rental Rental of video equipment including projectors, cameras, switchers, screens, and processing for live events, exhibitions, and corporate shows. Targeted at event organisers, production companies, and venues needing reliable video playback and IMAG capability.
• Lighting Equipment Rental Rental of professional lighting fixtures, consoles, and control systems for concerts, theatre, corporate events, and tours. Supplied alongside crew and pre-rigging support where required.
• LED Video Wall Rental Rental of modular LED video wall panels and processing for concerts, exhibitions, conferences, and live broadcasts. Configured to client specifications for indoor and outdoor deployment.
• Rigging Equipment Rental Rental of truss, motors, hoists, and rigging hardware for flying lighting, video, and audio equipment safely in venues and at outdoor events. Includes engineering support and load calculations.
• Audio Equipment Rental Rental of PA systems, microphones, mixing consoles, and backline for live events, conferences, concerts, and theatre productions.
• Studio 19 Virtual Production Facility Purpose-built virtual production studio featuring XR/extended reality technology and LED volume, offered to film, TV, and content production clients for in-camera VFX shoots and pre-visualisation.
• Unit 2 Production Space Secondary production space used for shoots, builds, and pre-visualisation work, complementing the Studio 19 virtual production facility.
• AV Integration Services Design, supply, installation, and commissioning of permanent AV systems for venues, corporate environments, and end-user sites.
• Used Equipment Sales Resale of pre-owned lighting, video, audio, and rigging equipment through an online store, targeted at smaller production buyers, venues, and budget-conscious customers.
• Innovation Services Consultative service supporting clients exploring new event technologies, workflows, and virtual production approaches, leveraging the company's investment in XR and pre-visualisation tools.

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AbsencoreTechnology or IntegrationLED display and video wall equipment supplier. Absen products are included in the rental inventory for video solutions and LED wall installations.
• AluvisioncoreTechnology or IntegrationVideo wall structure and mounting systems provider. Aluvision products complement the video equipment rental inventory.
• ARRIcoreTechnology or IntegrationProfessional camera and lighting equipment manufacturer. ARRI products available in rental inventory for video production.
• AvolitescoreTechnology or IntegrationLighting control console manufacturer. Avolites controllers available as part of lighting equipment rentals.
• AyrtoncoreTechnology or IntegrationLED lighting manufacturer specializing in entertainment and architectural lighting fixtures.
• ChauvetcoreTechnology or IntegrationLighting equipment manufacturer providing fixtures for entertainment and events.
• ChristiecoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital cinema and projection systems provider. Christie projectors available in rental inventory.
• ClayPakycoreTechnology or IntegrationProfessional lighting equipment manufacturer for entertainment industry.
• ElationcoreTechnology or IntegrationLighting equipment manufacturer for entertainment and architectural applications.
• ETCcoreTechnology or IntegrationLighting control systems and fixtures manufacturer. ETC equipment in rental inventory.
• GLPcoreTechnology or IntegrationLighting manufacturer specializing in innovative fixtures for events and productions.
• Highend SystemscoreTechnology or IntegrationLighting control and fixture manufacturer for professional entertainment.
• LGcoreTechnology or IntegrationConsumer and professional display technology provider. LG displays in rental inventory.
• MA LightingcoreTechnology or IntegrationProfessional lighting control console manufacturer. MA Lighting consoles available for rental.
• MartincoreTechnology or IntegrationLighting and control manufacturer providing fixtures and effects equipment.
• PanasoniccoreTechnology or IntegrationProfessional video and projection equipment manufacturer. Panasonic products in rental inventory.
• PlanarcoreTechnology or IntegrationLED display and video wall solutions provider for professional installations.
• ROBEcoreTechnology or IntegrationLighting manufacturer providing automated fixtures for entertainment.
• ROEcoreTechnology or IntegrationLED display and visual solutions manufacturer for events and installations.
• SamsungcoreTechnology or IntegrationDisplay technology provider for video walls and digital signage.
• UnilumincoreTechnology or IntegrationLED display manufacturer providing video wall solutions.
• Vari-LitecoreTechnology or IntegrationLighting manufacturer with heritage in automated lighting fixtures for entertainment.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Freeman: Freeman is a leading brand experience and event production company that supplies AV, staging, and design for large exhibitions and tradeshows — comparable to Smart AV's exhibitions & tradeshows segment but as part of a broader experiential services portfolio.
• NEP Group: NEP provides broadcast and live event AV production services, LED screens, and technical crew worldwide — closely comparable video/LED wall rental capabilities for Smart AV, though with stronger broadcast and sports specialisation.

Direct peers

• PRG (Production Resource Group): PRG is one of the largest global AV equipment rental and production services companies serving live events, concerts, theatre, and broadcast — directly comparable to Smart AV's core lighting, video, and rigging rental business across multiple geographies.
• AV Concepts: AV Concepts is a US-based AV rental and event technology provider specializing in LED walls, projection, and lighting for live events and corporate shows — directly overlapping with Smart AV's video solutions and LED wall rental offerings.
• Encore (formerly PSAV): Encore is the largest provider of event technology and AV rental services to hotels, conferences, and corporate meetings globally — overlapping directly with Smart AV's conference, corporate, and brand activation segments and quoting-based B2B model.
• Bright Event Rentals: Bright Event Rentals supplies AV, furniture, and event equipment rentals for corporate events, weddings, and tradeshows — comparable to Smart AV's rental services for the conference, corporate, and exhibitions segments.

Regional players

• Habmedia: Habmedia is a UK event production company delivering AV, lighting, and staging for conferences, awards, and exhibitions — overlapping with Smart AV's UK conference and corporate event segments.
• Pearce Hire: Pearce Hire is a UK-based AV rental and event production company serving concerts, festivals, and corporate events — directly comparable to Smart AV's UK rental services for live events but operating primarily in the UK.
• Avesco (CT Group): Avesco/CT is a Nordic event technology provider offering AV, lighting, and stage equipment rentals across Northern Europe — comparable to Smart AV's AV rental offering but focused on Scandinavia and continental Europe rather than UK/US.
• Visual Aids Electronics: Visual Aids Electronics is a UK-based AV rental and event production company for corporate and live events — a regional peer competing with Smart AV's UK conference and exhibition business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Smart AV