The European answer to TBPN is here and ready to go live five days a week, starting June 27.
Key Takeaways:
- **Rapid Expansion Fueled by Capital:** The European Technology Network (ETN), initially a bi-weekly livestream, has secured $1.6 million in seed funding from major media and tech investors, enabling its transition to a five-day-a-week live show from a new Kings Cross studio.
- **Addressing a European Media Void:** Founders Luke Knight and Ronan Chambers identified a “gaping hole” in European tech media, citing the unprecedented pace of innovation and capital flow (e.g., London startups raising $14.7 billion this year) that traditional outlets struggle to cover adequately.
- **A New Model for Tech Discourse:** Positioned as “tech insiders” rather than traditional journalists, ETN aims to be a primary “stage” for European tech voices, fostering vital discourse on AI, venture capital, and local successes, while drawing inspiration from the community-driven model pioneered by TBPN.
European Technology Network Scales Up: A New Voice for Continent’s Blistering Tech Scene
London, UK – The European Technology Network (ETN), often dubbed the continent’s answer to the highly influential TBPN, is set to revolutionize its coverage, expanding to a five-day-a-week live broadcast schedule starting June 27. This ambitious move, announced amidst a fresh $1.6 million seed funding round, signals a significant escalation in ETN’s mission to chronicle and amplify the rapidly accelerating European tech landscape.
Co-founded by Luke Knight and Ronan Chambers, ETN first launched in October, quickly establishing itself as a crucial hub for breaking down tech trends and news. Operating with a lean team and a twice-weekly livestream on X and YouTube, the network has already captivated a substantial audience, garnering over 5 million views and becoming a go-to destination for founders and investors alike.
Fueling Growth: A Strategic Capital Injection and Ambitious Expansion
The network’s recent $1.6 million seed round underscores the immense potential recognized by a diverse array of prominent investors. Powerhouse Capital, Axel Springer SE (the media giant behind Business Insider and Politico), a co-founder of the popular media publication LadBible, and angel investors from tech titans like OpenAI and DeepMind, have all thrown their weight behind ETN. This fresh capital is the catalyst for ETN’s most significant expansion to date.
With this new funding, ETN is poised for a dramatic transformation. The team, currently comprising a nimble eight individuals, is set for considerable growth. The network is also relocating to a spacious, state-of-the-art studio in Kings Cross – a strategic choice, given the area’s reputation as a hotbed for London’s burgeoning AI startups. Beyond physical expansion, ETN is set to launch a dedicated newsletter, further broadening its reach and content offerings. The cornerstone of this expansion, however, is the shift to a daily live show, which will soon feature high-profile interviews with figures such as George Robson, a partner at Sequoia, and Rishi Sunak, the former UK Prime Minister and a senior advisor to Anthropic and Microsoft.
Identifying and Filling a “Gaping Hole” in European Tech Media
The genesis of ETN, according to co-founder Ronan Chambers, sprung from a glaring deficiency in the existing media ecosystem. “ETN was born out of a gaping hole in the industry,” Chambers told TechCrunch, emphasizing the network’s focus on “pace.” He argues that traditional media outlets in the UK and wider Europe have struggled to keep up with the breakneck speed of technological advancements and capital flows across the continent.
The statistics paint a vivid picture of this acceleration: London startups alone have attracted an astounding $14.7 billion in funding this year, as reported by Dealroom. Six companies have secured over $500 million each, including Wayve, Superintelligence, ElevenLabs, Recursive, Ineffable Intelligence, and Isomorphic Labs – notably, the latter three were founded by DeepMind alumni. “These are things that have never happened in Europe before,” Chambers remarked, highlighting the unprecedented velocity of capital infusion into the ecosystem.
The demand for ETN’s platform quickly outstripped its initial capacity. Chambers recounted receiving approximately 70 pitches per week from potential guests. Attempting to cram 12 interviews into a two-hour show, twice a week, became unsustainable. “We needed an outlet that could move at the pace of that,” he stated, referring to both the overwhelming interest in the show and the relentless momentum of Europe’s tech scene. This urgent need directly propelled their decision to transition from a bi-weekly to a five-day-a-week format.
A Dynamic New Format and a Broader Mission
The expanded five-day format will largely mirror the successful structure of its predecessor. Each day, a live show will run from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. UK time, meticulously breaking down trending stories. This will be followed by two dedicated hours featuring guests who can delve into topics of their choosing. Looking ahead, Chambers also revealed plans to introduce dynamic elements such as debates, roundtables, and even a “Shark Tank-style pitching session” to the show, further enriching the content and engagement.
Chambers articulated ETN’s core mission: “We want to make it as useful as we can for the ecosystem.” He stressed the necessity for increased dialogue around critical issues, stating, “There needs to be more discourse around AI in Europe. There needs to be more discourse around venture capital and cash flowing into the ecosystem. There needs to be more discourse around the amazing things that are happening in the tech ecosystem, and our role is to be the stage in which people can shout about all the amazing things they’re doing.”
ETN’s revenue model, like many modern media publications, relies on ad dollars. The network has already attracted an impressive roster of big-name sponsors, including prediction market Polymarket, blockchain company Base, and the celebrated AI audio firm, ElevenLabs.
Inspired by TBPN, Forging a Unique European Identity
When asked about the influence of TBPN, Knight and Chambers openly acknowledged their admiration for John Coogan and Jordi Hays, the founders of TBPN, whom they view as trailblazers in this new wave of tech media. TBPN carved out a niche as a welcoming platform for tech guests to announce product launches, new hires, or funding news in a congenial environment. Chambers reflected on this model, posing, “My thinking was, if we can have an ITV and a BBC, why wouldn’t we have a regional version of this?”
Europe’s vast and diverse landscape, encompassing over 40 countries and more than 200 spoken languages, presents a unique challenge and opportunity. While ETN will operate from its London base, Chambers and Knight are committed to featuring guests from across the continent. Their dedication extends beyond the studio, as they actively travel to leading tech conferences throughout Europe, having broadcast from the Panathenaea Conference in Athens and even from within the Louvre in Paris for the RAISE AI Summit. Chambers emphasized how this diversity is a strength: “You have all these different cultures, these different minds coming together and creating different products. You get a taste of what makes [Europe] a superpower.”
Despite its European focus, ETN maintains a global outlook. Chambers clarified that they would never decline an American founder interested in appearing on the show, asserting, “It’s a European technology network, but we think there’s massive [global] opportunities.” Knight echoed this sentiment, noting the common tendency to frame the European tech ecosystem in opposition to the U.S. “We are globally optimistic,” Knight declared. “We are pushing global prosperity from Europe. Wherever you want to go and build your company, wherever is the best place to go and build that company, go and do that, and we will shout for you to go and do that.”
Significantly, Knight and Chambers do not define themselves as traditional journalists. Instead, they consider themselves “tech insiders” driven by curiosity about the intricate workings and underlying reasons behind industry developments. They also see ETN not as a replacement for traditional media but as a complementary force. “We rely on traditional media,” Chambers admitted, highlighting how many of their stories originate from established publications.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators
Ultimately, the duo’s vision extends beyond mere reporting. They aspire to meticulously document the success stories emerging from Europe’s new wave of innovation, spanning from London’s ElevenLabs to Stockholm’s Lovable. Their goal is to inspire the next generation, fostering an understanding that technology is a powerful engine for national progress. Chambers articulated this transformative impact: “It riles up the next generation to the point where it’s no longer cool to finish university and go into banking or consulting. People want to leave university and go straight into building a startup, and I think that’s an amazing thing.”
Bottom Line:
The European Technology Network’s rapid expansion and significant funding round mark a pivotal moment for European tech media. By embracing a high-paced, community-driven approach and positioning itself as a vital “stage” for discourse, ETN is not merely reporting on the continent’s tech boom; it is actively shaping its narrative and inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs, solidifying Europe’s position as a global innovation powerhouse.
This piece was updated to clarify who invested in the company.
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