London-based European tech network ETN has announced the completion of a $1.6 million seed funding round and will expand its live streaming schedule from two days a week to five days a week. The platform currently streams on X and YouTube, claiming to have accumulated over 5 million views.
Funders include media and AI practitioners
This round of investors includes Powerhouse Capital, German media group Axel Springer SE, media brand LadBible, and angel investors from OpenAI and DeepMind. The new funding will be used to move into a new recording studio in King's Cross, London, expand the team, and promote the regular operation of the program.
ETN was launched last October by Luke Knight and Ronan Chambers, initially as a twice-weekly live broadcast discussing European tech news and industry trends. The two founders told TechCrunch that as funding for European startups has heated up, the show has gradually become a platform for interviews with a high volume of entrepreneurs and investors.
Program Expansion Bets on European AI Popularity
According to ETN, the platform receives about 70 guest requests per week. Previously, they could schedule up to 12 interviews within a two-hour program, but with the increase in demand, the original pace could no longer keep up.
The two founders believe that the European tech industry, especially AI startups, is entering a phase of faster expansion. The report cites Dealroom data showing that London-based startups have raised $14.7 billion this year, with six companies raising over $500 million in a single round, including Wayve, ElevenLabs, and Isomorphic Labs.
- Streaming platforms: X, YouTube
- Current team size: 8 people
- New arrangement: Live broadcast 5 days a week
Targeting European technology interview portals
ETN stated that the program interviewed the founders of Synthesia, Legora, and Granola, as well as Kanishka Narayan, the UK's first AI Minister. The platform has also attracted participation from American investors visiting Europe, including representatives from Andreessen Horowitz.
Next, the program plans to invite guests such as Sequoia Capital partner George Robson, and former British Prime Minister and current Anthropic and Microsoft senior advisor Rishi Sunak.
The two founders stated that the platform does not intend to replace traditional media, but rather hopes to operate in parallel with existing media, providing faster coverage of European tech company funding, product launches, and executive activities. They also indicated that while ETN is based in Europe, it will not exclude American entrepreneurs.
Starting from London and covering European venues
In addition to studio interviews, ETN also streams live from technology events across Europe. The report mentions that the platform produced programs for the Panathenaea Conference in Athens and the RAISE AI Summit in Paris.
The founding team believes that the European tech industry is creating a stronger entrepreneurial demonstration effect, and with more success stories, more young people are likely to shift from traditional finance and consulting roles to entrepreneurship and technology. This is one of the reasons they decided to accelerate the program's pace and expand its reach.
