ETN Raises $1.6M, Scales TBPN-Style Daily Show
28 Jul 2026
European Tech Network (ETN), the London-based tech media outfit founded by Luke Knight and Ronan Chambers, has raised a $1.6 million seed round and is scaling up its live-show operations in a bid to become Europe's answer to TBPN.
The round, announced Monday, includes backing from Powerhouse Capital, Axel Springer SE (owner of Business Insider and Politico), a LadBible co-founder, and angel investors from OpenAI and DeepMind. ETN is using the capital to move into a new studio near King's Cross, launch a newsletter, and expand its live show schedule from two days a week to five, starting June 27. The show runs daily from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. UK time.
From October launch to 5M+ views
ETN launched in October and has since hosted founders from Synthesia, Granola, and Legora, along with high-profile guests including UK AI minister Kanishka Narayan and F1 champion Nico Rosberg. Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is scheduled to appear on the show Tuesday.
The company says its content has drawn more than 5 million views across YouTube and X. Demand to appear on the show is reportedly intense: ETN receives 60–70 story pitches a week, according to Sifted, while TechCrunch puts the figure closer to 70. Two internship roles at the company drew over 300 applications within two days.
Co-founder Ronan Chambers said ETN was "born out of a gaping hole in the industry" and is "centered around pace," adding that the team is "taking this incredibly seriously because Europe needs more discussion around AI, and it needs that discussion to happen faster." Co-founder Luke Knight framed the company's mission in broader terms: "We are globally optimistic. We are pushing global prosperity from Europe."
A lean team scaling fast
ETN currently operates with an eight-person team, which recently added Alexandra Best (former Bloomberg chief of staff), the former head of video production at Tottenham Hotspur, and four former TBPN employees. That's a notably small crew to support a jump to five live shows a week — a scaling challenge the company will need to manage as it grows.
The timing is notable: TBPN, the US show ETN is often compared to, was recently sold to OpenAI, intensifying competition in tech media and potentially freeing up talent and attention that ETN could capture.
Sponsorship revenue currently comes in part from crypto-adjacent companies including Polymarket and Base, alongside ElevenLabs — a mix that ties some of ETN's financial footing to more volatile sectors.
Backdrop: a booming London funding scene
ETN's expansion comes against a strong fundraising backdrop in its home market. London startups have raised $14.7 billion so far this year, according to TechCrunch, though Sifted cites the figure as €13.4 billion — sources differ on both currency and amount. Six London companies have each raised more than $500 million this year, underscoring the scale of capital moving through the ecosystem ETN aims to cover.
Why founders should care
For early-stage founders in Europe, ETN's rise likely signals a growing distribution channel for startup visibility, particularly given its reported 5 million-plus views and expanding show schedule. However, with 60–70 pitches arriving weekly, founders hoping to land a guest slot may increasingly need sharp, timely positioning to stand out — and the volume of interest raises a reasonable possibility of selection bias in who gets covered. The shift to five shows a week could mean more opportunities to appear, but it may also draw more competition for those slots as ETN's profile grows. Founders building in AI, crypto, or adjacent sectors may also want to watch how ETN's sponsorship mix and guest lineup evolve, as it could hint at where media and investor attention is concentrating next.
Open questions
Several details remain undisclosed, including the valuation attached to the $1.6 million round, whether any single investor led it, and how ETN plans to monetize beyond sponsorships. It's also unclear how much total content ETN has produced since launch, how its audience has grown over time, and why Sifted's "8 months" timeframe doesn't neatly align with the company's October launch date.