According to EU-Startups, the pioneering European startup media platform has been acquired by Budapest-based MeOut Group exactly 15 years after founder Thomas Ohr launched the site on October 4, 2010. The platform has published over 12,700 articles, reaches about 300,000 monthly readers, and has organized events ranging from small gatherings to conferences with 2,100 participants. Ohr bootstrapped the business for its first five years while working full-time elsewhere, writing his first 1,500 articles during evenings fueled by caffeine and European patriotism. The platform now boasts 75,000 newsletter subscribers and significant social media followings across Facebook (48,000), X (45,500), LinkedIn (130,000), and Instagram (34,500). Ohr will remain as CEO and the team will continue operating independently from their Barcelona office under Menlo Media SL.
European startup media survivor
Here’s the thing about media businesses focused on startups – they’re notoriously difficult to sustain. We’ve seen so many come and go over the years. TechCrunch Europe scaling back, TNW shutting down, and countless smaller publications disappearing. But EU-Startups managed to not just survive but actually grow steadily through all the turbulence.
What’s really impressive is how Ohr built this basically as a passion project for five years without paying himself anything. That’s commitment. He wrote those first 1,500 articles after his day job in German media, which is just staggering when you think about it. How many people would stick with something that long without any financial reward?
Pandemic challenges and comeback
The pandemic hit event-focused businesses particularly hard, and EU-Startups was no exception. But they adapted quickly to online events and then came roaring back with record attendance when in-person gatherings returned. That resilience says a lot about the team’s dedication and the community’s loyalty.
I mean, think about it – how many media companies actually grew their event business post-pandemic? Not many. Yet they managed to set new attendance records. That suggests they’ve built something genuinely valuable that people want to be part of, not just another industry conference.
Why this acquisition matters
The MeOut Group acquisition is interesting because it’s not your typical private equity play. MeOut focuses on innovation, education, and entrepreneurship with about 100 employees across Budapest, Brussels, and Copenhagen. They’re already involved in EU projects related to these areas, which aligns perfectly with EU-Startups’ mission.
This could actually be a smart move for both sides. MeOut gets an established media brand with serious reach across European startups, while EU-Startups gets the resources to expand without losing its independence or vision. Ohr staying on as CEO is crucial – he’s the heart and soul of the operation.
What’s next for European tech coverage
Looking ahead, this acquisition comes at a fascinating time for tech media. We’re seeing AI transform content creation, social media platforms becoming less reliable for distribution, and reader habits shifting constantly. Yet the need for quality coverage of European startups has never been more important.
The fact that EU-Startups has survived 15 years through multiple tech cycles suggests they understand something fundamental about serving this community. They’re not just reporting on startups – they’re actively connecting founders with investors, helping startups get international visibility, and even facilitating marriages apparently!
Basically, they’ve become part of the infrastructure that makes the European ecosystem work. And with MeOut’s backing, they might just have the fuel to keep growing for another 15 years.
