Summary:
TechCrunch's exit from Europe marks the end of an era for startups seeking visibility and validation.
Early features in TechCrunch were pivotal for startups like Monite, attracting investor interest and aiding in sales pitches.
The layoffs include long-serving journalists, with many expressing disappointment over the decision to halt international coverage.
Steve O'Hear's legacy is remembered as instrumental in showcasing European startups to a global audience.
The loss of TechCrunch Europe is seen as a significant blow to the ecosystem, reducing opportunities for startups to gain US visibility.
European startups are reeling from TechCrunch's sudden withdrawal from the region, a move that has seen the closure of local operations and the redundancy of many long-serving journalists. For over a decade, TechCrunch Europe was the go-to platform for startups seeking visibility, having spotlighted now-industry giants like Revolut, Wise, and Vinted in their early days.
The impact is profound, with Chad West, former comms lead at Revolut, describing it as "a gut punch to the ecosystem." Andrei Korchak, cofounder of Monite, highlights how a TechCrunch feature was instrumental in their growth, serving as a validation tool in sales pitches and attracting investor interest, especially from the US.
The Team Behind the Legacy
The exit follows TechCrunch's acquisition by private equity firm Regent from Yahoo in March. While the exact number of layoffs remains unconfirmed, several key figures, including Ingrid Lunden, Natasha Lomas, and Paul Sawers, have announced their departures. Romain Dillet expressed his disagreement with the decision to deem international startup coverage non-essential, a sentiment echoed by many in the industry.
Mike Butcher, a name synonymous with TechCrunch in Europe, confirmed his departure after 18 years, marking the end of an era for the publication's European coverage.
Remembering Steve O'Hear
The article pays tribute to Steve O'Hear, a pivotal figure in TechCrunch's European operations, whose work left an indelible mark on the startup ecosystem. His interviews, including one with GoCardless CEO Hiroki Takeuchi, were milestones for many startups, offering them a platform to share their stories with a global audience.
Chad West and others praised O'Hear and his colleagues for their dedication to the European startup scene, calling out their role in giving startups "oxygen when nobody else was paying attention."
Cathy White, a seasoned comms professional and angel investor, lamented the loss of a key channel for European startups to gain visibility in the US, calling it "a gaping hole that will do us all a disservice."
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