The Midwest matters. That is our motto here at Techli.
If you are reading this article, you probably already knew that. This is important to remind ourselves, however, because it is often forgotten amongs the hype over Silicon Valley. It is also why we here at Techli aim to provide a spotlight on this important region.
Now here is something you may not know: Central and Eastern Europe matters, too — and the region is a lot more similar to the Midwest than you may have believed.
Adrian Pica, Co- Founder of 150sec
Just as the Midwest is often overlooked by its Western counterpart, so too is Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) overlooked by its Western counterparts: London, Berlin, and Amsterdam, among others.
However, there is a publication, just like Techli, that aims to highlight the importance of the region and bring it the attention it deserves. That publication is called 150sec, and it was just acquired by ESPACIO — the same incubator that owns Techli and keeps you in the loop about the Midwest.
The new addition of this publication furthers Espacio’s agenda of being a leading source for news about rising entrepreneurs and startups that are paving the way in freshly burgeoning areas.
“We see a lot of interesting ideas and technology in the CEE region and this is reflected in the number of investors that are heading there,” said CEO of Espacio Conrad Egusa. “This interest, however, is not always reflected in the media coverage that these incredible startups receive. This is something that 150sec has been working to change — and that we will continue to work on here.”
150sec was originally founded in 2015 by Adrian Pica and Agata Kukwa as the first community focused website featuring startup, tech, and events news in the CEE region. Pica and Kukwa are both seasoned entrepreneurs and leaders in Europe’s startup ecosystem, and are excited about the publication’s integration into the Espacio portfolio, with Craig Corbett as 150sec‘s new Chairman.
Agata Kukwa, Co-Founder of 150sec
“Agata and I believe in the startups in Central Europe, and in the potential of entrepreneurs here,” said 150sec Founder Adrian Pica. “When we spoke to Conrad and talked about the investments he planned to make into the editorial team and into 150sec, we felt it provided an important opportunity for the CEE ecosystem and its media here.”
Like the Midwest, the CEE ecosystem has recently gained significant attention for its rapid ascent to prominence within the global realm of startups and tech. In fact, between 2012 and 2016, the Central European region witnessed tenfold increase in investment and is expected to grow even more.
“My team’s goal is really to further the mission of Adrian and Agata in building the premier publication and platform for startups and entrepreneurs in Central Europe,” said Egusa.
Together, Techli and 150sec will be crucial resources for highlighting up-and-coming startup ecosystems and the innovative technologies that come from them. Moreover, they will serve to remind us that innovation is not only possible, but already happening outside the bounds of Silicon Valley.
About 150sec
150sec is a media publication that has the mission to spread news on the startups, communities, and events in the CEE region. The publication was founded in 2015 by Adrian Pica and Agata Kukwa.
About Espacio
ESPACIO is a media incubator founded in 2013 by Conrad Egusa and Eddie Arrieta.