Everyone in the world of startups has heard about the publication EU-Startups. Of course, it’s one of the most widely read European startup outlets. Its flagship annual event brings together dozens of speakers, and hundreds of startups and investors to their home turf, Barcelona. But how many of you have heard directly about them from their editorial director? We’re fans of flipping things around, turning the tables and, inevitably, it was their turn.
Join us as we ask Belfast-raised, Barcelona-based Patricia Allen about life as a Europe-focused startup journalist, her feedback for PR peeps and even her personal inspirations from the tech and startup world. Vamossss!
EU Startups, Patricia’s role and background
Where are you from and what were you doing before joining EU Startups?
Patricia Allen: I’m originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland and now I’m living in Barcelona, my dream city. Before I joined EU-Startups, I was working for an Irish startup, SciLeads – and just before that, I was finishing off my master’s in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice – so there have been some career rethinks along the way!
What is your role at EU Startups?
Patricia Allen: I’m the Editorial Director at EU-Startups, which means I’m the person bringing you the daily startup news from EU-Startups, investigating what’s going on in the wider European entrepreneurial ecosystem, hosting our podcast and managing our communications. I want to create content that connects the wider startup ecosystem and shines a light on interesting and impactful innovation.
Tell us about the history of EU Startups. How did it start out and where would you say it finds itself today?
Patricia Allen: EU-Startups began life back in 2010 in Germany, founded by current CEO Thomas Ohr, and now the core team is based in Barcelona. We write about internet and tech startups out of Europe and provide our readers with data-driven analysis, interviews and startup-related news. Each year, we host our flagship EU-Startups Summit which aims to connect the key players within Europe’s startup ecosystem for two days of networking, inspiration and learning. EU-Startups’ vision is to connect the European startup scene and to encourage entrepreneurship within Europe. We consider ourselves impact-led and we have one of the biggest networks of startup media publications in Europe.
What stories does EU Startups look for?
Patricia Allen: We want to highlight what is going in Europe, paint an accurate picture of the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem, and also highlight the innovators that are leaving genuine, positive impacts for the betterment of society as a whole. We’re interested in stories across verticals, from fintech to healthtech and from greentech to femtech – but, those that have more meaning attached to them tend to shine.
Where is EU Startups heading in the next years?
Patricia Allen: The aim is to keep growing! EU-Startups wants to continue this journey of connecting Europe’s startup community with quality content, news updates and our flagship annual event.
The startup world
What is the most exciting thing in your opinion about working in the world of startups?
Patricia Allen: You get to discover all the new innovations, solutions and ideas that are shaping the future. Startups are literally changing how we live, how we interact and how we work – being involved in this world is so fast-paced and dynamic, it never sleeps, and you get to see these ideas develop and take over the world. Think about food delivery for example – that’s thanks to startups. Remote working – startups. Making our households more eco-friendly – startups. Even how we date and meet new people – startups.
You see lots of press releases, email pitches, you talk to founders, investors. Where do you see the world of startups going in Europe? Is it all about investor hype cycles (e.g. web3, carbon, now AI)? What are the overarching trends that you see?
Patricia Allen: I think the green transition is one of the biggest trends – and what is interesting about it is that it infiltrates different tech verticals. You have startups and investors getting excited about how the financial world can have a positive green impact, for example. I think it’s super exciting to see that we’re now entering into an era of tech overlaps – AI startups don’t have to just be AI startups – they can also touch upon different areas. Green tech isn’t just green tech. These new possibilities for collaboration can have a profound impact.
What type of startup or founder inspires you the most?
Patricia Allen: Those founders that have a clear vision, that stay true to it, and remain committed despite the challenges. Being able to lead a startup from a place of purpose and passion, rally a team around that, and win over support – that’s damn impressive.
Aside from the bigger European countries, what do you think is an exciting region that might get overlooked?
Patricia Allen: Southern Europe! A combo of native entrepreneurs from these regions, backed by ever-more prevalent accelerators and programmes as well as the rise of remote working, digital nomads and startup visas in the south of the continent have created a really interesting talent pool and entrepreneurial network. Watch that space for sure!
The journo life and tips for PR professionals
Could you give us a look of what your day or week look like?
Patricia Allen: Lots of reading and writing haha! At EU-Startups we work from our little office in the Gracia neighbourhood. I like to start the day with some activity so my day begins with a quick gym session before heading to the office. The morning is when I get on top of all of the media requests and emails and get the news stories out. Then the afternoon, I tend to use to focus on different content output, prepare stories, and get on top of different things!
How many pitches do you get every day?
Patricia Allen: Soooo many. I think Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the busiest days. On the busier days, my email inbox can be a crazy place – we literally get hundreds of pitches every day. In addition to pitches, I also have different emails pinging in for different activities etc. Email inboxes can be scary places…
How many of those would you say are legit pitches with newsworthy information?
To be fair, I think a majority are legit pitches. Newsworthy, though, is a different question. It’s always interesting to learn about new startups, launches and so forth – but interesting doesn’t always mean newsworthy.
And good pitches, well written and crafted?
Patricia Allen: No comment… hahah I’m joking. You would be surprised at the amount of poorly-written pieces, but generally, if there is an effort put in, I won’t complain or criticise too much. Each journalist is different and expects different things, consistency and clarity are key.
What do the best pitches have in common?
Patricia Allen: Being clear, well-formatted, and concise. Get to the point pretty quickly of what you are pitching and why. It needs to be easy to access and include everything we need to know to cover a story.
And what should PR pros avoid in a pitch?
Patricia Allen: Try to avoid too much technical jargon, ‘PR’/promotional language, and going off course. Keep concise, keep clear. Let us know what we need to know, why, and what you would like us to do with it. Please also make it very clear if there is an embargo/exclusivity.
Patricia outside of work
What are your hobbies?
Patricia Allen: I’m a pretty active person and really enjoy doing some sports/physical activity during the week. I also love going for walks and hikes, getting into nature and having a little getaway – it’s so good for your mind, body and spirit. Going on getaways, trips and exploring new places is something I love to do.
My friends and keeping social are also really important to me. I’m also a bit of a foodie – I love cooking, hosting and trying new cafes, restaurants, bars…
What do Sundays (or days off) look like for you?
Patricia Allen: A Sunday well spent brings a week of content! That’s my belief.
For me a good Sunday involves a long hike, time spent catching up with friends (in Barcelona, this tends to involve a Vermut and patatas bravas) and taking space to rest, reset and reconnect.
What was the funniest thing that happened to you in your journey so far?
Patricia Allen: Good question! I need internal confirmation on the details to share that 😉
Have you seen the rest of our blog yet? Here is more from our Journalist’s Insights series:
Busting Journalism Myths with Lindsay Dodgson from Business Insider
Diving into fintech journalism with Doug Mackenzie from Fintech Finance
Securing media placements during COVID-19 with Yessi Bello-Perez from The Next Web
