In this episode of A Brief Coffee With…, Cathy sits down with Thomas Ohr, founder of EU-Startups, to discuss the evolution of startup media, the realities of running an independent publication, and what founders need to understand if they want to earn meaningful coverage.

Thomas shares the story behind building EU-Startups from a hobby blog into one of Europe’s leading startup publications, reflects on the company’s recent acquisition, and explains why storytelling, not product features, is often the difference between getting noticed and getting ignored.

From AI-generated pitches to startup events, media relationships, and the future of European tech journalism, this episode is packed with practical advice for founders, PR professionals, and anyone trying to stand out in a crowded market.

Key moments

00:00 – Meet Thomas Ohr, founder of EU-Startups

02:00 – Reflecting on the EU-Startups Summit in Malta

03:00 – Building EU-Startups from a hobby project to a leading publication

06:00 – The acquisition of EU-Startups and what changes next

07:20 – The changing startup media landscape in the age of AI

08:15 – What EU-Startups looks for in startup stories

09:15 – Why founders need better narratives, not more features

11:00 – How to get a journalist’s attention

12:20 – Why AI-written pitches are hurting founders

14:15 – The role of thought leadership and opinion pieces

15:00 – What makes a great podcast guest

16:30 – Quick fire: pitching journalists, exclusives and press releases

18:00 – What founders consistently get wrong with media

19:15 – New projects, African Startups and the Me Out Summit

21:00 – How to pitch EU-Startups and connect with the team

If you’re looking for support with your communications, get in touch at cewcomms.com.

In this episode of A Brief Coffee With…, Cathy sits down with Martin Bryant, founder of PreSeed Now, to unpack what really makes an early-stage startup stand out — and why storytelling can be just as important as the technology itself.

From deep tech communication challenges to the realities of modern startup media, Martin shares what he’s learned from covering hundreds of pre-seed companies across the UK startup ecosystem. The conversation also explores how founders can improve their narrative, why investors sometimes struggle to understand technical businesses, and what PRs should stop doing when pitching journalists.

Key moments

00:00 – Meet Martin Bryant & the story behind PreSeed Now 02:15 – Why Martin launched a publication focused on pre-seed startups 03:10 – How the startup funding landscape has changed in recent years 04:30 – From ElevenLabs to hidden gems: spotting startups early 05:40 – How PreSeed Now has helped founders attract investors 06:20 – Why deep tech founders struggle with storytelling 07:00 – The importance of leading with impact, not complexity 08:10 – Martin’s journalism journey: TNW, Tech Nation & startup comms 09:30 – Journalism vs communications: can the two coexist? 10:45 – Why Martin moved from Substack to Beehiiv 11:40 – The rise of creator-led media in tech journalism 12:20 – How Martin handles startup pitches today 13:50 – Why email still beats LinkedIn DMs 15:00 – Tips for first-time founders doing media interviews 16:40 – The “duty of care” Martin feels towards early-stage startups 17:20 – Why founders shouldn’t obsess over early valuations 18:50 – Quick fire: pitching, press releases & PR mistakes 21:50 – Martin’s advice for every founder: build a “micro pitch” 22:40 – How to contact Martin & pitch PreSeed Now

If you're looking for support with your communications, get in touch at cewcomms.com.

In episode five of A Brief Coffee With…, Cathy sits down with Freya Pratty, Associate Editor at Sifted, to unpack what’s really happening inside Europe’s startup ecosystem right now — from AI hype cycles and robotics to media narratives, founder storytelling, and the return of “tech bro” culture.

Fresh from her promotion at Sifted, Freya shares what’s catching her attention across the UK startup landscape, why she’s increasingly interested in the “middle generation” of startups adapting to the AI era, and what founders still misunderstand about working with journalists.

The conversation also dives into the growing problem of AI-generated comments and press materials, how tech media should balance amplification with accountability, and why some of the most important conversations in tech are still the hardest to have.

00:00 – Meet Freya Pratty, Associate Editor at Sifted 02:00 – Freya’s new role and evolving UK coverage 03:00 – What startup stories are standing out right now 05:00 – Why hardware and AI companies are spreading beyond London 07:00 – The best way to pitch Freya and Sifted 08:30 – AI-generated comments, press releases, and “slop” 10:30 – The psychology of AI-generated writing 11:00 – Inside Freya’s “tech bro culture” article and the backlash 13:00 – Why criticism and accountability matter in tech media 16:00 – Tech media’s role beyond startup amplification 19:00 – What Freya wants to hear from founders right now 20:00 – The “middle generation” of startups navigating the AI boom 21:00 – Is climate tech disappearing or just being rebranded? 23:00 – Quick fire: pitches, PR mistakes, and founder storytelling 25:00 – Why Sifted doesn’t cover product launches 27:00 – Freya’s preferred ways to connect

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