The European Pirate Summit puts the ‘Arrr!’ in Startups [Video]

This week saw the first European Pirate Summit take place. Held in Cologne, Germany, in a scrapyard that is used as home for a community of artists and as a clubnight venue, this was a startup conference with a difference.

Aimed at bold, risk-taking entrepreneurs with a ‘pirate’ attitude, the one-day event featured the same mix of panels, keynotes and networking that other conferences offer. However, its venue (we all shouted a piratey “Arrr!” at the noisy passing trains) and the strict restriction on attendees being startup founders, meant that it felt very different to other, similar events.

I caught up with one of the organisers, Manuel Koelman to discover the story behind the Summit.