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> but it does feel like it's yet another distraction from their core services. It is basically marketing. I am not sure everyone would call that a distraction

> but it does feel like it's yet another distraction from their core services. It is basically marketing. I am not sure everyone would call that a distraction if it gives kagi more visibility and thus, customers and revenues to spend on r&d. Belgrade is a good place to test if that marketing works. It is a tech hub, which means higher probability to get new kagi subsribers, and it is not too expensive as a place to do an experiment. If they realize the ratio between money spent on this coworking space vs customer gained in that area in a year is not in their favor they can easily not renew their rent and shut it off.

deaux 11mo ago
Out of curiosity what makes Belgrade a tech hub moreso than other capitals with similar population and HDI?
- dccoolgai 11mo ago
  Belgrade, historically, was a "gateway between East and West" and in some ways it still is: as a non-EU member in Europe it has access to a broader range of markets than a lot of other cities. I think recently, the wave of Russian tech workers fleeing Russia has also elevated its "tech hub" status.
  - ignoramous 11mo ago
    > Russian tech workers fleeing Russia has also elevated its "tech hub" status. Fleeing as in seeking asylum? Or fleeing as in sanctions? If the latter, besides the Slavic nations, I'd have thought Germany, the UAE, Israel, and Canada to be more popular?
    - dccoolgai 11mo ago
      Fleeing as in "I don't want to die in Putin's war". I've heard from friends that it's actually becoming an issue with locals there (the overwhelming number of Russians who have moved there) to the point where it's beginning to strain the relationship between Russia and Serbia, who have historically been very closely aligned.
    - throw-the-towel 11mo ago
      The UAE has an awful climate. Germany is in the EU, with all of its drawbacks. Canada is far away and expensive. (But yes, these are popular.)
    - u8080 11mo ago
      Like in avoiding participation and being worried about future, speaking as Russian Kagi user from Belgrade. Most popular places to move I guess are Georgia(365 daya visa-free, easy to reach), Serbia, UAE, Cyprus, Poland.
- contrarian1234 11mo ago
  My impression is that b/c they're non-EU they've retained a lot more local talent. By contrast, any half decent programmer in Croatia has a very strong incentive to get a job in Germany and make a much higher salary

deaux 11mo ago

Out of curiosity what makes Belgrade a tech hub moreso than other capitals with similar population and HDI?

dccoolgai 11mo ago
Belgrade, historically, was a "gateway between East and West" and in some ways it still is: as a non-EU member in Europe it has access to a broader range of markets than a lot of other cities. I think recently, the wave of Russian tech workers fleeing Russia has also elevated its "tech hub" status.
- ignoramous 11mo ago
  > Russian tech workers fleeing Russia has also elevated its "tech hub" status. Fleeing as in seeking asylum? Or fleeing as in sanctions? If the latter, besides the Slavic nations, I'd have thought Germany, the UAE, Israel, and Canada to be more popular?
  - dccoolgai 11mo ago
    Fleeing as in "I don't want to die in Putin's war". I've heard from friends that it's actually becoming an issue with locals there (the overwhelming number of Russians who have moved there) to the point where it's beginning to strain the relationship between Russia and Serbia, who have historically been very closely aligned.
  - throw-the-towel 11mo ago
    The UAE has an awful climate. Germany is in the EU, with all of its drawbacks. Canada is far away and expensive. (But yes, these are popular.)
  - u8080 11mo ago
    Like in avoiding participation and being worried about future, speaking as Russian Kagi user from Belgrade. Most popular places to move I guess are Georgia(365 daya visa-free, easy to reach), Serbia, UAE, Cyprus, Poland.
contrarian1234 11mo ago
My impression is that b/c they're non-EU they've retained a lot more local talent. By contrast, any half decent programmer in Croatia has a very strong incentive to get a job in Germany and make a much higher salary