‘I want to be the MrBeast of tech’: Why Max Tkacz left n8n to become a Youtube gameshow host

2026-07-08 · Source: Sifted · Field: Technology & Digital — Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Emerging Technologies & Innovation · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, short

Summary

Max Tkacz, 32, a former product designer and third employee at Berlin AI company n8n (now valued at \$5.2bn), has left his lucrative six-year role to establish Flowgramming Studios. This new video production company, based in a 350-square-metre Berlin warehouse, aims to create tech-focused gameshows inspired by YouTube megastar MrBeast. Flowgramming Studios has secured €295k in funding, with €40k personally invested by Tkacz. His concepts include a "token-maxxing icebath challenge" where contestants burn 100k AI tokens in five minutes, and "MVP mansion," a Big Brother-style show for app development. Tkacz's pivot was emboldened by the viral success of "Agentic Arena," an AI agent-building gameshow he hosted for n8n, which garnered 145k views in days and led to enterprise deals. Despite n8n offering him €200k to stay, he chose to pursue his vision, advocating for the tech industry to embrace more "cringey" and engaging content.

Key takeaway

For marketing professionals struggling with online engagement in the tech sector, consider adopting unconventional, spectacle-driven content strategies. Your traditional marketing efforts may be less effective than "cringey" internet-native formats like gameshows or challenges. Embrace authenticity and bold ideas to cut through the noise, as demonstrated by "Agentic Arena" generating 145k views and enterprise deals. You should explore creating highly engaging, even absurd, video content to capture attention and drive tangible business results.

Key insights

Engaging tech content can achieve viral reach and drive significant business outcomes, outperforming traditional marketing.

Principles

• Spectacle and absurdity attract online audiences.
• Authenticity and self-expression resonate deeply.
• Viral content can lead to enterprise deals.

Method

Create internet-native gameshows for tech audiences, blending spectacle with challenges like burning AI tokens or building apps in a villa.

In practice

• Host a one-on-one AI agent-building gameshow.
• Develop "Fake Product Fridays" for imaginary gadgets.
• Document studio setup in a YouTube series.

Topics

• YouTube Content Strategy
• Tech Marketing
• AI Agents
• Gameshow Production
• n8n
• Flowgramming Studios
• Viral Content

Best for: Entrepreneur, Marketing Professional, Creative Technologist

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Sifted.