Kagi Hub Belgrade

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Overall reaction to Kagi Hub Belgrade

  • Many find the idea “cool” or “fun” in principle: a physical space where users can meet the team, work, and give feedback.
  • Others see it as bizarre or unnecessary for a small, remote-first company with ~61k members, especially in a location most users may never visit.
  • A few say it makes them more likely to try Kagi or view it as a “membership” experience, not just a product subscription.

Cost, focus, and “side quests”

  • Repeated concern that this is another distraction from Kagi’s core search/AI products, similar to the earlier t‑shirt initiative that consumed a large share of investor funds.
  • Some subscribers explicitly care how their money is spent and worry about long‑term viability if resources go to “vanity projects.”
  • Others argue they don’t mind as long as the service quality stays high, framing the hub as marketing, brand-building, and employee benefit rather than waste.
  • A recurring tension: “stay in your lane and be sustainable” vs. “experiment and differentiate, especially when small.”

Details and rationale for Belgrade

  • Commenters note Belgrade is relatively cheap, has growing tech activity, and serves as a practical base where several Kagi employees (including the founder) already live and work.
  • A Kagi team member explains:
    • The space has been leased for years already.
    • ~4 employees use it regularly; others meet there a few times a year for in‑person “jams.”
    • Opening it to users is an extra community/marketing layer on top of an existing cost.
  • Some locals are surprised by the choice but multiple commenters praise Belgrade as a fun, underrated city to visit.

Trust, geopolitics, and brand perception

  • A few ex‑subscribers tie their cancellation to Kagi’s stance on Yandex integration and label the company “pro‑Russia,” questioning alignment between “best results” and using a state‑aligned search provider.
  • Others emphasize that Kagi is still the only paid search option that matches their values, which is why these perceived missteps (t‑shirts, hub, Yandex) feel especially disappointing.