Oscar Winther (21), general manager at creative agency Blynk, describes the journey as a roller-coaster ride, with pressures from parents with foreign backgrounds, community expectations, and challenges of navigating an unfamiliar business world.
Now, after a lot of hard work, Blynk offers services such as website design, photography and content production to SMEs.
It was hard to opt out of studies. My parents expected me to pursue higher education, but I wanted to follow a different path,” says Winther, who first started nursing school but quickly realized it wasn't for him.
While their partner Audun Dalen received support from home, Winther and Vinh Nguyen experienced a different situation. Both come from Vietnamese families with strong expectations of higher education and a stable job.
'There was a lot of pressure from our parents, especially when so many in the family are doctors and engineers, 'Winther explains.
The decision sparked strong reactions at home. Winther particularly remembers a challenging Christmas dinner last year, in which he had to admit he had put his schooling on the shelf.
They got really angry. There was chaos around the table. I knew they were disappointed, but I felt confident in my choice,” he says and continues:
We had this mentality of going all-in. If it failed, then it failed. But at least we were going to give it a go.
Blynk was established in January, after starting as an idea in a small bucket pot at Strømmen senter. Now they have an office at Karl Johan in Oslo. Winther describes the first few months as demanding, with countless emails to potential clients.
The hardest part was building trust. We started with zero followers and zero references,” Winther says.
Among their proudest projects are the website of Rødde Folkehøgskole and the promotion for the opening day of the Trykk Health Check at Bryn in Oslo. Blynk has also achieved WebFlow certification, giving them a competitive advantage in the market.
“There are only about 45 Webflow-certified agencies in the whole Nordic region, and we are one of the few in Norway,” says Winther.
It was only when the agency started showing results that parents were more accepting of his choice, although they still ask about school when he is visiting.
From early mornings to late evenings, Oscar Winther, Vinh Nguyen and Audun Dalen work to realize the entrepreneurial dream. Photo: Blynk
The store is going well, but Winther stresses that Blynk still has a lot to accomplish. The plans going forward involve expanding the team and taking on larger projects.
“The goal is to become one of the leading agencies in Norway in design and marketing,” he says.
Winther hopes to gain more permanent employees in Norway, while continuing to outsource some work.
The agency is now working to strengthen its social media presence and aims to use the platforms to inspire other young people to follow their entrepreneurial dreams.
“My most important advice is not to give up, even if it sounds clichéd. It's about focusing on one idea and working hard to realise it,” he says.
The working days are long, and as an entrepreneur it is difficult to separate work and leisure.
“A normal day starts at five in the morning, and I often work until late at night. It's a long day, but it takes time to build the company,” Winther says.
The team and the hours in Blynk, the journey so far has been marked by adversity, lessons learned and small victories.
'It's been a rollercoaster ride, but we've never regretted that we staked everything, 'he concludes.
