Ever considered dating a city? Oslo might be the One

Let’s be real, Oslo isn’t the first place that springs to mind for building a tech career. But those bold enough to take that ski jump of faith are catching on. This hidden gem is where work-life balance isn’t just talk—it’s where hustle, chill, and joy all scale hard. Oslo Innovation Week makes it easy to get to know Oslo. Better yet, think of it as a first date. Come experience Oslo’s startup scene for yourself!

Fátima Sani, Thomas Jarolics, and Kyle McClenahan took the leap.Now they’re on the Oslo Innovation Week couch sharing what it's really like to land in Oslo as an international. Spoiler: it’s not all sunshine and ski days, but there’s real space here to find your people, start something big, and build a life that makes sense. And in a world where work and life are always overlapping, Oslo’s got something rare: Actual balance. 

“The balance of lifestyle you can achieve here is very important,” shares Danish Oslopolitan Thomas. He’s the brainchild behind the popular YouTube channel “Become Norwegian” and helps newcomers feel at home in Oslo, through typical Norwegian activities such as roller-skiing, kayaking and cross-country skiing. 

Work-life balance is more than preference, it's policy. Norway consistently ranks among the top countries globally for work-life balance, thanks to standard 37.5-hour work weeks, five weeks of vacation, and exceptional parental leave policies. We want you to experience it too, Oslo needs more talent to build global startups, and let’s be honest — you probably need more holidays! 

“Norway has [a lack of] 15.000 to 20.000 workers per year for the next however many years. And we need to import talented individuals. Right now there's an opportunity in the US to do so,” American Kyle points out. He’s an Advisor at Vouch, an ​​AI-powered hiring assistant.

Community matters

Moving to a new country is never just about the job. It’s about the full package: career, family, social life. Local communities and events make the difference.

This is especially true in Oslo’s tech scene where coworking spaces, accelerators, and expat-friendly networks help newcomers find career opportunities and their people.

"That’s why I’m so passionate about building Become Norwegian as more than just content. It’s about building community. A space that makes people feel seen, inspired, and connected," Thomas says.

What’s it like trying to fit in somewhere like Oslo? 

“If Oslo was a person, I think the characteristics would be almost like reserved, well-presented and stylish, but hard to understand,” says Fátima, founder and CEO at Vivid Space, a sustainability advocacy studio delivering software solutions for urban planners and space makers.

Not all sunshine and rainbows by the Oslo fjord?

Oslo’s collaborative business culture, while supportive, lacks the competitive edge global talents are used to. This can make scaling and rapid growth feel out of sync with expectations from more aggressive startup environments abroad. While the city has a lot to offer, it's not always smooth sailing, particularly when it comes to attracting and retaining top talent. 

"Talent shortage, sub-par legal frameworks, prohibitive tax regime. Sorry, I couldn't pick one. Oslo struggles to attract talented individuals and future founders for a reason,” Kyle says.

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"For me, the biggest challenge is attracting, and keeping, talent, especially international talent. We talk a lot about innovation and scale, but it all starts with people. And the reality is: Norway can be a tough place to land if you’re moving here from abroad," Thomas shares from his own experience. 

Moving here alone, he struggled at first to find a community and real friendships. 

“It can feel like you’ve arrived in paradise, but forgot to bring any friends with you.”

So, what else is holding Oslo back?

It seems like for Oslo’s startup ecosystem to truly thrive, the city needs to upgrade not only how it promotes innovation, but how it supports it, from economy and ambition, to communities and friends. From the ground up.

If Oslo’s going to level up, it needs more than slogans. Innovation can’t just be promoted — it has to be lived, funded, supported, and felt. That means building community, not just companies, and making this a place people actually want to stick around in.

Why Oslo is your next career destination!

Oslo's comb of work opportunities, nature, and a human approach to life is a rare find in today’s global economy. From trail running before meetings to skiing on the weekends, Oslo's nature isn’t  just a backdrop, it’s  part of the daily routine. 

For professionals burnt out on always-on hustle culture, Oslo offers something rare — the chance to build a career without burning out, where nature isn’t a weekend escape but part of your daily rhythm.

Oslo isn’t just another city on your maybe-move list. It’s where big ideas meet everyday balance. You can scale a company on Monday, ski through the forest on Tuesday, and still make barnehage (kindergarten) pickup by 4. With free healthcare, five weeks of paid vacation, and a startup scene that actually wants internationals in the room — Oslo’s not just a great place to visit. It’s a fucking great place to live. Come see for yourself this Oslo Innovation Week.

"For me, the biggest challenge is attracting, and keeping, talent, especially international talent. We talk a lot about innovation and scale, but it all starts with people. And the reality is: Norway can be a tough place to land if you’re moving here from abroad," Thomas shares from his own experience. 

Moving here alone, he struggled at first to find a community and real friendships. 

“It can feel like you’ve arrived in paradise, but forgot to bring any friends with you.”

So, what else is holding Oslo back?

It seems like for Oslo’s startup ecosystem to truly thrive, the city needs to upgrade not only how it promotes innovation, but how it supports it, from economy and ambition, to communities and friends. From the ground up.

If Oslo’s going to level up, it needs more than slogans. Innovation can’t just be promoted — it has to be lived, funded, supported, and felt. That means building community, not just companies, and making this a place people actually want to stick around in.

Why Oslo is your next career destination!

Oslo's comb of work opportunities, nature, and a human approach to life is a rare find in today’s global economy. From trail running before meetings to skiing on the weekends, Oslo's nature isn’t  just a backdrop, it’s  part of the daily routine. 

For professionals burnt out on always-on hustle culture, Oslo offers something rare — the chance to build a career without burning out, where nature isn’t a weekend escape but part of your daily rhythm.

Oslo isn’t just another city on your maybe-move list. It’s where big ideas meet everyday balance. You can scale a company on Monday, ski through the forest on Tuesday, and still make barnehage (kindergarten) pickup by 4. With free healthcare, five weeks of paid vacation, and a startup scene that actually wants internationals in the room — Oslo’s not just a great place to visit. It’s a fucking great place to live. Come see for yourself this Oslo Innovation Week.