At Project Neon, we’re more than a team; we’re a mosaic of cultures and perspectives. Norwegian, Scottish, English, Irish, Portuguese, French and Italian minds working side by side. We thrive on collaboration, and we believe that great ideas are born from great conversations.
We wanted to create a space where those conversations could happen more often locally. Stavanger is a city that’s as international as it is innovative, full of expats, professionals, and creatives who are eager to connect. We couldn’t regularly find a space to do this, so we decided to make one ourselves!
Neon Nights launched in February 2023. A free, informal event series where a guest speaker is invited to share their story in a relaxed “fireside chat” format. After that, the evening is all about open discussion and networking.
What is Neon Nights?
Neon Nights isn’t your typical industry event. It’s:
- Casual – Come as you are, grab a drink, and unwind after work.
- Inclusive – Held in English to welcome Stavanger’s international crowd.
- Community-driven – Focused on building real relationships, not just LinkedIn connections.
The Project Neon team has been described as enthusiastic and colourful and these events reflect exactly that. The event is engaging, and full of the kind of energy that makes people want to stay long after the official program ends.
Real connections, real impact
So far, we’ve hosted 9 events, and the stories that have come out of them are the reasons we keep hosting them:
“The journey that began with curiosity and ambition led me right to where I needed to be.
I had been attending Neon Nights for a while, each event bringing fresh energy and intriguing opportunities. One particular evening stood out – the next gathering was hosted by a company I had long admired, one I had hoped to work for someday. It felt like the perfect chance to gain insight into their world.
As fate would have it, my plans shifted unexpectedly. Instead of mingling with potential future colleagues, I found myself attending a presentation by one of my own coworkers. A twist I hadn’t anticipated – but one that, in hindsight, made all the difference.
Fast forward a year, and I’m celebrating my one-year work anniversary. Project Neon continues to draw in industry leading voices.” – Andreea Elizabet Ungureanu, ONS
“Neon Nights has quickly become one of my favourite fixtures on the calendar. Every gathering delivers a great and relevant chat with local marketing leaders, followed by relaxed mingling. Because the talk comes first, everyone walks into the mingling session with ideas and an easy conversation starter – no awkward small talk.
I’ve made some great connections and collaborated on multiple projects with people I met during the post-talk mingle. Huge thanks to the Project Neon team for creating such a fantastic forum for Stavanger’s marketing community; See you at the next one!” – James Froment, Flare Media
“Neon Nights truly offers the ideal synergy of professional development and networking opportunities. It brings together industry experts who share insights on pertinent and engaging topics within a welcoming, diverse, and approachable community, complemented by an excellent post-event reception. Beyond fostering new connections, Neon Nights has been instrumental in sparking successful collaborations, resulting in the delivery of six projects to date with Project Neon. I highly recommend Neon Nights to anyone aiming to advance professionally and forge new friendships.” – Ambrozie Pura, Rendering.no
Even for those of us at Project Neon, Neon Nights has been a fantastic place to make great connections. It’s where we first met Ambrozie Pura from Rendering.no, who’s now our go-to for 3D animation. It’s also where we connected with James from Flare and Andres Denesh Gerbasi from Rastløs. Since then, they’ve become part of our extended creative team, collaborating with us on multiple projects.
These stories aren’t just anecdotes; they’re proof that valuable connections can make a true impact.
Our Speakers So Far
We’ve been lucky to welcome some truly fantastic local voices, including:
- Maiken Økland – Zaptec
- Eirik Hogstad – Stavanger Oilers
- Marthe Reienes – Stavanger Business Region
- Inger Johanne Stenberg – ONS
- Hans Ludvig – Lervig
- Pål Oftedal – Lærdal Medical
- Lena Antonius – Stavanger Kommune
- Geir Søndeland, RA Stavanger
Each one brought a unique perspective, sparking conversations that continued long after the mic was turned off.
What’s next?
We’re not stopping here. In fact, we’re turning up the brightness.
As we look ahead, we’re exploring ways to evolve the Neon Nights format and introduce a second edition with a fresh twist.
(Spoiler alert: it’s happening in the morning!)
We want to something that fits different schedules, sparks new conversations, and continues to build meaningful connections.
But don’t worry, Neon Nights as you know and love it will always be there!
To stay in the loop then make sure you keep following us on LinkedIn. We’ll be releasing the latest updates there.
