The story behind, the reason why, and the future we long to create.
How Omnai came to be, and how we hope we can impact the future.
On a brisk March morning in 2020, as the world grappled with an unfolding pandemic, I found refuge in the solitude of a lakeside. I wasn't just drifting in the middle of personal and global chaos; I was escaping the walls of my childhood home—a place I had returned to, to chase my entrepreneurial dreams, leaving my job and apartment behind.
My relationship fell through, my startup failed, and the pandemic forced the first lockdown in Denmark, all within the same week. My life descended into chaos in what felt like a blink of an eye. Hiding away at this little spot next to the lake was where I could find peace and space to think. It was the only place without people, without breaking news about sickness, death, and chaos. I spent most of my time there, every day.
In one of those moments, beside the still, reflective waters, the seed of an idea was planted. I realized that the overwhelming news cycle was more of a burden than a benefit. If I were to regain my balance, I would first have to take ownership of my mental health. Following and consuming traditional media held me hostage to the idea that the world was descending into chaos and that I should always be cautious about everything. I couldn’t imagine a world where prioritizing my mental health and following the relentless news media coexisted.
I made the (to many peers, extreme) decision to completely opt out of the news cycle and instead solely rely on organically distributed information from friends, family, and, later, colleagues. This decision has served my mental (and overall) health incredibly well, and I’ve found that I’m not missing out on anything important; I’m just a bit later to the news than the average foe. This is the seed that is now, years later, sprouting into Omnai.
So why is it sprouting now, you might ask?
Fast forward to October 2023. Now an international in Portugal, far from the network that once kept me informed, the absence of a reliable information source hit hard. The strategies that served me well in Denmark were unsustainable abroad. Despite searching, I found no robust solution that didn’t compromise my mental health for the sake of staying informed.
The best I found was volunteer-driven media sites and independent journalists providing local news in English. This is a commendable effort but far from sufficient for Denmark's growing international population, which is approximately 15.4% (immigrants and decedents). It is crystal clear: bridging this information gap is not just a personal need but a global necessity.
Omnai is our answer—powered by technology to scale solutions for non-native speakers worldwide. And this is just the beginning. Succeeding here lays the groundwork for addressing broader issues in media, which I'll share more about in our next post.
Oops
I see that I got excited and rushed into my story without properly introducing myself, so here goes: Hello, I’m Freddy, your friendly neighborhood CEO of Omnai.
I can’t express my gratitude for your curiosity about us. I’m eager to connect with you and hear your story, thoughts on the media landscape, and ideas for solving any of the space's problems. I’m always ready for a chat if you have anything at heart.
Explore our brand new site if your curiosity extends this post, and sign up for our free beta if you’re an international in a country you desire to connect deeper with.
Thanks again, and talk soon 👋