Today we’d like to introduce you to Jean Lin.

Hi Jean, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Sphyrn Marketing was founded in 2021 with relentless encouragement from past event participants and collaborators to pay homage to Asian heritage through food and beverage events. Our previous experience working as contracted social media managers and copywriters for Asian American Pacific Islander-focused nonprofit organizations contributed to the firm foundation of Sphyrn Marketing, holding connections in the local food industry and the popup scene of Houston.

We started our first dessert box popup at Muse Tea— Lunartine’s Box Popup—celebrating two great holidays, Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day, with a box of sweets. Little did we expect it would lead to 9 more popups along the way. It also buried a seed in entrepreneurship that later flourished this year.

I resigned from my research technician position in life science to invest full-time in Sphyrn this April. The Dessert Box project is only one of the many sectors of Sphyrn Marketing. We also provide social media management, copywriting, and translation services to Asian-owned businesses.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
From the beginning, we knew our path was destined to tangle with hardship and obstacles. Without substantial funds, notable credentials, and a full-built portfolio, Sphyrn has been exploring its path almost blindfolded. There is no path to follow, no mentor to seek advice, and no one to compare. We have been sailing this ocean of the unknown, trying to establish an unusual, community- and creativity-driven business model.

There were too many questions thrown at us, looking for an explanation as to why we gave up on the cushy job in the lab. There wasn’t one. We don’t believe in “ready.” We are never ready for anything. We adapt to changes and problem-solve along the journey.

As you know, we’re big fans of Sphyrn Marketing. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Sphyrn Marketing is unique for bridging the East Asian cultural sphere to American culture. We lived the same amount of time in Taiwan and the US, giving us a sharp insight into the cultural differences. We are capable of producing content in the context of Traditional, Simplified Chinese, and American English. The intensive marketing research allows us to differentiate and tailor the language to target audiences.

Aside from our standard content creation services, we are mostly known for our creative events.

Sphyrn’s Dessert Box Project introduces the US audience to sweets and savories with Asian taste profiles. We’ve hosted 9 popups, each with a different themed, and one of them took place in LA. We love working with Asian American baking talents and expect to connect with them more in the future.

We also promote restaurant brands XiaoLongKan Hotpot, Chengdu Taste, and Mian by coordinating creative food and beverage events: Tipsy Dream had guest bartenders reimage Chinese mythology and folktales in the form of mixology. This fall, we will launch a dumpling illustration contest in multiple cities and a Halloween crossover special.

Following Sphyrn Marketing’s Instagram account would be the best way to keep up with our latest updates.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Our upcoming Celestial Boxes popup on 9/24 at Giant Leap Coffee & Idle Hands. This Space-city-inspired theme is separated into Constellation Box and Galaxy Box!