Following the announcement, we spoke with Tom Reinert Johansen, CEO of Faunus Hub, about what the recognition means for the company, how its technology supports farmers in daily operations, and what lessons other startups can take from their journey.
About Tom Reinert Johansen
Tom Reinert Johansen is the CEO of Faunus Hub. He brings expertise in company building, product development, and technology leadership. His background includes roles in the Norwegian Armed Forces and the energy sector, as well as accounting and auditing work during and after his studies. With a strong interest in efficiency and automation, Tom is passionate about developing solutions that deliver real value to customers.
Adressing real challenges
When asked what the Gründerprisen award signifies for Faunus Hub and the wider AgriTech community in Norway, Johansen explained:
- The award is an important validation that we are addressing real challenges in broiler production with practical technology. For Faunus Hub, it confirms that our focus on actionable insights, animal welfare, and farm profitability resonates. For the AgriTech community, it shows that applied AI in agriculture can deliver tangible, real-world value.
Reflecting on the company’s origins, Johansen described how Faunus Hub began by listening closely to the needs of those working in poultry barns every day.
- Faunus Hub started by listening closely to farm workers and farm managers who felt that available data did not support daily decision-making. We identified a clear gap between data collection and practical use in the barn. Our goal is to close that gap with tools broiler producers can trust and use in everyday operations.
Collaboration has played a central role in shaping the product. According to Johansen, farmers in particular have been critical partners in development.
- Farmers have been instrumental in shaping our product through blunt and honest feedback. Spending time understanding the real underlying problems has been critical. A key challenge has been delivering data-driven decision support to a segment already experiencing dashboard fatigue from too many complex systems.
Building Practical AI for Farmers
At the core of Faunus Hub’s solution is an approach designed to fit seamlessly into the realities of barn work. Johansen explained how technology supports better decision-making in simple terms.
- We use AI to structure observations captured by farm workers through voice and natural language. Due to biosecurity requirements and the physical nature of the work, hands-free interaction is essential. This allows farm management to combine structured data with human observations to make better decisions.
Ease of use has been a guiding principle throughout product development.
- Through extensive interviews with farmers, the message was clear: keep it simple. Our interface is built around a single button – press it, speak, and the system handles the rest. This minimizes friction and fits naturally into daily routines.
Looking forward
Looking ahead, Johansen shared how the NOK 250,000 grant will be used to support Faunus Hub’s next phase of growth.
- The grant will support international testing of our software in new markets. To maintain speed and execution capability, we have employed students from the NORA network in part-time positions. This funding helps sustain these efforts as we work toward product-market fit.
With broad experience in company building, Johansen also offered advice to other founders aiming to build successful technology companies.
- Do not underestimate the complexity of building a company. Many founders focus heavily on the product and overlook financing, people and stakeholder management, strategy, sales etc. Finding people smarter than yourself – and empowering them - is an essential founder skill.