About Keenious
At Keenious, we believe in building genuine research capabilities through AI-guided comprehension. Our partnership with numerous universities has allowed us to create a platform that helps students and researchers understand complex academic literature, not just find it. Through transparent AI assistance that explains without replacing thinking, we support the development of deep understanding and critical research skills across all disciplines.
Our Story
At the Arctic University of Norway, our CEO and co-founder Frode Opdahl was tackling a challenging problem — finding relevant research for his master-thesis on AI-based article recommendations. Despite using traditional search engines and databases, Frode struggled to uncover the research papers he knew had to be out there. That's when he realized that his own thesis could potentially solve the problem.
Frode quickly developed a rough prototype — a website that allowed users to input text and receive a list of related Wikipedia articles. It was basic, but it conveyed the concept. Along with his co-founder Anders, Frode took the prototype to university campuses and interviewed over 150 students and researchers. The response was overwhelming — many students were even disappointed that the tool wasn't available for them to use right there and then.
Frode and Anders had a vision and put in the hard work to bring it to fruition. They secured funding from the Research Council of Norway and the European Union's research and innovation program to develop a proof-of-concept using research papers. This caught the attention of librarians at UiT The Arctic University of Norway who saw its potential to help their university. This led to a collaboration with Innovation Norway that resulted in Keenious - a tool helping researchers and students access the information they need.
Today, Keenious continues to evolve. What started as a discovery tool has grown into a comprehensive platform that not only helps users find relevant research but also supports them in understanding complex academic literature through AI-guided comprehension. This next step in our journey represents our commitment to building genuine research capabilities rather than simply providing access to information.
Anders Rapp and Frode Opdahl
What does Keenious mean?
When coming up with what to call ourselves we wanted to create a word that encompasses the energy and value that we wish our product and company facilitates. In short, if you are keenious you will love Keenious!
Keenious /ki:.ni.əs/
Adjective
Full of enthusiasm for acquiring knowledge and engaging with new ideas:
"Keenious people can often be found in libraries, museums, or coffee shops where they are surrounded by books, art, and good conversation."
keen /ki:n/
Adjective
- Eager, interested, enthusiastic
- Quick to understand
-ious /i.əs/
Suffix
- Characterized by, or full of a given quality
Born in Norway, working globally
Founded amidst the snowy peaks and sparkling fjords of Norway, we carry forward Nordic values of transparency, accessibility, and educational equity. Our global team draws inspiration from around the world, bringing together diverse perspectives united by a commitment to open, honest AI guidance and genuine learning support.
Our stances
Privacy and security
At Keenious, we take privacy and security seriously. Our goal is to only process and store the minimal amount of data we need to run our service. We are based in the EU/EEA and subject to GDPR and we do not store the text submitted to us by our users.
Accessibility
We are committed to providing inclusive experiences for all users. We understand the importance of accessibility and strive to ensure that our services are available to everyone, regardless of ability.
Our PEER values
Playful
We embrace the freedom to experiment and test out new ideas, making complex research approachable and enjoyable. We add thoughtful touches that bring joy to learning and create a fun, engaging work environment that values curiosity.
Engaging
We create meaningful interactions that spark curiosity and encourage active learning through dialogue. Our platform empowers users to engage deeply with research, building understanding rather than just completing tasks efficiently.
Enriching
We strive to enrich lives by building lasting research capabilities. We promote transparency in our AI processes, encourage knowledge sharing, and constantly improve our ability to help users develop genuine understanding and critical thinking skills.
Respectful
We believe in respect for ourselves, our colleagues, our users, and the research process itself. We have pride in the work we do, treat others with kindness, and maintain deep respect for academic integrity and the genuine pursuit of knowledge.
Our mission
To build research capabilities through transparent AI guidance that helps users understand complex academic literature while developing genuine comprehension skills. We explain without replacing thinking, supporting users in their journey from discovery to deep understanding.
Our vision
A world where language and complexity are no longer barriers to academic knowledge. Where every student and researcher can engage deeply with primary sources, building their own understanding through AI-supported comprehension rather than AI-generated summaries.
Meet the Team
At Keenious, we are a team of passionate and dedicated individuals who are on a mission to transform how research is understood and engaged with. Our firsthand experience with the challenges of academic research enables us to develop solutions that build genuine research capabilities and help users develop deep understanding of complex literature.
Let's get social
Despite being a distributed company, we still meet up multiple times a year and have digital after-work social events. Contact us if you want to challenge us in a round of virtual reality mini-golf!
