Hey Juno, tell me why

Newport’s Michelle Gilmore has a clear goal with her tech start up Juno – to make user research accessible to everyone, because the world becomes a better place when more voices are heard. Interview by Liam Carroll.

What is Juno?

An AI (artificial intelligence) customer researcher, conducting in-depth research with humans, to understand how they feel and think. 

How did you know there was an appetite for this type of innovation?

Companies big and small want to know how their customers and potential customers really think; Juno enables this at a fraction of the price and time of traditional methods. 

What led you to this opportunity?

We spent over a decade listening to real people share their stories and needs. After years of hands-on research, we knew there had to be a faster, more effective way to uncover results – so we built Juno. 

How do traditional surveys underperform?

They only scratch the surface; Juno uncovers the ‘why.’ It can ask why someone chose a cheaper product, why they prefer a competitor, why they love (or don’t love) yours. The why is where the magic is, where great decisions are made.

What sets Juno apart?

It’s the only AI-powered researcher created by true practitioners. We engage in meaningful interviews that dig deep into what really matters to people and why – whether it’s understanding your customers’ desires or uncovering what motivates your employees. Juno captures results in real time and at scale, making the process easy and efficient, and allows you to access valuable results without traditional methods’ hefty costs and delays. Tell Juno what you want to know and from whom, it does the rest.

What problem are you solving?

Giving all businesses, big and small, a chance to understand what’s going on for their customers and potential customers. It’s also giving real people the chance to have their say, to give proper feedback to companies and lead to better products, services and experience for all.

Who are your customers?

Anyone who wants to know what humans are thinking and feeling. Could be the government, a major bank, a day care centre, restaurant, newsagent. Anyone wanting to know what someone else thinks.

What are you doing to expand?

Juno is a global product, so we aren’t solely focused on a single market. We’ve got customers from the UK, Japan, Africa, USA, Europe, and Australia.

What have been the biggest challenges?

Knowing when to focus and when to explore. We’re constantly seeking data to learn from and signals to read, at the same time we need to make bets and progress. 

What have been your biggest triumphs?

Partnering with Blackbird on our first funding round and being able to hire remarkable people to make this dream happen!

What’s your favourite thing about life on the Northern Beaches?

Nature. Being able to step out from the chaos and feel the saltwater on our faces and the sand on our feet is a gift.

Any wisdom for others considering their own innovative, entrepreneurial path?

Be ready to work very hard, for a long time, with big ups and big downs. It’s not steady and it’s not certain. If that feels exciting – jump. It’s a beautiful thing if you are doing it for the right reasons. It rarely works for the wrong ones.