The sheer volume of data being generated today is staggering, but as AI agents begin to take over complex tasks, a new problem has emerged: trust. Anders Hammarbäck, the CEO and co-founder of Redpine, is on a mission to solve the "hallucination" problem by providing a technical layer of licensed, verified, and scientifically grounded data. We sat down with him to discuss the shift from public internet scraping to "ground truth" and why Stockholm is the perfect base for a global AI revolution.

You’ve spent your career navigating the intersection of technology and data. For those who haven’t met Redpine yet, how do you explain the core mission?

It really comes down to the shift we are seeing in how work is performed. We provide what I call "ground truth" data. Currently, there is a massive move toward AI agents that don’t just summarize text but actually perform tasks. For that to work, these agents need to be trustworthy. We provide the licensed, structured data that allows AI to grow and perform without the risk of making things up. We are essentially the bridge between high-quality data owners and the AI companies that need it to build reliable systems.

You mentioned that the internet-scraping model is starting to break. Was there a specific "aha" moment where you realized the world needed Redpine?

It was a lot  of pattern recognition from my previous work. My co-founder David Österdahl (previously with Spotify) and I saw how the music industry went through a rough widespread "piracy" before the model shifted to licensing and compensation with platforms like Spotify. A few years ago, we analyzed the AI space and realized the same thing was happening. You can’t build the future of medicine or law on scraped, biased, and noisy public data. We saw the opportunity to be first and best in creating a professional platform  where data owners get paid fairly and AI companies get "clean" rocket fuel.

Redpine focuses on some pretty intense fields like material science, chemistry, and healthcare. Why choose the hard path instead of sticking to general consumer data?

Because that is where the biggest impact is. If an AI agent is helping a scientist discover a new drug or helping a lawyer with a case, the cost of an error is massive. My background at companies like McKinsey and in various tech ventures taught me that the value is always in the most difficult data. We are focused on areas where hallucinations and lack of trust aren't just annoying, they are unacceptable.

You’ve built companies in various parts of the world, but you chose Stockholm for Redpine. Why here?

Stockholm has an incredible density of talent and a history of building world-class companies. There is a certain momentum here right now. But more than that, I think Europe has a unique perspective on regulation and data rights. While some see regulation as a hurdle, we see it as a foundation. Building from here allows us to navigate the complex legal frameworks of the EU while maintaining a global reach from day one. We are already looking at expansion into other global markets like Tokyo and New York.

You’ve partnered with Luminar Ventures for this journey. What was the moment where your vision really clicked with them? 

It was actually a very natural fit from our first conversation. Jacob, in particular, has spent over a decade looking at the music industry and how it transitioned from total chaos to a structured, licensed ecosystem. When we look at the AI data landscape today, it’s eerily similar to the early days of digital music- everyone is using everything without permission, and the "labels" (the data owners) have started to realize they need a seat at the table.

Magnus and Jacob recognized that early pattern. They understood that you can’t have a sustainable industry without a professional layer for rights and compensation. They saw that Redpine wasn't just another AI company, but the essential infrastructure that allows the rest of the industry to become "legal" and reliable. Having partners who have already navigated that transition with companies like Spotify or Soundtrap gives us a massive advantage in terms of strategy and "muscle memory."

Speaking of global reach, you have a very diverse background in leadership. How would you describe your personal style at the helm of a fast-growing AI startup?

It’s heavily influenced by my background in sports, specifically hockey. I believe in assembling high-performing teams and then trusting them to do their best work. My role is to set the common mission and then get out of the way so the experts can execute. I also value a global mindset. Even if we are a Swedish company, we don't have adopt  "modest" Swedish approach. We lean in, we are present in the markets where our clients are, and we maintain an entrepreneurial speed.

AI is moving at a breakneck pace in 2026. What gets you most excited when you look at the immediate future?

The pace is incredible. I’m particularly excited about how AI can remove the "administrative burden" from our lives. Whether it’s in education, healthcare, or even just planning a vacation, there is so much friction that AI can smooth out. At Redpine, seeing our data actually being used to accelerate drug discovery or create new materials is what keeps me up at night, in a good way. We are just seeing the tip of the iceberg of what human-AI collaboration can do.

As a founder, you must be pulled in a thousand directions. Do you have any rituals that keep you grounded?

Exercise is non-negotiable for me. It’s where I find my energy and motivation. Padel tennis, floorball, gym, and running - though time’s never enough. I also try to stay as "present" as possible. When I’m with my family, I try to be fully there. In terms of productivity, I use AI as a collaborator in my work, but I also value idle time-listening to podcasts about the ecosystem or just thinking. You need that space to stay creative.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received that you actually followed?

To stay true to my own vision while being open to feedback. As a founder, you get a lot of contradictory advice. You have to create a feedback loop where you listen to everything, but ultimately, you have to be the lighthouse. You have to be the one who sets the direction based on your own "ground truth."

What’s on the horizon for Redpine as we head into the summer?

We have some very exciting product milestones coming up that I can't fully share yet, but they involve expanding our reach into new territories and deeper technical layers. Also we’ll travel to exciting places like Basel, New York and Singapore. It’s going to be a very high-intensity year.

Thanks to Anders for the candid chat. Redpine is building the trusted data infrastructure for the next generation of AI, follow their journey at redpine.ai, and stay tuned for more Founder Series insights.

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