About Me

Travis Johansen

I’m an entrepreneur and computer scientist with a focus on plant biotechnology, software innovation, and artificial intelligence. Over my career, I’ve led large-scale projects that delivered millions of trees worldwide while developing advanced software to support laboratory and greenhouse operations.

In 2013, I launched PlantDepository, a SaaS enterprise platform designed to streamline plant tracking and automate scheduling workflows in plant tissue culture labs and nurseries. This system played a critical role in optimizing large-scale agricultural operations and improving production efficiency.

In 2017, I founded uInfinity, a social networking platform designed to create a more dynamic and lifelike relational graph between users. With this project, I aimed to challenge traditional “one-size-fits-all” social media models by enabling more personalized interactions.

In 2024, I began work on HyperSpeed, an AI initiative focused on eliminating reliance on the Softmax function in neural networks and creating a revolutionary tokenization system I call the "true-word tokenizer." My goal is to redefine efficiency and accuracy in natural language processing technologies.

Through my work, I’ve remained committed to solving complex problems by blending innovation with practical applications across multiple industries.

Early Life and Education

I was born in California, where my early passion for problem-solving and teamwork was evident. By the age of six, I was excelling in chess and sports, demonstrating a balance of strategic thinking and collaboration. My chess career included victories in local tournaments and a notable tie for second place in the U1400 bracket of the 39th Annual World Open. I also played soccer throughout my youth, advancing to club soccer as a teenager and later joining Santa Barbara City College’s soccer team as a walk-on player. Though an injury sidelined my collegiate soccer career, the experience reinforced my resilience and drive.

My academic journey began at Santa Barbara City College, where I earned Associate's Degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science. I later relocated to Honolulu to complete a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at Hawaii Pacific University, building a strong foundation in algorithmic thinking and software development.

During my studies, I embraced a language-agnostic approach to programming, gaining proficiency in a diverse set of tools and languages. My projects included developing a space navigation game with a billiards mini-game for the Nintendo DS using C++, building a web service for a nonprofit organization with C#, CSS, HTML, and JavaScript, and competing in a team-based programming competition utilizing Java. My coursework also spanned Linux, BASIC, Assembly, Fortran, and Objective-C, showcasing my adaptability and eagerness to explore new technologies.

This combination of academic rigor and hands-on experience ignited my passion for software innovation, laying the groundwork for my future successes in technology and leadership.

Professional Career

After earning my degrees, I initially prepared to join Google’s Android division but chose to return to Tissue-Grown Corporation to pursue an ambitious project with the Wonderful Company, focused on pistachio production. This decision offered me the opportunity to take on leadership roles and develop proprietary software. My first major achievement was the creation of Plant Depository, an enterprise-grade SaaS application designed to track and optimize plant tissue culture processes.

Beyond software innovation, I led a team of scientists to tackle a critical challenge: rooting new pistachio hybrid varieties in vitro, a feat previously deemed unattainable. Over three years, my team conducted rigorous research, collaborated with global experts, and developed a scalable production system that revolutionized the industry.

The impact was immediate and transformative. With Plant Depository providing real-time oversight, the company managed the propagation of two million plants monthly in a 9,000-square-foot facility. By leveraging KPIs, robust data governance practices, and continuous innovation, I drove the company to double its revenue annually for five consecutive years. The project ultimately delivered 10 million pistachio trees, planting over 100,000 acres in California’s Central Valley—creating a lasting impact visible in Bakersfield’s sprawling orchards.

During this time, I also founded uInfinity, a startup designed to disrupt the conventional "one-size-fits-all" approach to social networking. The platform seeks to mimic real-world social dynamics, offering users a customizable and authentic interaction experience. The product is currently under development, with a planned future launch.

In 2024, I expanded my expertise into artificial intelligence, focusing on cutting-edge tokenization techniques and exploring novel model architectures. I am collaborating with industry professionals to create an innovative image generation tool tailored for family use, pushing the boundaries of AI technology while ensuring practical applications.

Vice President of Operations and Technology

Tissue-Grown Corporation (1999–Present)

• Negotiated multi-million-dollar contracts with Wonderful Company’s executive leadership, achieving revenue increases of over 100% in some years and driving sustained growth over a ten-year period.
• Managed all departments and directors, leading strategic planning and cross-functional operations that drove a 900% increase in revenue and expanded the team from 25 to over 100 employees over the course of the first 5 years.
• Developed Plant Depository, handling all stages from concept to execution and balancing short-term deliverables with long-term innovation, resulting in an 800% increase in project capacity.
• Engineered force-directed cyclic graph models for complex pathfinding and data modeling, reducing production planning time by 90%.
• Developed a strategic roadmap for the company’s SaaS tools and applications, aligning product vision with corporate mission and client requirements, facilitating the production of over 100 million plants.
• Progressively checked in over a million lines of code, demonstrating a strong commitment to technical delivery and product evolution.
• Acted as the primary liaison between users and the development team for 9 years, using surveys and analytics to prioritize features, reducing time-to-resolution for user requests by 60%.

CEO and Founder

uInfinity (2016-Present)

• Designed, founded, and implemented uInfinity.
• Achieved 90% reduction in scaling costs by integrating onsite hardware.
• Utilized a Braintree payments integration for ease-of-use onboarding.

Stack Overflow Content Creator

As one of Stack Overflow’s most impactful contributors, I rank among the top 1,000 users out of a global community of 25 million developers. My contributions have reached over 20 million developers, making me a trusted resource for technical problem-solving and guidance within the developer ecosystem.

I began actively engaging with the Stack Overflow community in 2013, initially seeking solutions and guidance to enhance my work. Over time, I transitioned from learner to leader, consistently providing clear, actionable solutions to complex technical questions. My expertise spans a wide range of topics, with a particular focus on C#, .NET, and JavaScript, earning widespread recognition among my peers.

Today, my insights continue to influence the development landscape, with many of my contributions shaping the knowledge base used by modern AI systems. I view this as a meaningful way to give back to the developer community, sharing knowledge that empowers others to innovate and solve problems effectively.

Travel for Work and Leisure

As an adult, I seamlessly integrated my love for travel into my career. In 2004, I embarked on a six-week journey across Europe, interviewing five CEOs on their approaches to agricultural automation, with stops in England, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. This experience not only broadened my understanding of global automation practices but also informed my leadership in subsequent projects.

In 2012, I traveled to Australia to assist a plant biotechnology company in developing advanced software solutions, further enhancing my expertise in global business and technology integration. I also spent time in Honolulu during the Great Recession, where I completed my education, later returning to Santa Barbara to advance my career.

To date, I have visited 14 countries and 15 U.S. states, blending work and leisure to cultivate a rich understanding of international business, cross-cultural collaboration, and innovative problem-solving. My travels continue to inform my approach to leadership and global project management.