Sensei

About Sensei

Sensei is a technology company founded in 2017 that provides AI-powered solutions for autonomous retail. Based in Lisbon, Portugal, the company was established by Vasco Portugal (CEO), Joana Rafael (COO), Nuno Moutinho (CTO), and Paulo Carreira (CSO), who have combined backgrounds in computer science, aerospace engineering, retail, and entrepreneurship. Sensei aims to digitize physical stores, making them checkout-free and providing retailers with deep operational insights. The company's core technology retrofits existing retail spaces with a system of cameras, sensors, and AI algorithms. This platform uses computer vision to track customers and products anonymously, automatically creating a virtual shopping cart for each person in the store. This allows shoppers to enter without an app, pick up items, and leave without needing to scan anything at a checkout counter. The system is designed to be GDPR-compliant, ensuring customer privacy by not using biometric data. For retailers, the platform offers real-time inventory visibility, automated replenishment alerts, and rich data analytics on shopper behavior and store performance. Sensei operates on a B2B model, targeting a wide range of retail formats, including supermarkets, convenience stores, and grab-and-go locations. Its solutions are scalable for various store sizes. In January 2025, Sensei, in partnership with MC Sonae, launched what they describe as the world's largest autonomous supermarket, a 1,200-square-meter Continente Bom Dia store in Leiria, Portugal. This store features over 1,600 cameras and 2,000 scales, managing more than 10,000 products. The company has raised approximately $23.3 million in funding over several rounds, including a significant Series A round. Key investors include Seaya Ventures, Iberis Capital, BlueCrow Capital, and Techstars. This funding is directed towards R&D, international expansion across Europe and other regions, and increasing its workforce to meet growing demand.