Sensei
Sensei sells AI software that helps retailers track store activity and shopper behavior in real time. The Portugal-based company operates in five countries, powers over 100 autonomous checkout points, and has raised $23M.
The growth story
Sensei grew from 55 to 113 employees between 2022 and 2026, raising $23M along the way, most recently a Series A in October 2024.
About
Sensei provides retailers with AI tools to monitor product interactions, store performance, and customer behavior. Its platform aims to improve store efficiency and management, particularly in autonomous checkout environments.
The company, founded in 2017, has expanded to operate in Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, and Brazil. It supports over 100 autonomous checkout locations, including what it claims is the world’s largest autonomous store. Sensei has raised $23M in funding, most recently in a Series A round in October 2024.
Founders and leadership
Engineering is Sensei’s largest function, with 12 employees. The company has a median tenure of 3 years, suggesting moderate employee retention. Leadership details are not disclosed.
The Sensei org chart
Vasco Portugal (CEO and Co-Founder) leads 29 mapped leaders with 4 direct reports. Click +N to expand a team; names link to the person’s public profile.
Departments, and which ones grew
Headcount by function: Operations 36 (+33% YoY), Engineering 18 (-22% YoY), Sales 11 (+38% YoY), Information Technology 6 (0% YoY), Research 5 (0% YoY), Customer Success and Support 5 (-29% YoY).
Talent flow
Sensei recruits heavily from Instituto Superior Técnico, which accounts for 19 employees. Other notable sources include Kaizen Institute Western Europe and Indie Campers. Alumni often move to Sword Health, with five former employees joining the company.
Most common previous employers of Sensei staff: Kaizen Institute Western Europe (6), Indie Campers (4), Instituto Superior Técnico (4), meta. (2), MIT Portugal Program (2), MC (2). Former Sensei employees most often moved to Sword Health (5), Bloq.it (2), MegaMidia (1), AryaHub (1), Devoteam (1), AUTODOC (1).
Alumni worth knowing
The Sensei mafia
Sensei alumni have founded four companies, including Autonomo Technologies, which employs 54 people, and Hic, which has 10 staff.
4James Sutherland, was Senior Vice President Sales Marketing until 2021Marco Stopper, was Strategy Analyst until 2023Miguel Murta Cardoso, was Head Of Retail until 2025João Moreira Fernandes, was Lead Engineer until 2017Hiring now
Web traffic
Traffic mix: 0% direct, 0% search, 0% social, 0% paid.
What this company is made of
Most common skills at Sensei: Teamwork (21), Project Management (20), English (18), Microsoft Office (18), Management (15), Python (Programming Language) (15), Team Leadership (15), Microsoft Excel (15).
Where the team actually sits
Sensei people are concentrated in Lisbon, Portugal (28), Portugal (7), Lisbon Metropolitan Area (7), Porto, Portugal (3).
Search footprint
Sensei attracts about 2,178 organic search visits a month, traffic worth roughly $0K a month if bought through ads. It gained 23 ranking keywords and lost 18 in the last period.
What employees say
- Compensation
- 3.50 / 5
- Career opportunities
- 3.70 / 5
- Senior management
- 3.60 / 5
- Work-life balance
- 3.80 / 5
Frequently asked
Sensei has 113 employees as of September 2026.
Sensei has raised $23M in total, most recently a Series A round in October 2024.
Sensei was founded in 2017 by Vasco Portugal, Joana Rafael, Paulo Carreira.
Vasco Portugal (CEO and Co-Founder) sits at the top of Sensei's reporting structure, with 4 direct reports.
The most common previous employers of current Sensei staff are Kaizen Institute Western Europe (6 people), Indie Campers (4 people), Instituto Superior Técnico (4 people).
Former Sensei employees most often move to Sword Health (5), Bloq.it (2), MegaMidia (1).
At least 4 companies have a founder who previously worked at Sensei, including Autonomo Technologies, Hic, Just Around The Corner.
Sensei attracts about 2,178 organic search visits a month, worth roughly $0K a month in equivalent ad spend.
The most common skills among Sensei staff are Teamwork, Project Management, English, Microsoft Office, Management.
Sensei staff are concentrated in Lisbon, Portugal (28), Portugal (7), Lisbon Metropolitan Area (7).
Sensei has about 36 people in Operations, up 33% over the past year, as of September 2026.
Sensei has about 18 people in Engineering, down 22% over the past year, as of September 2026.
Computed from 51 current and 83 former Sensei profiles, as of September 2026. Source: Crustdata.
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