Sensei
Sensei is a Portuguese autonomous-retail technology company that builds checkout-free store systems using proprietary computer vision, in-shelf weight sensors and on-premises AI for enterprise retailers across supermarkets, mobility, healthcare, workplace and entertainment verticals in Europe and Latin America.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersCastelo Branco, Portugal
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Sensei does
Sensei is a Portuguese autonomous retail technology company founded in 2017 in Castelo Branco by Vasco Portugal (CEO), Nuno Moutinho (CTO), Joana Rafael (COO) and Paulo Carreira. The company builds checkout-free store infrastructure that combines monofocal ceiling cameras, proprietary in-shelf weight sensors, and on-premises computational servers running computer vision and AI algorithms to detect product selections in real time, generate virtual baskets visible to shoppers before exit, and process transactions without scanning or queues. The platform is offered in four hardware-software formats — Store (full-size supermarkets, demonstrated at 1,200 sqm), Pod (24/7 microstores), Cabinet (plug-and-play autonomous cabinets) and Lane (AI-powered checkout lanes for buffets, bars and cafeterias) — and is GDPR-compliant by design, collecting no biometric or facial-recognition data.
Sensei operates a direct enterprise field-sales motion targeting large retail chains, fuel retailers, mobility hubs, workplaces, healthcare providers, hospitality venues and entertainment operators. Commercial deployments include Sonae MC/Continente (Europe's first and largest autonomous stores, including the 1,200 sqm Continente Bom Dia), Muffato Group (Latin America's first autonomous supermarket in Brazil), Conad DAO (Italy's first autonomous stores in Verona and Trento), Galp (corporate workplace store), Glintt Life's Pharma&GO (Europe's first autonomous healthcare store), Brisa motorway service stations and NOS Cinemas. Revenue is generated through licensing of the autonomous-store technology stack, sale of hardware (cameras, weight sensors, computational servers) and multi-year implementation contracts, with pricing negotiated per deployment rather than publicly disclosed.
Sensei has raised approximately $25 million in cumulative funding across equity rounds (notably a $15.99M Series A in October 2024 led by BlueCrow Capital and a $6.53M seed in 2021 co-led by Iberis Capital and Seaya) plus roughly EUR 8.3 million in EU co-financing grants via the PT Smart Retail Agenda and FEDER programmes. The company operates from offices in Castelo Branco (HQ), Lisbon (R&D and prototyping), São Paulo (Latin America regional HQ) and Milan (Italy), employs more than 70 staff including CVML engineers, hardware engineers and deployment technicians, and runs 100+ active points of sale across Portugal, Italy and Brazil.
Sensei firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sensei
- Legal name
- SENSEIDATA, S.A.
- Website
- https://sensei.tech
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Sensei is a Portuguese autonomous-retail technology company that builds checkout-free store systems using proprietary computer vision, in-shelf weight sensors and on-premises AI for enterprise retailers across supermarkets, mobility, healthcare, workplace and entertainment verticals in Europe and Latin America.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sensei industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Autonomous Retail Technology
- NAICS
- Supermarkets and Other Grocery Retailers (except Convenience Retailers) (44511)
- SIC
- Retail-Convenience Stores (5412)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Automated/Unattended Convenience Stores (Smart/Checkout-Free) (CRAHABAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Object Detection & Tracking (HDAAAEAB), Retail Execution Technology & Services (SFA, Planogram, Image Recognition) (MPAAAJAM)
Keywords
Where Sensei is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Castelo Branco
- HQ country
- Portugal
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Sensei business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Autonomous Store Technology Licensing: Sensei provides AI-powered autonomous retail technology to retailers, enabling checkout-free shopping experiences. The technology includes computer vision, sensors, and software platform that retailers deploy in their stores.
- Hardware and Infrastructure: Sale and deployment of hardware components including monofocal cameras, weight sensors, and computational servers required for autonomous store operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Enterprise autonomous store solutions |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Sensei product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sensei builds and deploys autonomous retail technology that enables checkout-free, frictionless shopping experiences for retailers. Its platform combines ceiling-mounted computer vision cameras, proprietary in-shelf weight sensors, and on-premises computational servers running AI algorithms to track product selections in real time, generate virtual baskets, automate inventory and replenishment, and deliver behavioral analytics for retail operators.
Product overview
Sensei offers an integrated autonomous retail platform with four distinct solution formats: Store (full-size autonomous supermarkets), Pod (24/7 microstores), Cabinet (plug-and-play autonomous cabinets), and Lane (AI-powered checkout lanes). The platform combines computer vision cameras, proprietary weight sensors, and on-premise computational servers with AI software to enable frictionless checkout-free shopping. The system provides real-time basket tracking, inventory management, and customer behavior analytics. All solutions share core technology components including monofocal cameras, shelf sensors, and proprietary AI algorithms, allowing retailers to choose the format best suited to their space and operational needs while maintaining a unified technology infrastructure.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Store Flagship autonomous store solution for full-size supermarkets and large retail spaces, integrating computer vision, weight sensors, and AI to deliver checkout-free shopping, real-time basket tracking, and inventory management for grocery and large-format retailers.
- Pod 100% autonomous, 24/7 microstore module deployable indoors or outdoors for workplaces, mobility hubs, and remote locations, enabling retailers to open new unmanned retail touchpoints with low upfront investment.
- Cabinet Self-contained, plug-and-play autonomous cabinet for grab-and-go retail in compact spaces such as airports, cinemas, hotel lobbies, and service stations, with modular and scalable configurations.
- Lane AI-powered checkout lane for human-assisted formats such as buffets, bars, cafeterias, and hospitals, increasing throughput by up to 80% and converting to fully autonomous operation during off-peak hours.
Quantifiable outcome
- 22.7 minute reduction in average shopping time per customer
- +8 more outcomes
Companies that use Sensei
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Sensei technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability7 records
Feature8 records
Sensei partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MastercardcoreTechnical partner enabling contactless payment integration for autonomous checkout. Shoppers tap card or phone to enter stores and are automatically charged upon exit.
- Hewlett Packard (HPE)coreTechnical partner providing computational infrastructure and servers for on-premises data processing in autonomous stores.
- MetrominorStrategic partnership supporting Sensei's autonomous retail technology deployment and market expansion.
Scale indicators17 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sensei competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Trigo: Israel-based computer vision company building checkout-free technology for grocery retailers (Tesco, REWE, Auchan). Directly competes with Sensei in the autonomous-supermarket category using similar ceiling-camera and AI basket-tracking architecture.
- AiFi: US-based autonomous retail platform providing camera-only checkout-free stores for convenience and grocery retailers. Directly comparable to Sensei in deploying camera-only or hybrid sensor systems to enterprise retailers worldwide.
- Standard Cognition: US-based autonomous checkout provider using ceiling-mounted computer vision for frictionless retail. Direct competitor to Sensei targeting similar enterprise retailers with a comparable AI-first store-format offering.
- Grabango: US-based checkout-free technology provider serving large grocers and convenience retailers with computer-vision-based basket tracking. Comparable to Sensei's hybrid CV + sensor approach for enterprise-scale autonomous stores.
- Zippin: US-based provider of AI-powered checkout-free stores combining computer vision and sensor fusion for retail and sports venues. Directly comparable to Sensei's multi-sensor autonomous-store stack and similar enterprise customer profile.
Broad incumbents
- Amazon (Just Walk Out): Amazon's Just Walk Out technology pioneered checkout-free retail and is licensed to third-party retailers (e.g., at airports, stadiums, convenience). A broad incumbent with vastly larger R&D resources whose technology overlaps with Sensei's core offering.
- VusionGroup: European retail-tech incumbent (formerly SES-imagotag) providing IoT, digital shelf labels and store digitization to large grocers. Broad incumbent with overlapping retail customer base where Sensei could be a complement or competitor for shelf-level intelligence.
- NCR Voyix: Large US-based POS and retail technology provider serving global grocers and convenience retailers. A broad incumbent whose installed POS base represents both a competitive threat and a distribution channel for Sensei-like autonomous capabilities.
- Diebold Nixdorf: Global provider of retail and banking self-checkout, POS and store automation hardware for enterprise retailers. Broad incumbent in store-level checkout technology where Sensei competes for modernization budgets alongside traditional self-checkout rollouts.
Emerging players
- Shopic: Israel-based company providing AI-powered smart-cart and checkout-free solutions for grocery chains. An emerging player with partial overlap to Sensei's autonomous store vision, focused on retrofit solutions rather than full store rebuilds.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sensei social profiles
Digital presenceSensei compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Sensei financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sensei leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Sensei funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors16 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sensei M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sensei
What does Sensei do?
Sensei builds and deploys autonomous retail technology that enables checkout-free, frictionless shopping experiences for retailers. Its platform combines ceiling-mounted computer vision cameras, proprietary in-shelf weight sensors, and on-premises computational servers running AI algorithms to track product selections in real time, generate virtual baskets, automate inventory and replenishment, and deliver behavioral analytics for retail operators.
Is Sensei a public or private company?
Sensei is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Sensei founded?
Sensei was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sensei based?
Sensei is headquartered in Castelo Branco, Portugal, in the Europe region.
How does Sensei make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Autonomous Store Technology Licensing is the primary driver. The others are hardware and Infrastructure.
Who are Sensei's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Trigo, AiFi, Standard Cognition, Grabango and Zippin. Broad incumbents are Amazon (Just Walk Out), VusionGroup, NCR Voyix and Diebold Nixdorf. Shopic is listed as an emerging player.
Does Sensei have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sensei.
What industry is Sensei in?
Sensei's product category is Autonomous Retail Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAHABAK, Automated/Unattended Convenience Stores (Smart/Checkout-Free), with a secondary code of HDAAAEAB, Object Detection & Tracking. Its NAICS code is 44511 and its SIC code is 5412.