João Graça

Co-Founder & CTO of Soko | Co-Founder & Former CTO of Unbabel | Seasoned AI StrategistExpert in | Board & C-Level Advisor

📍 Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal🔄 Updated September 2026💼 6 investments📅 6 years investing🗓 Last invested Oct 2024𝕏 @upgrade_to_unlock
VC🌍 Portugal
6
Total investments
0
Early stage
2
Mid stage
2
Late stage
6y
Years active

Portfolio

6 investments · sorted by recency
All investments
Early stage
Mid stage
Late stage
Investor
Oct 2024
Sensei is changing the way the world shops through custom retail experiences designed for humans that generate unique knowledge for businesses. We combine AI, computer vision, and machine learning to build a full-service system that is scalable across multiple formats. Our cutting-edge technology will revolutionize the way people shop, giving them full control of their time. Scanning products and standing in lines are things of the past. Seeing is believing. Try our technology and discover what autonomous retail could mean for your business. sensei.tech
Investor
Jan 2022
Zack Abbott, PhD microbiologist, founded ZBiotics because of the potential genetically engineered probiotics have to improve daily living. Our first product is a probiotic that helps you feel better the day after drinking alcohol. ZBiotics is leveraging its patented technology to create a whole new category of products that help our bodies deal with whatever modern life throws our way. It’s genetic engineering as it should be: transparent, responsible, and people first.
Investor
Dec 2021
Developer-first face biometrics solution for a passwordless authentication that is safe, private, and seamless. Test it with our free plan.
Investor
Sep 2021
Easol is the all-in-one platform for managing your entire experience business, on your terms. Sell directly on your own website with smart booking, payment, and marketing tools that all work together, brilliantly.
Investor
Mar 2021
At Meight we strive to learn about motion in all its complexity, and use that knowledge to improve the way we all move. Using data from millions of journeys, we anticipate what drivers will do in the next split-second, so we can help them spend less and use less. Journey by journey, we’re changing mobility for everyone.
Investor
Jun 2020
Replai is a creative intelligence platform backed by Sequoia that uses computer-vision AI to tag video creatives at scale, and help app publishers understand what drives performance within their video creatives. In simple terms, we understand why creatives works.
Experience · 11 entries
All (11)
Investments (6)
Founder (4)
2025
Founder CTO
Aug 2025
Hey, I’m Soko! I’m a search engine for IRL, built to help you feel at home where you are. In a world full of apps, noise, and endless options, what’s nearby and truly relevant often feels far away. I change that. I’m a local character that knows what’s happening around you and understands your context, your interests, and the kind of plans that make you feel part of a place. I match who you are and where you are to places, plans, and useful local info fast. From low key events and trusted spots to spontaneous ideas and people who share your vibe. I can also be proactive, suggesting things when it feels right. Everything happens through simple and natural conversations. Discovery should feel easy, frictionless, and collaborative, and it should help you feel connected, not just informed. Behind the scenes, I’m a memory aware, messaging native AI that learns from real conversations and lived experiences. Every interaction adds to a shared understanding of the city, shaped by the people who live in it. Over time, this creates a living map of local life, human, dynamic, and grounded in trust. I was born in Lisbon and built for any city. My goal is simple: help you belong locally and do more things IRL 👊🏽
Founder & CTO
Jul 2025
Stealth AI Startup is a private community for founders, researchers, and engineers building next-generation AI companies before public launch. Founders tag themselves here to: 🔹 Gain credibility while working in stealth 🔹 Connect discreetly with other AI founders 🔹 Receive inbound interest from early-stage VCs 🔹 Join curated founder-only circles & discussions 🔹 Access hiring pipelines for early team building If youre building an AI startup in stealth, add your profile to the community and tag yourself to this page. Your stealth journey deserves visibility — without revealing your idea. Join the world’s largest AI stealth founder network.
Venture Partner
Jul 2025
Shilling was founded in 2011 with the aim of building an entrepreneurial economy in Portugal’s tech space. Created by founders for founders, Shilling is Portugual’s leading early-stage VC firm, driven by the mission to establish sustainable economic growth by investing in diverse industries and disruptive technologies shaping the future. Shilling operates on a profit-sharing model and offers more than just capital; it is a community-centric VC that fosters a thriving and invaluable network where all stakeholders work together to achieve mutual success. The Shilling Founders Fund has been instrumental in supporting startups at the pre-seed and seed stages. At the same time, the Shilling Opportunity Fund backs startups in high-potential sectors across Europe from Series A and upwards. Find out more at www.shilling.vc
2024
Investor
Oct 2024
Sensei is changing the way the world shops through custom retail experiences designed for humans that generate unique knowledge for businesses. We combine AI, computer vision, and machine learning to build a full-service system that is scalable across multiple formats. Our cutting-edge technology will revolutionize the way people shop, giving them full control of their time. Scanning products and standing in lines are things of the past. Seeing is believing. Try our technology and discover what autonomous retail could mean for your business. sensei.tech
2022
Investor
Jan 2022
Zack Abbott, PhD microbiologist, founded ZBiotics because of the potential genetically engineered probiotics have to improve daily living. Our first product is a probiotic that helps you feel better the day after drinking alcohol. ZBiotics is leveraging its patented technology to create a whole new category of products that help our bodies deal with whatever modern life throws our way. It’s genetic engineering as it should be: transparent, responsible, and people first.
Show all 11 entries ↓
Investment activity
2020–2024 · 6 investments
20201202132022120241
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