About
João Barros is President of the Board of Directors of AI² – Agência para a Investigação e Inovação, Portugal's national agency for research and innovation, and a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Porto (on leave). He founded Veniam, a connected vehicle networks company later acquired by Nexar, and previously held research positions at institutions including MIT, Carnegie Mellon University, Stanford University, and Carnegie Mellon University Africa. An IEEE Fellow, he has authored more than 180 scientific publications and over 20 patents, and holds a performing arts degree in flute from the Music Conservatory of Porto.
Founder at Veniam
Intro paths
→
In turn, João can intro founders to Veniam's investors below.
Veniam's investors · 6
Co-founders at Veniam
RC
Robin ChaseCEO
RR
Roy RussellCTO
SS
Susana Sargento
Experience
- AI² - Agência para a Investigação e InovaçãoPresident of the Board of Directorscurrent2026 — presentPortugal
- INL - International Iberian Nanotechnology LaboratoryMember of the Councilcurrent2026 — presentBraga, Portugal
- Portuguese Treasury and Debt Management Agency (IGCP, E.P.E.)Member of the Board of Advisorscurrent2026 — presentLisbon, Portugal
- Fundação Mendes GonçalvesMember of the Board of Curators2025 — 2026Golegã, Santarém, Portugal
- Carnegie Mellon University AfricaCMU-Africa Associate Director2024 — 2026Kigali, Kigali City, Rwanda
- Carnegie Mellon University AfricaResearch Professor2024 — 2026Kigali, Kigali City, Rwanda
- Carnegie Mellon UniversityProfessor of Information Systems and Public Policy (courtesy)2024 — 2026Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
- Carnegie Mellon UniversityProfessor of Electrical and Computer Engineering (courtesy)2024 — 2026Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
- Casa Mendes GonçalvesBoard Member2024 — 2026Golegã
- COREangelsMember of the Advisory Board2024 — 2026Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto de ProspetivaBoard Member2022 — 2026Lisbon, Portugal
- Porto Business SchoolProfessor / Strategic Director of the Center for Business Innovation2022 — 2024Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Engineering, University of PortoProfessor Catedrático (Full Professor)2014 — 2024Porto Area, Portugal
- National Council of Science, Technology and Higher Education of PortugalMember / Councillor (appointed by the Prime Minister of Portugal)2022 — 2024Lisbon, Portugal
- Nexar Inc.Chief Platform Officer2022 — 2023Porto, Portugal
- Veniam Inc.Founder and CEO2012 — 2022Mountain View, CA
- StreambolicoCo-Founder and Board Member2012 — 2016Porto Area, Portugal
- Stanford UniversityVisiting Associate Professor2014 — 2015Palo Alto, CA
- Universidade do PortoAssociate Professor2005 — 2014
- Instituto de TelecomunicaçõesDirector of IT-Porto2007 — 2014Porto Area, Portugal
- Carnegie Mellon Portugal ProgramNational Director2009 — 2012
- MITVisiting Scholar2008
Skills & more
Higher Education1Entrepreneurship1Information Technology1Creativity and InnovationScholarly ResearchDirector levelBoard LevelTechnology Management1Executive TeamScientific Leadership2Advanced Research2Public Speaking25
+12 more
Information TheoryNetwork CommunicationsData SecurityFundraisingCognitive RadioLeadershipWireless Sensor NetworksPattern RecognitionMatlabLaTeXCPythonLanguages English · French · German · Portuguese · Spanish
From João's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is João Barros?
- João Barros is President of the Board of Directors of AI² – Agência para a Investigação e Inovação, Portugal's national agency for research and innovation, and a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Porto (on leave). He founded Veniam, a connected vehicle networks company later acquired by Nexar, and previously held research positions at institutions including MIT, Carnegie Mellon University, Stanford University, and Carnegie Mellon University Africa. An IEEE Fellow, he has authored more than 180 scientific publications and over 20 patents, and holds a performing arts degree in flute from the Music Conservatory of Porto.
- Where does João Barros work?
- João Barros is Founder of Veniam.
- What companies did João Barros found?
- João Barros founded Veniam.
- Where did João Barros go to school?
- João Barros studied at Technical University of Munich (PHD, Electrical Engineering and Information Technology); Cornell University (Fulbright, Information Theory); Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) (Erasmus, Electrical Engineering).
Founder mafias
Stanford University mafia1,326
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Peter ThielJ.D.Founded PayPal +1Reid HoffmanB.S.Founded LinkedIn +2David SacksB.A.Founded YammerKeith RaboisB.A.Founded OpendoorGarry TanBSFounded Y Combinator +1Joe LonsdaleBSFounded Opto +5
+ 1,319 more
Carnegie Mellon University mafia330
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Kai-Fu LeeResearch Computer Scientist / Assistant ProfessorFounded 01Lucy GuoComputer Science & Human-Computer InteractionsFounded Passes +1Guillaume LampleMaster's degreeFounded Mistral AIJoshua XuMaster's degreeFounded HeyGenAndrew NgBachelor of Science - BSFounded Factored +3William GuttmanDistinguished Service Professor of Economics & Special Advisor to ProvostFounded CurvePoint +3
+ 323 more
Cornell University mafia326
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
John ZimmerBSFounded Lyft +1Hanson S. Gifford, IIIBSMEFounded Miramar Labs +2Ian JanickiBachelors of ArchitectureFounded Outfit +2Ryan XueBachelor of Science (B.Sc.)Founded Andco +2Don MuirDyson School of BusinessFounded Arc +2Uri LopatinBAFounded Pardes Biosciences +1
+ 319 more
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) mafia34
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Pascal WielerMaster of Science (M.Sc.)Founded GoCharly +1Tim SuchanekBachelor of Science - BSFounded Stellate +1Jonny DimondDiplomFounded Tasklet +1Matthias KnechtDipl. Wi.-Ing.Founded Billie +1Andreas StryzMaster of Science (M.Sc.)Founded FinnDaniel StammlerInformation Engineering and ManagementFounded Kolibri Games
+ 27 more
Universidade do Porto mafia8
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Ricardo OliveiraB.S.Founded ThousandEyesJosé NevesBScFounded FarfetchDaniel NordhErasmus exchangeFounded Peg (formerly Paymobil)Marcos Oliveira Jrsummer physics schoolFounded flukeDaniela Braga, PhDBachelor of Arts (B.A.)Founded DefinedFelipe Ávila da CostaInvited ParticipationFounded Infraspeak
+ 1 more
Same school
Also attended Technical University of Munich349
Julian von EckartsbergManaging Director Europe at Burda Principal InvestmentsHannes Voucko-GlocknerInvestment Analyst at Burda Principal InvestmentsPaula SchultheissSenior Associate at AN Venture PartnersThomas MeierPartner, Head of Resilience in Energy & Resources Investments at Verve VenturesNiklas Born de AndrésInvestment & Product Intern at Kibo VenturesItziar EstevezPartner - Growth at Iris Capital
+ 343 more
Also attended Cornell University961
Doug LeonePartner at Sequoia Capital; former Global Managing PartnerJenny LeeSenior Managing Partner at Granite AsiaNeeraj AgrawalGeneral Partner at Battery VenturesJohn ZimmerCo-founder of LyftMichelle FernandesInvestor at Index VenturesMike ZakInvestor at CRV (Charles River Ventures)
+ 955 more
Also attended Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)90
Bastian HasslingerInvestor at Index VenturesHelge DaebelPartner, Head of Water at Emerald Technology Ventures AgTobias SandfortSenior Technology Analyst at Emerald Technology Ventures AgThomasGeneral Partner at Acadian Ventures Management, LlcThomas MeierPartner, Head of Resilience in Energy & Resources Investments at Verve VenturesChristian SiegeleManaging Partner at Capnamic
.png)
+ 84 more
Also attended Universidade do Porto28
Cristina NovaisCFO at Bright Pixel CapitalJoão Günther AmaralManaging Partner & CEO at Bright Pixel CapitalRicardo OliveiraFounder, ThousandEyes at Decibel PartnersRita MatosAnalyst at FaberRaquel Gaião SilvaSenior Associate at FaberBernardo PequitoInvestment Director at Beta Capital
+ 22 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Porto Business School3
Also worked at Nexar Inc.9
Simon LeveneCo-founder and Partner at Mosaic VenturesMarianne WuVenture Partner at Congruent VenturesErez ShacharManaging Partner at Qumra CapitalMichael EisenbergCo-founder and General Partner at Aleph, an early-stage Israeli venture capital fundJonathan PulitzerGeneral Partner at Corner VenturesHilly Rejwan SorekVP Business Development at Viola Ventures
+ 3 more
