Iara Dias is the CEO and co-founder of IKKIO, a Finnish startup building AI-powered, smart-glasses–agnostic applications for people who are blind and visually impaired. Working at the intersection of accessibility, spatial computing, and wearable technology, IKKIO combines real-time computer vision, large language models, and edge AI to deliver hands-free, context-aware assistance in everyday life.
With over 20 years of cross-industry experience, Iara has spent the past decade operating at the crossroads of technology, music, and immersive digital experiences. She is the former Partnerships Manager at Decentraland, where she produced flagship events such as the Metaverse Music Festival, Metaverse Pride, and co-produced Metaverse Fashion Week, bringing global brands, artists, and labels into Web3. She has worked with blockchain startups to streamline royalties for songwriters, launched direct-to-fan platforms, and helped indie artists navigate the evolving digital economy. Her self-published book, Music Industry’s Business Models in the Digital Era, reflects her research on fan engagement, digital merchandise, NFTs, and direct-to-avatar strategies. Iara’s career spans product management, business development, product , procurement, finance, artistic creation and more.
As a founder, Iara has been part of Antler’s Helsinki cohort, the Helsinki XR Center, the DVRSTY Founder Program, and the Maria01 Pitch Competition, and was a finalist at the Fe:male Founders Summit. Most recently, IKKIO was selected for Slush100 and Slush Top 50, and Iara is a proud member of the Epicenter community.
