A professional with 20 years of diverse experience in several areas including music technology, VR, AR, web3, and blockchain. Born in Brazil, Iara moved to Finland in 2014 to pursue an MBA in International Project Management at Tampere University of Applied Sciences. With a solid two-decade background encompassing product development, partnerships, business development, finance, international trade, and procurement, Iara's skill set is extensive and diverse. Her leadership has been pivotal in the success of landmark projects like the Metaverse Music Festival, Metaverse Pride on Decentraland, and the Metaverse Fashion Week for two editions. Iara excels in fusing the physical and digital domains to create immersive, interactive, experiences. As a product manager, Iara's strategic vision and technical acumen have been crucial in aligning product development with emerging trends. Her collaborations with major brands and global firms have established her as a key influencer in innovative business models. A sought-after speaker at international events, Iara has been featured in prestigious publications such as Wired, Billboard, and Bloomberg.

For over a year, Iara has been diving deeper into upcoming trends with the mission to leverage technology to improve people’s quality of life and that’s how ikkio was born. After participating in the Antler residency program, Iara paired up with her co-founder and CTO, Dr. Erjon Skenderi to shape and bring the idea to life and improve the quality of life of blind and visually impaired folks whilst using cutting-edge technology.

After participating and winning the DVRSTY mentorship program by FOV Ventures, Iara is now excited to pitch ikkio at AWE 2024.