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AI agent startup Instinct raised USD 1 billion in a Series C funding round, raising its valuation to USD 10 billion as investor interest in personal AI assistants continues to grow. The San Francisco-based company said the round was backed by Sequoia Capital, Benchmark Capital and Coatue.
The fresh capital comes as Instinct works to expand its AI agent, designed to handle everyday tasks on users' behalf rather than simply answer questions. The latest funding marks a sharp increase from the company’s previous financing.
Instinct had recently raised USD 250 million, taking its total funding before the latest round to USD 350 million. Reports earlier this month indicated the company was seeking USD 1 billion at a valuation of around USD 10 billion.
Instinct is building what it calls a personal AI agent that can carry out tasks autonomously. Instead of stopping at recommendations, the system is designed to interact with computers and phones to complete actions for users.
According to the company, users can rely on Instinct for practical jobs such as planning trips, ordering groceries, canceling subscriptions, and making bookings. Its newer Instinct Concierge service targets more complex tasks, including making phone calls and arranging services that may not offer online booking.
Instinct has also introduced a feature that allows its agents to communicate with other Instinct agents, helping users coordinate plans and exchange files such as documents, images, and spreadsheets.
The company's rapid fundraising follows growing attention around personal AI agents. Instinct remains in early access, but its service has attracted a growing user base and significant interest from technology professionals.
Earlier reports said the company had crossed 100,000 users and was experiencing periods of capacity pressure as demand increased. Computing costs have become a major consideration for AI companies handling increasingly complex tasks, making access to additional infrastructure a key reason to raise capital.
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Instinct is entering a market that is quickly attracting larger technology companies. Meta recently introduced Muse, an AI assistant designed to help consumers complete tasks. According to Instinct, the new funding will help bring the product to more people and continue developing its personal AI technology.
The company is also working on privacy and security measures, including isolated environments, temporary credentials, and controls around tool execution. The USD 1 billion round gives Instinct substantial resources as competition in personal AI intensifies, while the company works to turn an early-access product into a widely used consumer service.
