AI Agent Startup Instinct Closes $1 Billion Series C Round, Reaching a $10 Billion Valuation

According to TechFlow, on September 28, TechCrunch reported that consumer-grade AI agent startup Instinct has announced the closing of its $1 billion Series C funding round, which received participation from investors including Sequoia Capital, Benchmark Capital, and Coatue, valuing the company at $10 billion.

Instinct launched an invite-only service in August 2026, merely one month after its previous funding round closed at a $2.5 billion valuation. The AI assistant primarily communicates with users via SMS and is capable of performing practical tasks on their behalf, such as booking travel itineraries, paying bills, and scheduling phone appointments. To date, the company has not released a standalone mobile application and faces direct market competition from Meta’s AI assistant, Muse.