Instinct, a 12-month-old AI startup led by 23-year-old founder Noah Shinn, has raised $250 million in a Series B round co-led by Index Ventures and Benchmark. The funding brings Instinct’s total to $350 million and values the company at $2.5 billion, reflecting strong investor confidence in its AI assistant.
The assistant, offered by Spear Street Technology, connects to users’ apps and devices to manage tasks via texts and calls. Early users report using it to plan trips, buy groceries, book tickets, and even organize weddings. Shinn called the early feedback “thrilling” in a Wednesday tweet.
Privacy concerns have shadowed Instinct’s rapid rise. Critics highlight invasive permissions and terms of use, prompting scrutiny over how the app handles user data. The startup remains in private beta as it scales.
