Instinct, an AI assistant developed by Spear Street Technology, is raising $250 million in Series B funding at a $2.5 billion valuation as the product gains traction among Silicon Valley technologists, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The round is being co-led by Index Ventures and Benchmark.
Instinct has been testing its assistant in private beta since February 2026 and has recently generated significant interest among early users.
Users can reach the assistant by phone or text, and it is designed to carry out real-world tasks rather than simply provide information.
Users have reportedly used Instinct to respond to emails, coordinate calendars, arrange airport transportation, hire home-service providers, shop for insurance, order merchandise and search for apartments.
Founder Noah Shinn said one user even used the platform to help purchase a house.
The company has raised approximately $350 million since its founding in 2025, including the new financing. Investors include Conviction Partners and Greenoaks.
Shinn, 23, previously worked at Sierra, the enterprise AI company co-founded by former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor, after leaving Northeastern University.
Instinct’s rapid adoption also brings significant privacy considerations because the product becomes more useful as users provide access to email, calendars and other sensitive personal data.
The company’s terms allow user data to be used for model training, although Shinn said Instinct is making improvements to security and controls as the product evolves.
The broader opportunity is part of an increasingly competitive push to create AI agents capable of autonomously handling everyday work and personal tasks.
