Instinct raises $1 billion Series C, cementing messaging-based AI agents
Instinct, a San Francisco startup founded by Noah Shinn, announced on September 28, 2026 a $1 billion Series C from Sequoia Capital, Benchmark Capital and Coatue at a $10 billion valuation, according to reports from Yahoo Finance and PYMNTS. The figure quadruples the $2.5 billion valuation of its $250 million Series B. The company runs AI agents over SMS, iMessage, RCS and WhatsApp, a segment where Ask Proxy, Caddy, Comma, Meta's Muse and Wajo also compete.
In 40 seconds
- Instinct announced a $1 billion Series C with Sequoia, Benchmark and Coatue at a $10 billion valuation.
- The valuation quadruples the $2.5 billion of its $250 million Series B, and the product remains in early access.
- Its agents operate from SMS, iMessage, RCS and WhatsApp without requiring users to adopt a new app.
IASummary generated by artificial intelligence from a story by El Ecosistema Startup. It may contain errors: the original source prevails.




Comments
Be respectful. Comments reported by several people are hidden until a moderator reviews them.
You do not need an account to read, only to comment. Sign in with a code sent to your email or with your Google account. We only show the name you choose, never your email.