Personal AI agents are back: nine big tech launches and 21 startups raising money in 2026

Who is on the map

Dealroom has no personal-agent tag: AI Agents is 6,000+ mostly B2B companies, and Personal Assistant and Virtual Assistant miss Instinct, Manus and Poke. The 120 players are hand-curated and each is resolved in the Dealroom API by name and website domain (uuids below). Startups were found with semantic searches ("personal AI agent", "AI assistant that makes phone calls", "AI agent that books reservations for you", "AI concierge", "AI agent that operates your computer", "AI browser agent for consumers", "personal AI with memory", "AI executive assistant for individuals", "AI agent over iMessage WhatsApp text"), screened on tagline for a consumer agent that acts on the user's behalf. Adjacent segments (AI browsers, devices, inbox and calendar, shopping and travel, companions, agent infrastructure) were swept with their own semantic searches for players with $5M or more of venture funding. The same 120-company roster is published as the market map at dealroom.co/market-maps/ai-personal-executive-assistants/ (live since 30 September 2026). Big tech agents, open-source agent harnesses and adjacent segments are in no total; funding covers only the 49 startups in the five agent groups and the first wave. Nate's 2019 seed round falls before the chart's 2020 start.

Funding rule

Venture funding is the sum of Dealroom's venture rounds by announcement year for the 49 startups and the 7 first-wave companies, never total funding. Acquisition, secondary and licence rows are never added. Data pulled from the Dealroom next-gen API on 2026-09-30.

Where Dealroom's records and the press differ

• A. Instinct: the API records one $100M "Early VC" round dated Jan 2025 with a $400M valuation flagged as an estimate (a Dealroom formula, not an announced price). The company and TechCrunch (26 Aug 2026) describe that money as a seed at $50M and a $75M Series A at $500M in August 2026. It is counted in 2026 here, and the $400M estimate is not shown anywhere. The Instinct chart shows only the two announced valuations recorded in Dealroom: $2.5B (Series B, Aug 2026) and $10B (Series C, Sep 2026).
• B. Manus: the API records $500M at $4B (Sep 2026) as a closed Series B. Bloomberg (17 Sep 2026) and TechCrunch (18 Sep 2026) report it as in talks. It is drawn hatched as "in talks" and kept out of closed totals.
• C. Acquisition, secondary and licence rows (HP/Humane, Salesforce/Convergence, Meta/Manus, unwound) are never added to venture totals. Microsoft's ~$650M to Inflection is a licence fee and Amazon's ~$25M to Adept an acquihire payment, both press figures.
• D. Town: the API records a Sep 2026 round with no amount at a $1B valuation. Newcomer and Upstarts report a ~$90M Series B in talks (Forerunner, Menlo). It is listed as in talks and adds nothing to any total. Its Jun 2026 $55M Series A (a16z) is in the API and counted. Its Dealroom tagline (tax software) is out of date and is not used.
• E. OpenClaw: the API carries an acquisition row, but the project was not bought; its creator joined OpenAI and the project moved to a foundation (Feb 2026). It is tagged "Foundation-run".
• F. Undercounted in Dealroom and shown as recorded, with a visible caveat: Lindy (Dealroom $3M; reported ~$50M from Menlo, Battery and Coatue) and Please, ex-MultiOn (Dealroom has no round amounts; reported $20M Series A led by General Catalyst in 2024).

Considered and left out

• Tencent (WeChat agent, Handy Bot): in testing, no shipped consumer agent as of 30 Sep 2026.
• Cora (Every): a product of Every, which Dealroom does not resolve as a company.
• Yaar: workplace assistant for sales and operations teams.
• Sierra, Decagon, Genspark-style enterprise agents, Hebbia: enterprise or knowledge-work agents, not personal.
• Cursor, Cognition, Replit: coding agents (Cognition appears only as Poke's acquirer).
• Fora, Comtravo, TROOP, WorkTrips.com: travel agencies and business-travel booking sites, not agents.
• GaiaNet, Freysa, Eternis Labs: crypto and decentralised agent networks.
• Read AI and other team meeting note-takers: meeting tools sold to teams (Granola, used by individuals, is on the map).
• XPANCEO, Looki, INMO and other smart hardware: hardware without a personal agent.
• Martin (martin.ai), Tomo Networks, Nowadays (eatnowadays.com), Kin Insurance: name collisions with the players on the map.

Players and wordmarks

Wordmarks: 17 from the Dealroom logo library, 65 from the company's own logotype, 16 as the site's icon beside the name (OpenClaw, Browser Use, Ario, Martin, Series, Boardy, Wajo, Simular, Genspark, The Browser Company, Sandbar, Tasklet, Replika, Skyvern, Humane, Limitless), 19 as the name alone (Zhipu, Xiaomi, Moonshot AI, Open Interpreter, faff, RideClaw, Lifesgenie, The Librarian, Nowadays, Convergence, Sky, NinjaTech AI, Caden, New Computer, Fellou, Sigma, BrowserOS, io, Cleo). Five library rows failed the contact-sheet check (Convergence, Tempo, Genspark, Zhipu, The Browser Company) and are excluded.

Milestone dates

• ChatGPT, 30 Nov 2022: https://openai.com/index/chatgpt/
• Inflection $1.3B, 29 Jun 2023: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-06-29/inflection-ai-raises-1-3-billion-from-hoffman-gates-and-nvidia (amount from Dealroom)
• Humane Ai Pin, 9 Nov 2023: https://techcrunch.com/2023/11/09/humanes-ai-pin/
• rabbit r1, 9 Jan 2024 (CES): https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/9/24030667/rabbit-r1-ai-action-model-price-release-date
• Microsoft and Inflection, 19 Mar 2024: https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2024/03/19/mustafa-suleyman-deepmind-and-inflection-co-founder-joins-microsoft-to-lead-copilot/
• Amazon and Adept, 28 Jun 2024: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/28/amazon-hires-execs-from-ai-startup-adept-and-licenses-its-technology.html
• Claude computer use, 22 Oct 2024: https://www.anthropic.com/news/3-5-models-and-computer-use
• Operator, 23 Jan 2025: https://openai.com/index/introducing-operator/
• HP buys Humane assets, 18 Feb 2025: https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/18/humanes-ai-pin-is-dead-as-hp-buys-startups-assets-for-116m/
• Manus launch, 6 Mar 2025: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manus_(AI_agent) ; https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/09/manus-probably-isnt-chinas-second-deepseek-moment/
• ChatGPT agent, 17 Jul 2025: https://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-agent/
• Amazon buys Bee, 22 Jul 2025: https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/22/amazon-acquires-bee-the-ai-wearable-that-records-everything-you-say/
• Meta buys Limitless, 5 Dec 2025: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/05/meta-limitless-ai-wearable.html
• Meta agrees to buy Manus, 29 Dec 2025: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-29/meta-acquires-startup-manus-to-bolster-ai-business
• Clawdbot renamed OpenClaw, 30 Jan 2026: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenClaw
• Steinberger joins OpenAI, OpenClaw to a foundation, 14 Feb 2026: https://steipete.me/posts/2026/openclaw ; https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/15/openclaw-creator-peter-steinberger-joins-openai/
• Galaxy S26 agentic preview, 25 Feb 2026: https://news.samsung.com/global/galaxy-unpacked-2026-highlights-from-galaxy-unpacked-the-beginning-of-truly-agentic-ai
• China blocks Meta–Manus, 27 Apr 2026: https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/27/china-vetoes-metas-2b-manus-deal-after-months-long-probe/
• Gemini Spark, 19 May 2026: https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/19/google-introduces-gemini-spark-a-24-7-agentic-assistant-with-gmail-integration/
• Cognition buys Poke, 23 Jul 2026: https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/24/why-cognition-bought-poke-ai-personality-is-becoming-a-competitive-advantage/
• Grok Bot, 11 Aug 2026: https://www.unite.ai/xai-launches-grok-bot-always-on-ai-teammates-with-their-own-cloud-computers/
• Instinct Series B, 26 Aug 2026: https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/26/viral-ai-startup-instinct-has-raised-350-million-at-a-2-5-billion-valuation/ (valuation from Dealroom)
• Claude in Chrome GA, 26 Aug 2026: https://claude.com/blog/claude-in-chrome-generally-available
• Meta Muse, 8 Sep 2026: https://about.fb.com/news/2026/09/introducing-muse-personal-ai-agent/
• Doubao phone assistant, 14 Sep 2026: https://technode.com/2026/09/14/doubao-phone-assistant-launches-consumer-version-with-beta-phone-controls/
• Instinct Series C, 28 Sep 2026: https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/28/viral-ai-agent-instinct-raises-1b-series-c-at-a-10b-valuation/ (amount and valuation from Dealroom)
• Manus Cue and Wajo Fo, 28 Sep 2026: https://www.theinformation.com/briefings/manus-unveils-new-personal-agent-app-challenge-metas-muse ; https://wajo.ai/about
• OpenAI Dots, 29 Sep 2026: https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/29/openai-launches-dots-its-bubbly-agentic-avatar/

Sources for the external facts

• instinct series c: https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/28/viral-ai-agent-instinct-raises-1b-series-c-at-a-10b-valuation/
• instinct series b: https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/26/viral-ai-startup-instinct-has-raised-350-million-at-a-2-5-billion-valuation/
• instinct seed a: https://techfundingnews.com/noah-shinns-instinct-goes-from-100m-to-2-5b-in-weeks-23-year-olds-ai-assistant-just-raised-250m-series-b/
• manus talks: https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/18/manus-seeks-4b-valuation-in-new-500m-fundraise-as-it-resumes-independent-ops/
• manus block: https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/27/china-vetoes-metas-2b-manus-deal-after-months-long-probe/
• meta muse: https://about.fb.com/news/2026/09/introducing-muse-personal-ai-agent/
• openclaw: https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
• hermes agent: https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/
• open interpreter: https://github.com/openinterpreter
• khoj: https://khoj.dev
• sky openai: https://openai.com/index/openai-acquires-software-applications-incorporated/
• poke cognition: https://cognition.com/blog/interaction
• dot shutdown: https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/05/personalized-ai-companion-app-dot-is-shutting-down/
• humane hp: https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/18/humanes-ai-pin-is-dead-as-hp-buys-startups-assets-for-116m/
• adept amazon: https://www.semafor.com/article/08/02/2024/investors-in-adept-ai-will-be-paid-back-after-amazon-hires-startups-top-talent
• inflection microsoft: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-21/microsoft-to-pay-inflection-ai-650-million-after-scooping-up-most-of-staff
• limitless meta: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/meta-acquires-ai-wearables-startup-limitless-5564681
• town series b talks: Newcomer / Upstarts, Sep 2026 (Town Series B in talks)
• claude in chrome: Anthropic announcement, 26 Aug 2026 (Claude in Chrome generally available)
• bee amazon: https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/22/amazon-acquires-bee-the-ai-wearable-that-records-everything-you-say/

OpenClaw's GitHub stars

Samples decoded from https://api.star-history.com/svg?repos=openclaw/openclaw&type=Date (star-history.com, built from GitHub stargazer timestamps); the last point is GitHub's own stargazers_count for openclaw/openclaw. GitHub no longer lists this repo's stargazers, so the per-star dates come from star-history.com's chart, decoded into its 19 dated samples. The decoded series sits within 6% of the counts published on these dates:

• 2026-01-30: 105K, https://eu.36kr.com/en/p/3661357114942337
• 2026-02-24: 224K, https://www.star-history.com/blog/openclaw-surpasses-linux-14th-most-starred/
• 2026-03-01: 250K, https://www.star-history.com/blog/openclaw-surpasses-react-most-starred-software
• 2026-08-26: 388K, https://github.blog/open-source/maintainers/openclaw-went-viral-meet-the-maintainers-building-and-securing-it/

React's 243K is star-history.com's figure for February and March 2026.

Announced valuations

Only valuations announced with a round and reported by the press; each matches the Dealroom round with the same id. Dealroom formula estimates are not shown.

• Instinct, 2026-08-26, $2.5B (Series B; round 1220031): https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/26/viral-ai-startup-instinct-has-raised-350-million-at-a-2-5-billion-valuation/
• Instinct, 2026-09-28, $10B (Series C; round 1235136): https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/28/viral-ai-agent-instinct-raises-1b-series-c-at-a-10b-valuation/
• Manus AI, 2025-04-25, $500M (Early VC (Benchmark); round 1033582): https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/25/chinese-ai-startup-manus-reportedly-gets-funding-from-benchmark-at-500m-valuation/
• Manus AI, 2026-09-18, $4B (Series B, in talks; round 1227259): https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/18/manus-seeks-4b-valuation-in-new-500m-fundraise-as-it-resumes-independent-ops/
• Genspark, 2024-06-15, $260M (Seed; round 955785): Dealroom next-gen API companyValuations (announced, not an estimate)
• Genspark, 2025-02-21, $530M (Series A; round 1019637): https://siliconangle.com/2025/02/21/ai-search-engine-startup-genspark-reportedly-raises-100m-530m-valuation/
• Genspark, 2025-11-20, $1.3B (Series B; round 1126311): https://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2025/11/255870-ai-startup-genspark-valued-at-1-25bn-in-oversubscribed-series-b/
• Genspark, 2026-03-15, $1.6B (Series B extension; round 1150959): https://pulse2.com/genspark-raises-100-million-series-b-extension-at-2-6-billion-valuation/
• Genspark, 2026-06-18, $2.6B (Series B extension; round 1194764): https://pulse2.com/genspark-raises-100-million-series-b-extension-at-2-6-billion-valuation/
• Town, 2026-09-15, $1B (Series B, in talks; round 1225499): Newcomer / Upstarts, Sep 2026 (Town Series B in talks)

Big tech agent launches

First date each big tech agent could be used by consumers as an agent that acts (books, orders, operates apps or the browser): the earliest of preview, public beta or GA, never the date the assistant brand first existed. Researched 2026-09-30 from the company newsroom where one exists, else TechCrunch / 36Kr / TechNode / Caixin. Samsung is the Galaxy S26 announcement (25 Feb 2026); the on-sale date could not be confirmed.

• Honor YOYO agent, 2024-10-23 (GA): https://9to5google.com/2024/10/23/honor-announces-magicos-9/
• Zhipu AutoGLM, 2024-10-25 (preview): https://eu.36kr.com/en/p/3006924031714052
• Perplexity Perplexity assistant, 2025-01-23 (GA): https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/23/perplexity-launches-an-assistant-for-android/
• Amazon Alexa+, 2025-03-31 (preview): https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/31/some-alexa-features-reportedly-wont-arrive-for-months/
• Microsoft Copilot, 2025-04-04 (public beta): https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2025/04/04/your-ai-companion/
• Anthropic Claude in Chrome, 2025-08-25 (preview): https://claude.com/blog/claude-for-chrome
• Moonshot AI Kimi Agent, 2025-09-26 (GA): https://www.kimi.com/en/help/agent/agent-overview
• ByteDance Doubao, 2025-12-01 (preview): https://www.caixinglobal.com/2025-12-01/bytedance-in-talks-with-smartphone-makers-to-embed-ai-assistant-102388770.html
• Alibaba Qwen app, 2026-01-15 (public beta): https://www.alibabagroup.com/document-1948497434959151104
• Samsung Galaxy AI, Bixby, 2026-02-25 (announced): https://www.thenationalnews.com/future/technology/2026/02/25/samsung-bets-on-agentic-ai-and-upgraded-privacy-on-galaxy-s26/
• Xiaomi miclaw, 2026-03-06 (preview): https://technode.com/2026/03/06/xiaomi-begins-limited-closed-beta-of-openclaw-like-mobile-ai-agent-xiaomi-miclaw/
• Google Gemini Spark, 2026-05-26 (public beta): https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/products/gemini-app/next-evolution-gemini-app/
• Grok Grok Bot, 2026-08-11 (public beta): https://x.ai/news/introducing-grok-bot
• Huawei Celia, HarmonyOS 7, 2026-09-07 (public beta): https://tech-ish.com/2026/09/08/5-million-devices-upgraded-to-huaweis-harmonyos-7-in-24-hours/
• Meta Muse, 2026-09-08 (GA): https://about.fb.com/news/2026/09/introducing-muse-personal-ai-agent/
• Apple Siri, 2026-09-14 (public beta): https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/09/siri-ai-a-profoundly-more-capable-and-personal-assistant-is-here/
• OpenAI Dots, 2026-09-29 (GA): https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/29/openai-launches-dots-its-bubbly-agentic-avatar/