Instinct

Instinct, operating under the company Spear Street Technology, Inc., is a financial technology firm developing an artificial intelligence-powered personal assistant designed to manage and execute a user's daily tasks. The company was founded in 2025 by Noah Shinn, a former research scientist at Sierra, with the operating company registered in April 2026. Shinn established the startup at the age of 23. The service functions as a personal agent that integrates with a user's digital life, including email, messaging applications, calendars, and devices. Clients can interact with the AI assistant via phone calls or text messages to delegate tasks such as booking flights and restaurant reservations, managing emails and calendars, shopping for items, and handling subscriptions. The platform is engineered to use a phone and computer in the same way a human does, providing a comprehensive solution for automating everyday digital activities. The product is currently in a private, invitation-only beta phase as the company scales its computing infrastructure. Instinct's business model is still in development, as the service is free during its private testing period. Future monetization could involve a subscription service, positioning the AI as a 'chief of staff' for its users. The company has demonstrated significant traction within the venture capital community, achieving a valuation of $2.5 billion shortly after its inception. It has secured $350 million in total funding, highlighted by a recent Series B round of approximately $250 million co-led by Index Ventures and Benchmark. Other prominent investors include Kleiner Perkins, Conviction, and Greenoaks. The platform's extensive access to personal and sensitive user data has, however, brought up discussions around privacy and data security. Keywords: AI assistant, personal agent, task automation, digital life management, Noah Shinn, Spear Street Technology, text-based AI, voice-controlled AI, calendar management, email automation, travel booking, reservation service, subscription management, consumer AI, AI agent, Index Ventures, Benchmark, Kleiner Perkins, AI productivity