Instinct Founder Reveals 50% of Platform Transactions Are Travel-Related as Startup Nears $1B in Annual Transactions
Instinct says transaction volume is rising about 10% daily, with travel accounting for over half of activity on its invite-only AI-agent platform. The 14-person startup recently closed a $1B Series C at a $10B valuation.
Instinct founder Noah Shinn disclosed in September 2026 that more than half of all transactions on the invite-only AI agent platform are travel-related, and that the platform is approaching a billion dollars in annual transaction volume. Shinn made the remarks during a podcast interview with investor Patrick O’Shaughnessy, though he did not detail the methodology behind the annualized figure.
Shinn said the platform is growing at roughly 10% per day, with transaction volume increasing at a similar rate. He framed travel as a natural fit for AI agents, arguing that Instinct offers a more flexible experience than traditional booking sites or travel agencies. “I think there is a better experience with Instinct or other interfaces where users can say ‘Hey, I need to be in New York tonight; it’s urgent,'” he said.
Shinn also discussed restaurant reservations as another area where the company sees opportunity. He described a scenario in which an agent checks restaurant availability every five seconds to alert users to open slots, and suggested Instinct wants to reinvent the reservation process to prioritize users with special occasions. The comments drew pushback from some observers, who noted that agents could misrepresent occasions to secure bookings, and that many restaurants value regular local patrons over one-time visitors.
The 14-person startup recently closed a $1 billion Series C funding round at a $10 billion valuation, with participation from Sequoia Capital, Benchmark Capital, and Coatue. Instinct competes in the personal agent space against Meta’s Muse and Khosla-backed Wajo.