Short answer: Volaren: A personal investing agent: it watches all your brokerage and bank accounts, explains why your money moved, suggests what to do next and places the trade at your own broker when you reply yes, in the app or by text. Instinct: Personal assistant you text or call; it uses a phone and computer the way people do to handle everyday tasks.
Volaren vs Instinct
Sourced facts only. “Unknown” means not verified yet.
Key facts side by side
| Criterion | Volaren | Instinct |
|---|---|---|
| Type | personal agent | personal agent |
| Vendor | Volaren (founders Martin Pestana and Akshat Mittal; Y Combinator Fall 2026) | Spear Street Technology (per TechCrunch) |
| Channels / category | Web terminal, phone browser and app, and text messages (iMessage, SMS or WhatsApp) | Text or phone call (per instinct.com) |
| Pricing / availability | Free to start with 100 credits a month; one plan at USD 12/month; real-money trades carry no per-trade fee (volaren.ai FAQ, checked 10 Nov 2026). A waitlist applies; prepaying 3 months (USD 36) skips it. | Free, invite-only beta (per Fortune, 30 Sep 2026) |
| Launched | Unknown | 2026-02 |
| Funding (reported) | About USD 1 million from Y Combinator and Afore Capital (reported 9 Nov 2026); the site also names an Andreessen Horowitz scout fund | USD 250M Series B at USD 2.5B valuation (Aug 2026); USD 1B Series C at USD 10B valuation (Sep 2026) |
| Channels confirmed | Web app, Mobile app, SMS/text, WhatsApp | SMS/text, Phone call |
| Verified facts | Raised about USD 1 million from Y Combinator (Fall 2026 batch) and Afore Capital, reported 9 Nov 2026; founded in 2026 by former Goldman Sachs employees Akshat Mittal and Martin Pestana; Describes itself as a personal investing agent that knows why your portfolio moved, suggests your next idea and trades it for you; Every real-money trade shows the amount and the account and waits for your yes; AI agents can run on their own with practice money; Your money stays in your own brokerage and bank; you can disconnect any time. The company says it is becoming a Registered Investment Adviser; Trade by text over iMessage, SMS or WhatsApp: text a trade, get the exact order back, reply yes to place it at your broker; AI agents are rules with a budget; you choose Tell me only, I approve each batch, or Trade automatically within my limits (spend, order size, orders per day, what and which account); Copilot answers questions about holdings and markets with sources and covers eight asset classes, from stocks and options to crypto, bonds and currencies; Connects brokerages such as Robinhood, Schwab, Fidelity, Vanguard, Interactive Brokers and Webull, crypto exchanges such as Coinbase, and banks such as Chase; Every account includes USD 100,000 of practice money and the full product; Free with 100 credits a month; one plan at USD 12 a month; no per-trade charge | Interface: 'You can text or call it. It can use a phone and computer in the same way that humans do.'; Example tasks on its site: disputing a bill, sending gifts, ordering groceries, scheduling doctor's appointments, planning a getaway; Private beta launched February 2026 (Fortune, citing WSJ); invite-only beta since August 2026; Raised USD 250M Series B (Index Ventures, Benchmark) at USD 2.5B valuation; total USD 350M at the time; Raised USD 1B Series C (Sequoia, Benchmark, Coatue) at USD 10B valuation, 28 Sep 2026; Privacy concerns were raised online about broad app permissions (TechCrunch) |
| Website | https://www.volaren.ai/ | https://instinct.com |
| Sources | [1] [2] [3] [4] | [1] [2] [3] [4] |
| Last checked | 2026-11-11 | 2026-11-11 |
Frequently asked questions
What is Volaren?
A personal investing agent: it watches all your brokerage and bank accounts, explains why your money moved, suggests what to do next and places the trade at your own broker when you reply yes, in the app or by text.
What is Instinct?
Personal assistant you text or call; it uses a phone and computer the way people do to handle everyday tasks.
How much does Volaren cost?
Free to start with 100 credits a month; one plan at USD 12/month; real-money trades carry no per-trade fee (volaren.ai FAQ, checked 10 Nov 2026). A waitlist applies; prepaying 3 months (USD 36) skips it.
How much does Instinct cost?
Free, invite-only beta (per Fortune, 30 Sep 2026)
Are Volaren and Instinct the same type of agent?
Volaren is listed as a personal agent and Instinct as a personal agent.
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