Sesame, the conversational AI startup from Oculus founders, raises $250M and launches beta

Sesame, a conversational AI startup founded by former Oculus executives, has raised $250 million in a Series B funding round and launched a beta program for a select group of testers. The company is developing a personal AI agent embedded in lightweight smart glasses that users can interact with via natural-sounding human voice. Earlier demos of Sesame’s AI voices, “Maya” and “Miles,” attracted over a million users who engaged in more than five million minutes of conversation, with feedback highlighting the technology’s expressive and natural dialogue capabilities. The upcoming smart glasses aim to provide high-quality audio and an AI companion that can “observe the world alongside you,” combining advanced conversational AI with fashion-forward design. While no specific release date has been announced, Sesame’s leadership team includes several former Oculus and Meta executives, potentially giving the company an edge in hardware development. Investors in the Series B round include Sequoia Capital and Spark Capital, among others. Beta testers are currently invited to provide feedback under confidentiality agreements.