Emerging AI startup Sesame has raised $250 million in a Series B funding round and initiated a closed beta programme for early testers, the company confirmed on Tuesday.

Founded by Brendan Iribe, co‑founder and former chief executive of Oculus, alongside Ankit Kumar, previously chief technology officer at AR firm Ubiquity6, Sesame is developing a conversational AI companion that uses lifelike speech to interact naturally with users. The technology is being integrated into sleek, lightweight smartglasses designed for day‑long use and voice‑based engagement.

The company first came to light earlier this year after unveiling experimental voice agents called Maya and Miles. Within weeks of their release, the prototypes drew over a million users and generated several million minutes of chat time. Investors at Sequoia Capital, one of the main participants in this latest round, said Sesame’s speech engine went beyond conventional text‑to‑audio models by producing dynamic, emotionally responsive voice output that felt closer to genuine conversation.

Early reviewers have praised the experience as strikingly fluid and realistic. Sesame says the forthcoming eyewear will deliver studio‑grade audio quality and enable users to access an AI partner capable of “seeing and understanding the world” alongside them.

The company’s leadership team combines veterans from some of the most prominent consumer tech ventures. Joining Iribe and Kumar are Nate Mitchell, another Oculus co‑founder, as chief product officer; Hans Hartmann, a former Oculus and Fitbit operations head, as chief operating officer.

While no release schedule has been announced, investors have highlighted Sesame’s design emphasis, noting the glasses are being built to match high‑end fashion standards rather than the bulky form factors typical of early wearable tech.

In tandem with the funding announcement, Iribe revealed via X (formerly Twitter) that a limited iOS beta is now open. Participants will gain access to the AI system’s core functions — including voice interaction, text capabilities, and contextual search. Beta users have signed confidentiality agreements restricting public comment until wider release.

The Series B round was led by Sequoia and Spark Capital, with additional unnamed backers joining the syndicate. The new capital is expected to accelerate Sesame’s hardware development and expand its AI infrastructure ahead of its commercial debut.

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