Sesame, Oculus Founders’ AI Startup, Raises $250M and Enters Beta
In the fast-evolving world of wearable technology and artificial intelligence, a new player is making waves. Sesame, a startup founded by veterans of Oculus, has announced a massive $250 million Series B funding round and opened its beta program for select users. With its ambitious vision to merge AI-driven conversation with stylish smart eyewear, Sesame is positioning itself at the forefront of the next generation of personal computing.
The company’s leadership reads like a reunion of Oculus veterans. Co-founder and CEO Brendan Iribe, who guided Oculus through its formative years, has teamed up with Ankit Kumar, former CTO of augmented reality startup Ubiquity6. Alongside them are other former Oculus executives, including Nate Mitchell, co-founder and chief product officer, and Hans Hartmann, former Oculus COO now serving as Sesame’s COO. This assembly of seasoned hardware and software experts is setting high expectations for what Sesame aims to deliver.
From Vision to Reality: Sesame’s Ambitious Goal
Sesame isn’t just another AI startup. The company is pursuing a vision where smart glasses are more than just a display device—they become a personal AI companion. This wearable technology isn’t meant to simply show notifications or overlay information; it’s designed to think, talk, and interact with users naturally.
At its core, Sesame combines conversational AI with sleek, lightweight glasses. The startup is developing an AI companion capable of engaging in human-like conversations, helping users navigate daily life, answer questions, provide suggestions, and even aid in thinking tasks. This integration of AI into a personal, always-on form factor could redefine how we interact with technology.
Why Sesame Stands Out: Natural-Sounding AI
One of the most significant differentiators for Sesame is the quality of its AI voices. Unlike many AI assistants that rely on robotic or overly synthetic speech, Sesame’s technology generates voice directly from its AI system, capturing the natural rhythm, tone, and expressiveness of human conversation.
When Sesame emerged from stealth mode earlier this year, it introduced two demo voices, Maya and Miles. The reception was immediate: over a million people engaged with the demos in the first few weeks, producing more than five million minutes of interaction. Users praised the voices for being “genuinely fun” and “remarkably human,” an achievement that few AI assistants have managed to achieve.
This natural-sounding AI could be a game-changer in wearable technology. While many competitors focus on text-based interactions or simple speech outputs, Sesame’s approach emphasizes emotional nuance and realistic dialogue, making AI feel like a companion rather than a tool.
Funding and Investor Confidence
The recent $250 million Series B round underscores investor confidence in Sesame’s vision. The funding round was led by Sequoia Capital and Spark Capital, along with other undisclosed investors. Such a substantial investment signals strong belief in both the technical capabilities of the team and the market potential of AI-powered wearables.
This funding will help Sesame accelerate its hardware development, expand its AI capabilities, and support its beta program, which is now open to a limited group of testers. The beta is a critical step for refining user experience, understanding real-world interactions, and ensuring that the AI delivers a seamless, natural experience.
Stylish Hardware: Fashion Meets Function
Smart glasses have historically struggled to gain widespread adoption because they often prioritize technology over aesthetics. Sesame is taking a different approach. The company emphasizes that its glasses will be fashion-forward, wearable even without activating the AI features.
The hardware is being designed to integrate high-quality audio, lightweight materials, and a sleek frame that looks like regular eyewear. Users won’t have to compromise style for functionality—a crucial factor in consumer adoption.
By combining style with intelligent AI, Sesame aims to make its glasses a desirable everyday accessory, not just a tech gadget. This dual focus on design and AI capability could give Sesame a unique edge in the crowded wearable tech market.
Leadership Team: Oculus Veterans Lead the Way
The Sesame team’s strength lies in its leadership, with Oculus alumni bringing years of experience in hardware design, software integration, and immersive technologies.
- Brendan Iribe, CEO and co-founder, brings a track record of scaling VR from niche technology to mainstream adoption.
- Ankit Kumar, co-founder and former CTO of Ubiquity6, provides deep expertise in augmented reality and AI-driven experiences.
- Nate Mitchell, co-founder and chief product officer, ensures that hardware and software integration meets the highest standards.
- Hans Hartmann, COO, brings operational excellence from his time at Oculus and Fitbit.
- Ryan Brown and Angela Gayles further strengthen the team, providing engineering leadership and strategic guidance.
This ensemble of leaders with complementary skill sets signals Sesame’s commitment to creating a high-quality, commercially viable AI wearable.
Beta Launch: Early Access for iOS Users
While the glasses remain under development, Sesame is giving early adopters a taste of its AI technology through a confidential iOS beta program. This app lets testers experience the AI companion’s capabilities, including:
- Search assistance
- Conversational problem-solving
- Text-based interactions
- Contextual advice and guidance
Beta testers are asked to maintain strict confidentiality, reflecting the company’s desire to protect its intellectual property and surprise the market with fully polished features upon public release.
The beta program will help Sesame fine-tune AI responsiveness, voice naturalness, and contextual intelligence, ensuring that the final product delivers a compelling and polished experience.
Competing in the AI Wearable Space
Sesame enters a rapidly evolving market where tech giants and innovative startups are racing to define the future of AI wearables.
- Meta has developed AI-enhanced Ray-Ban smart glasses.
- Humane is exploring AI pins that attach to clothing.
- Other startups are experimenting with AI earbuds and AR displays.
In this competitive landscape, Sesame’s focus on natural-sounding AI, stylish hardware, and a human-like AI companion could be the differentiator that sets it apart.
The big question is not whether AI wearables will succeed—they will—but which design, voice technology, and usability approach will win consumers’ hearts. Sesame’s combination of veteran expertise, compelling AI experiences, and substantial funding positions it as a strong contender.
Market Potential and Future Applications
The market potential for AI-powered wearable devices is massive. Analysts predict that by 2030, intelligent wearables could become a $50 billion industry, driven by demand for hands-free, personalized technology.
Sesame’s AI glasses could serve multiple use cases:
- Personal productivity: Manage schedules, reminders, and workflow without pulling out a smartphone.
- Learning and knowledge access: Answer questions and provide insights in real-time.
- Health and wellness: Monitor user behavior and provide actionable suggestions.
- Social interaction: Enhance communication with AI-driven conversation prompts or translation.
By offering a versatile AI companion that fits naturally into daily life, Sesame aims to make its glasses indispensable, rather than optional.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the excitement, Sesame faces several challenges:
- Hardware Development: Building lightweight, stylish glasses with integrated AI and high-quality audio is technically demanding.
- Battery Life and Performance: Ensuring all-day usability while running a sophisticated AI system is a significant engineering hurdle.
- Market Adoption: Convincing users to wear AI-enabled glasses in public requires overcoming social and fashion barriers.
- Privacy Concerns: Integrating always-on AI companions raises questions about data security and user consent.
The company’s leadership is well aware of these challenges and has indicated that hardware development takes time, signaling careful, methodical progress rather than rushing to market.
The Road Ahead: What to Expect
Sesame is expected to continue its stealthy but strategic rollout, combining beta testing, user feedback, and iterative hardware improvements. The company’s next steps likely include:
- Expanding beta access gradually to gather more data and improve AI performance.
- Finalizing hardware design and manufacturing processes.
- Preparing a marketing campaign to position Sesame glasses as both a fashion statement and AI tool.
- Exploring partnerships and integrations with other platforms to enhance AI capabilities.
If successful, Sesame could redefine personal computing, turning everyday interactions into seamless, AI-assisted experiences.
Conclusion
Sesame represents a bold vision for the future of wearable technology: glasses that are both stylish and capable of human-like AI interaction. With $250 million in funding, a team of Oculus veterans, and promising early demos, Sesame is well-positioned to challenge established tech giants and win over consumers who are ready to embrace AI companions in their daily lives.
The AI wearable market is on the brink of transformation, and Sesame’s combination of expertise, innovation, and ambition makes it one of the most exciting startups to watch. While hurdles remain, the company’s unique approach could usher in a new era where AI is not just on our phones or speakers—but right in front of our eyes.
Key Takeaways:
- Sesame raises $250M Series B led by Sequoia and Spark Capital.
- AI-powered smart glasses offer natural-sounding voice interaction.
- The leadership team includes Oculus veterans Brendan Iribe, Nate Mitchell, and Hans Hartmann.
- Beta testers can experience AI features via a confidential iOS app.
- Sesame competes with Meta Ray-Ban glasses, Humane AI pins, and other wearables.