SHORTList
AI/ML
DevTools/Cloud

Sesame

Lifelike AI voice companions & eyewear

San Francisco· 24 rolesTaipei· 2 rolesBellevue· 1 role

CORE INFO

$250M
Total Funding
Series B
Round
2023
Founded
51-200
Team Size
San Francisco, United States
Headquarters

Sesame develops lifelike AI voice companions and intelligent eyewear designed to enhance daily interactions through natural, emotionally intelligent conversations. Their products cater to individuals seeking hands-free communication and improved human-computer interactions.

  • Sesame's latest funding round was a Series B, raising $250 million with participation from Sequoia Capital and Spark Capital.linkedin.com
  • Sesame's voice companions, Maya and Miles, attracted over a million users shortly after their release, generating over five million minutes of conversation.neuronfeed.com
  • TechCrunch reported on Sesame's $250 million funding and the beta launch of their conversational AI startup.techcrunch.com

WHY WE WOULD WORK AT SESAME

Innovative Mission

Join a team dedicated to enhancing daily interactions through lifelike AI voice companions and intelligent eyewear, fostering curiosity and creativity in technology.

Cutting-Edge Technology

Work with Sesame's proprietary Conversational Speech Model (CSM), designed for natural, emotionally intelligent conversations, and contribute to the future of voice-native applications.

Collaborative Culture

Be part of an interdisciplinary team of artists, makers, and engineers, where diverse perspectives drive innovation and creativity in product development.

Competitive Compensation

Benefit from a strong funding background with $250M raised, ensuring competitive salaries and resources for employee growth and development.

Proven Impact

Help shape the future of AI with products like Maya and Miles, which gained over a million users shortly after launch, demonstrating significant market demand.

Open Source Initiative

Engage in a culture of transparency and collaboration by contributing to the partially open-sourced CSM, promoting the development of voice-native applications.

MARKET AND TRACTION

KEY METRICS

✦ KEY METRIC
  • Over a million users gained shortly after the launch of voice companions Maya and Miles.

  • Generated over five million minutes of conversation within weeks of release.

  • Patients have saved more than $50 million through the platform.

    • GROWTH TACTICS

  • Sesame partially open-sourced its proprietary Conversational Speech Model (CSM) in 2025 to encourage the development of voice-native applications.

  • The company focuses on enhancing human-computer interactions through natural and emotionally intelligent conversations, fostering curiosity and creativity among its team.

    • TOTAL ADDRESSABLE MARKET

  • Sesame operates within the AI Agents industry, targeting consumers interested in lifelike AI voice companions and intelligent eyewear.

  • The growing demand for innovative technology in personal AI agents suggests a significant market opportunity for Sesame's products.

    • COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

  • Sesame's proprietary Conversational Speech Model (CSM) is designed for prosody, expression, and turn-taking, setting it apart from competitors.

  • The interdisciplinary team of artists, makers, and engineers enhances the company's ability to innovate and improve user experience.

    • MARKET POSITION

  • Founded in 2023, Sesame has quickly established itself in the AI Agents industry with significant funding and user adoption.

  • The company has attracted notable investors, including Sequoia Capital and Spark Capital, indicating strong market confidence in its potential.

    • PRODUCT AND TECH

    Conversational Speech Model

    Sesame's proprietary Conversational Speech Model (CSM) is designed for natural prosody, expression, and turn-taking in conversations, enhancing the lifelike quality of their AI voice companions.

    AI Voice Companions

    Maya and Miles are Sesame's innovative AI voice companions that engage users in emotionally intelligent conversations, quickly attracting over a million users and demonstrating the demand for interactive AI.

    Intelligent Eyewear

    Sesame is developing smart glasses that integrate high-quality audio for hands-free communication, aiming to enhance daily interactions through ambient intelligence.

    Open-Source Initiative

    In 2025, Sesame partially open-sourced their Conversational Speech Model to foster the development of voice-native applications, encouraging innovation in the AI voice technology ecosystem.

    Interdisciplinary Team Approach

    Sesame's team comprises artists, makers, and engineers, fostering a culture of curiosity and creativity that drives the development of their advanced AI technologies.

    COMPANY CULTURE

    Values

  • Curiosity drives innovation

  • Creativity is at the core of our products

  • Collaboration among artists, makers, and engineers

  • Commitment to enhancing human-computer interactions

  • Passion for ambient intelligence in daily life

    • Operating Principles

  • Foster an interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving

  • Encourage open-source contributions to advance technology

  • Prioritize user experience in product development

  • Emphasize emotional intelligence in AI interactions

    • Benefits

  • Work with cutting-edge AI technology

  • Opportunity to shape the future of human-computer interaction

  • Engage in a creative and supportive team environment

  • Contribute to products that enhance everyday life

    • Learning & Growth

  • Continuous learning through interdisciplinary collaboration

  • Opportunities for professional development and skill enhancement

  • Access to workshops and training on AI and technology trends

  • Encouragement to explore innovative ideas and projects

    • Team Cadence

  • Agile work environment promoting flexibility

  • Regular team meetings to share insights and progress

  • Collaborative brainstorming sessions to foster creativity

  • Open communication channels for feedback and ideas

    • COMPENSATION SNAPSHOT

    A
    Comp score vs cohort
    vs. HealthTech · Series B · US
    Based on publicly available compensation ranges from job postings; exact compensation may vary.
    Designn = 3
    $175K – $280Kmedian $228K
    Los Angeles / Bay Area
    Engineering IC2n = 5
    $175K – $280Kmedian $228K
    Los Angeles / Bay Area
    Engineering IC3n = 8
    $175K – $280Kmedian $228K
    Los Angeles / Bay Area
    Engineering IC4n = 4
    $175K – $280Kmedian $228K
    Los Angeles / Bay Area
    Engineering Managern = 6
    $188K – $270Kmedian $229K
    Los Angeles / Bay Area
    US-only in v1 · only categories with n > 2 shown · in-person / hybrid / remote treated separately where n ≥ 3

    HIRING SIGNAL

    27
    Open roles on their careers page
    Snapshot via live ATS poll
    —
    Net new roles in the last 90 days
    Available once weekly history accrues
    90-Day VelocityV2 · BACKFILL
    Trend builds weekly as historical rows accrue
    By Function
    Breakdown of open roles
    Data · 2
    GTM · 1
    Design · 3
    G&A · 1
    Product · 1
    Support · 1
    Operations · 4
    Engineering · 14
    Top Locations
    Where hiring is concentrated
    Remote-eligible postings counted separately
    San Francisco
    24
    Taipei
    2
    Bellevue
    1
    SourcesGreenhouseLeverAshbyWorkableSmartRecruitersRipplingRecruiteeFallback · Wellfound, YC Work-at-a-Startup, careers-page scrape

    KEY COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Filter
    12 announcements · ranked by importance
    Oct 21, 2025FUNDINGSesame, the conversational AI startup from Oculus founders, raises $250M and launches beta | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com
    Mar 23, 2025CONTROVERSY'Sesame Street' faces uncertain future amid funding cuts and layoffsnytimes.com
    Jan 1, 2025FOUNDER PROFILEReport: Sesame AI Business Breakdown & Founding Story | Contrary Researchresearch.contrary.com
    Dec 5, 2022PRESSBob McGrath, original human star of 'Sesame Street', has died at age 90insider.com
    May 19, 2025PRESS'Sesame Street' moves in with Netflix, but will stay on PBSadn.com
    Aug 21, 2022PRESSHBO Max pulls nearly 200 ‘Sesame Street’ episodesnytimes.com
    Feb 27, 2025PRESSSesame is the first voice assistant I've ever wanted to talk to more than oncetheverge.com
    Oct 1, 2023FUNDINGSesame: Funding, Team & Investorsstartupintros.com
    Sep 30, 2025PRESSSesame – Maya: A Personal Companionapp.sesame.com
    Mar 14, 2025PRESSSesame CSM: A Conversational Speech Generation Modelgithub.com
    Mar 14, 2025PRESSSesame CSM-1B: Open-Source Conversational Speech Modelhuggingface.co
    Mar 2, 2025PRESSCrossing the uncanny valley of conversational voicesesame.com