InstantDB blog · Mar 2026
Instant's 1.0 launch post presents the product as a backend for AI-coded apps and details the multi-tenant Postgres + Clojure architecture, built-in auth/storage/presence, and open-source positioning.
Public company, workplace, funding, and market signals
InstantDB is a YC-backed, open-source backend-as-a-service for AI-coded apps that combines a real-time relational database with auth, permissions, storage, presence, streams, and offline sync.
Primary product
Real-time backend-as-a-service / client-side database for collaborative and AI-coded apps
Founded
2022
Headquarters
San Francisco, California, United States
Team size
1-10
Work style
Onsite
Industry
Software Development
Sub-industry
Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) / real-time database
Offices
0 jobs at Instant
Check back later for new openings
Business model
Stage
Series A
Total raised
$22.4M
Latest round
Series A · Mar 2025
Latest amount
$11.2M
Investors
Small, in-person, high-agency team that emphasizes high-integrity, optimistic, principle-oriented hackers; speed, delight, and solving hard infrastructure problems for users.
Work style
Onsite
Compensation
Public hiring page for a founding backend engineer lists 0.5%-2% equity, $150k-$200k base salary, and medical/dental/vision benefits.
Benefits
Pricing
Freemium subscription with free, pro, startup, and enterprise tiers; free projects are never paused and commercial use is allowed.
Differentiators
Technology
Customers
Competitors
Estimated revenue
~$5M ARR (public estimate)
Estimated monthly visits
26.5K
Traffic estimate as of Jun 2026
InstantDB blog · Mar 2026
Instant's 1.0 launch post presents the product as a backend for AI-coded apps and details the multi-tenant Postgres + Clojure architecture, built-in auth/storage/presence, and open-source positioning.
Hummingbird Ventures / Amplify Tech · Mar 2025
Hummingbird Ventures announced its lead investment into Instant's $11.2M Series A, describing the company's fit with AI-era backend infrastructure.
TechCrunch · Oct 2024
TechCrunch covered Instant's $3.4M seed announcement and its positioning as a modern, Postgres-based open-source Firebase alternative backed by YC, SV Angel, and notable angels.
Hacker News · Aug 2024
InstantDB launched/open-sourced on Hacker News, drawing more than 1,000 upvotes and explaining its client-side real-time database approach, offline sync, auth, and permissions.