AI Agent Browser Tool Raises $17M in Funding

The Rise of AI Agents and Browser Use's $17 Million Seed Funding

While a universally accepted definition of an AI “agent” remains elusive, numerous startups are actively developing “agentic” tools designed to automate a wide range of online tasks. Browser Use is one such company, garnering significant attention from both developers and investors with its innovative solution for enhancing website “readability” for AI agents.

Securing Seed Funding

Browser Use recently announced a successful seed funding round of $17 million, led by Felicis’ Astasia Myers, with additional participation from Paul Graham, A Capital, and Nexus Venture Partners. This funding round was previously undisclosed to the public.

The company’s technology has been gaining traction, particularly after its utilization by Chinese startup Butterfly Effect in their popular Manus tool, which significantly increased Browser Use’s visibility.

Origins and Development

Founded in 2024 by Magnus Müller and Gregor Žunič, Browser Use emerged from ETH Zurich’s Student Project House accelerator. Müller, with a background in web-scraping tools, connected with Žunič while both pursued master’s degrees in data science.

Together, they conceived the idea of integrating web scraping with data science to enable a browser to autonomously execute tasks. A functional demo was constructed within five weeks, and subsequently released as open-source software.

How Browser Use Works

Browser Use fundamentally transforms how AI agents interact with websites. It deconstructs website buttons and elements into a more easily processed, “text-like” format.

This allows agents to better comprehend available options and make independent decisions. Müller explains that many agents currently rely on vision-based systems and screenshots, which are prone to errors.

“By converting websites into a format agents can understand, we enable reliable task repetition at a reduced cost,” Müller stated.

A Fundamental Layer for Web AI

With a growing number of AI companies seeking to improve agent interaction with websites, Müller envisions Browser Use becoming a crucial “fundamental layer” to meet this demand.

He notes that over 20 companies within the current Y Combinator winter batch are already utilizing Browser Use for their own projects.

Many website owners are proactively seeking solutions to facilitate agent navigation, particularly for sites like LinkedIn, which frequently undergo changes that can disrupt agent functionality.

Felicis’ Investment Rationale

Astasia Myers of Felicis highlighted the firm’s long-term interest in the AI agents space. Browser Use presented a compelling opportunity to expand their portfolio in this area.

The strength of the founding team and the company’s commitment to an open-source-first approach were key factors in the investment decision.

“We believe web AI agents represent the next frontier in automating human tasks,” Myers explained. “These agents serve as a dynamic link between established, text-based models and the constantly evolving digital environment.”