Browser Use, a startup making it easier for AI agents to navigate websites, has successfully raised $17 million in seed funding. The investment round, led by Felicis’ Astasia Myers, also saw participation from Paul Graham, A Capital, and Nexus Venture Partners. This funding will help this AI startup refine its solution, which translates websites into a format AI can easily process, enabling smoother interactions and reducing errors.
Despite the lack of a universally accepted definition of AI agents, numerous startups are racing to develop tools that automate online tasks. Browser Use stands out by making websites more accessible for AI-driven automation, a breakthrough that has captured the interest of both investors and developers.
The startup gained significant traction after its integration into Manus, a viral tool from Chinese AI firm Butterfly Effect. This exposure skyrocketed awareness of Browser Use, positioning it as a critical player in the growing AI agent ecosystem.
Origins and Open-Source Breakthrough
Founded by Magnus Müller and Gregor Zunic in 2024 through ETH Zurich’s Student Project House accelerator, Browser Use was born out of their shared expertise in web scraping and data science. Müller had years of experience in web automation before meeting Zunic while pursuing their master’s degrees. The duo conceptualized it as a bridge between traditional web scraping and AI-driven automation.
In just five weeks, they developed a working prototype, which quickly gained traction. Recognizing its potential, they made Browser Use open-source, allowing developers to integrate and enhance its capabilities.
How Browser Use Transforms AI Navigation
Unlike traditional vision-based AI agents that rely on screenshots to understand web pages—an approach prone to errors—Browser Use translates websites into structured, text-based data. This enables AI agents to interact with web elements seamlessly, enhancing decision-making and reducing operational costs.
“A lot of AI agents break when websites update their UI,” Müller explained. “Our solution converts websites into a standardized format that AI can reliably process, eliminating many of these issues.”
This approach is particularly valuable for platforms like LinkedIn, which frequently alters its interface, causing automation failures. As a result, multiple AI companies—including over 20 in Y Combinator’s latest winter batch—have already adopted Browser Use to power their web automation needs.
The Future of AI-Driven Web Automation
The demand for AI agents capable of navigating websites efficiently is skyrocketing, and Browser Use is positioning itself as a fundamental infrastructure layer in this space. Companies are increasingly reaching out to Browser Use for solutions to make their platforms more AI-friendly.
Astasia Myers, a leading investor at Felicis, emphasized that web AI agents are the next big leap in automation. “We’ve been tracking AI agents for years, and Browser Use stood out as the perfect opportunity to invest,” she said.
With a rapidly growing ecosystem, strong investor backing, and a cutting-edge approach, The startup is poised to reshape how AI agents interact with the web—bringing businesses one step closer to seamless, automated workflows.