Though there is no universally accepted definition of an AI "agent" as of yet, a number of startups are aiming to develop tools with "agentic" characteristics to automate various tasks online. One of these startups, Browser Use, has garnered significant attention from developers and investors for its platform that enhances the readability of websites for AI agents.
According to TechCrunch, Browser Use recently secured a substantial $17 million seed funding round led by Astasia Myers from Felicis, along with contributions from Paul Graham, A Capital, and Nexus Venture Partners. The funding received by the company had not been previously disclosed.
Born out of Y Combinator's 2025 winter batch, Browser Use has been making headlines in recent times. The utilization of Browser Use by Chinese startup Butterfly Effect in its popular Manus tool has notably increased its visibility.
The startup was established last year by Magnus Müller and Gregor Zunic, who met during their data science master's program at ETH Zurich's Student Project House accelerator. Combining their expertise in web-scraping tools, they conceived the idea of merging web scraping with data science to enable a browser to execute tasks autonomously.
Browser Use simplifies websites by converting their elements into a more comprehensible textual format for agents. This allows agents to better comprehend the available options and make independent decisions.
Müller explained that a significant number of agents currently rely on visual systems to navigate websites through screenshots, a process that often leads to errors. Browser Use's approach transforms websites into a more agent-friendly format, enabling cost-effective repetitive tasks.
Many AI companies are increasingly interested in enhancing their agents' interactions with websites, and Müller believes Browser Use can play a crucial role as a foundational service provider for this purpose. He mentioned that over 20 companies in the current Y Combinator Winter batch have adopted Browser Use to meet their specific needs.
Several companies have approached Browser Use with inquiries on how to optimize their sites for agents to navigate more efficiently. Given the frequent modifications to sites like LinkedIn, Müller highlighted the challenges agents face on such platforms.
Astasia Myers of Felicis, who has been monitoring the AI agents sector for a few years, regarded Browser Use as a promising opportunity to expand their portfolio, emphasizing the startup's founding team and commitment to an open-source approach as decisive factors in their decision-making.