The Browser Company builds Arc, a browser that emphasizes features such as command-bar navigation, pinned tabs, and separate workspaces. Arc began as an invite-only Mac app, opened downloads to all users in July, and has run a Windows closed beta while offering iOS apps including Arc Search. The company has rolled out AI-powered features since October 2023 — rename tools, hover summaries, "Browse for me," instant links, folder creation, and pinch-to-summarize — and is working on an AI agent to browse the web for users. Several AI features have drawn criticism for inaccuracies and for potentially diminishing web traffic to publishers and creators. Founded in 2019, the company has raised $128 million to date and has not yet disclosed a clear monetization strategy; it has published materials discussing revenue plans and criticisms. The Browser Company positions the browser as a successor to the PC and aims to evolve the browser toward an "internet computer" or OS, while facing adoption and monetization challenges. The Browser Company is developing a new web browser that rejects bare-bones simplicity in favor of more flexible, app-like interfaces. Its backend is built in part on open-source Chromium, allowing seamless support for broader web standards at launch. The team is small (about six people) and is led by Joshua Miller, a former Obama White House director of Product who is also an investor at Thrive Capital. The startup has raised just north of $5 million in funding from a group of prominent Silicon Valley backers. Public details on the product remain vague, but the company says it plans to onboard beta testers later this year. Leadership frames the product as a more opinionated alternative to Chrome and Safari, criticizing the prevailing search-ad-driven browser business model.

Total raised

$55M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Mar 2024