MCP Just Got Its First Major Funding — Why This Protocol Is the USB-C of AI (And How to Build Your Own Server)

MCP Just Got Its First Major Funding — Why This Protocol Is the USB-C of AI (And How to Build Your Own Server) TL;DR: Manufact, a YC-backed startup, just raised $6.3M to build infrastructure around MCP (Model Context Protocol). This protocol is rapidly becoming the "USB-C for AI" — a universal standard that lets AI assistants like ChatGPT and Claude connect to external tools and data. Here's what MCP is, why it matters, and how I built my own MCP server in a weekend. What Just Happened This week, Manufact announced a $6.3 million funding round to build the infrastructure layer for MCP. Backed by Y Combinator, Manufact is betting that MCP will become the universal connector between AI models and the real world — the same way USB-C became the universal connector for physical devices. This isn't just another startup funding round. It's a signal that the AI ecosystem is maturing beyond isolated chatbots into a connected, interoperable network of tools and services. What Is MCP, Exactly? MC