Manus Seeks $4B Valuation in New $500M Fundraise
Chinese AI startup Manus is in discussions to raise $500 million at a $4 billion valuation, now that it has resumed operations as an independent company, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing anonymous sources. The move marks a dramatic turnaround for a company that earlier this year was forced to unwind a $2 billion merger with Meta.
Potential investors in the round include IDG Capital, Boyu Capital, and battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), alongside existing backers Tencent, HSG, and Zhenfund, according to the Journal. Manus is also said to be weighing a restructuring exercise to prepare for an initial public offering in Hong Kong.
From Viral AI Agent to Blocked Mega-Deal
Manus rose to prominence after a demo of its AI agent went viral in 2025. The company relocated its staff to Singapore in mid-2025 before announcing a $2 billion acquisition deal with Meta that December. At the time, the startup was reportedly generating annual recurring revenue of over $100 million.
The deal ultimately collapsed. Growing concerns in China over the loss of AI talent and researchers to the West culminated in Beijing blocking the acquisition, citing potential violations of export controls and foreign investment rules. Manus has since been untangling itself from the American social media giant, with early investors and backers reportedly helping the company buy back its shares at a valuation of roughly $2 billion.
Separation from Meta and Data Compliance
As part of its separation from Meta, Manus notified users in August that they would need to export and back up their own data, because the company was required to delete data generated following Meta's acquisition to "comply with regulatory requirements in specific jurisdictions."
The company confirmed this month that it has resumed independent operations, with its founding team continuing to lead the business.
What Manus Builds
Manus develops AI products and agents broadly comparable to offerings from OpenAI, Lovable, and Replit. Its portfolio includes a chatbot and vibe-coding tools that let users build apps and websites, create designs and presentations, generate video, and access a browser assistant, among other capabilities.
Manus did not immediately return a request for comment.
via TechCrunch AI