Manus Seeks $4B Valuation in $500M Fundraise as It Resumes Ops
▼ Summary
– Chinese AI startup Manus is raising $500 million at a $4 billion valuation after resuming operations as an independent company.
– Potential investors include IDG Capital, Tencent, and Contemporary Amperex Technology, while the company considers a Hong Kong IPO.
– Manus previously attempted to merge with Meta but was blocked by Beijing due to concerns over AI talent loss and regulatory violations.
– The startup relocated to Singapore and had to delete user data generated during the Meta acquisition phase to comply with regulations.
– Manus now offers AI products similar to competitors like OpenAI, including chatbots and tools for app and website development.
Manus, the Chinese artificial intelligence startup that previously attempted to merge with Meta, is now pursuing a significant capital raise. According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, the company is in talks to secure $500 million in funding at a $4 billion valuation. This move comes as Manus resumes its status as an independent entity after the collapse of its merger deal earlier this year.
The investor pool for this new round appears robust. Potential participants include major firms such as IDG Capital, Boyu Capital, and battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL). Existing backers, including Tencent, HSG, and Zhenfund, are also expected to participate. In addition to raising capital, Manus is reportedly exploring a restructuring strategy aimed at facilitating an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Hong Kong stock exchange.
The startup gained widespread attention last year when a demonstration of its AI agent went viral. By mid-2025, Manus had relocated its workforce to Singapore and announced a planned $2 billion acquisition by Meta. At that time, the company was generating annual recurring revenue exceeding $100 million. However, the deal faced intense scrutiny within China due to concerns about the loss of critical AI talent and researchers to Western firms. Beijing ultimately blocked the transaction, citing potential breaches of export controls and foreign investment regulations.
Following the regulatory intervention, Manus worked to disentangle itself from Meta. Early investors assisted the company in buying back shares at an estimated valuation of $2 billion. As part of the separation process, users were notified in August that they needed to manually export and back up their data. This step was necessary because Manus was required to delete data generated after the proposed acquisition to comply with specific jurisdictional regulatory requirements.
The company recently confirmed that it has resumed full independent operations, with its founding team remaining in leadership roles. Manus develops AI products and agents that compete directly with offerings from companies like OpenAI, Lovable, and Replit. Its suite of tools includes a chatbot, “vibe-coding” features for building applications and websites, design and presentation generators, video creation capabilities, and a browser assistant.
Manus did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the latest fundraising efforts.
(Source: TechCrunch)
