Manus seeks $500 million at $4 billion valuation
Chinese AI startup Manus is in talks to raise $500 million at a $4 billion valuation, resuming independent operations after Beijing regulators blocked its acquisition by Meta.
Manus, a Chinese artificial intelligence startup known for its AI agents, is negotiating a $500 million funding round that would value the company at $4 billion. Potential new backers in this round include IDG Capital, Boyu Capital, and battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology. Existing investors such as Tencent, HSG, and ZhenFund are also expected to participate. Additionally, the company is reportedly considering a corporate restructuring to prepare for an initial public offering in Hong Kong.
This fundraising effort follows the collapse of a planned acquisition by Meta. In December 2025, Meta agreed to acquire Manus for $2 billion, after the startup relocated its staff to Singapore earlier that year. At the time, Manus was generating more than $100 million in annual recurring revenue. However, Chinese regulators blocked the transaction, citing concerns over losing domestic AI talent to Western companies and potential violations of export controls and foreign investment rules.
To regain its independence, Manus had to untangle itself from the American social media giant. Early backers assisted the startup in buying back its shares at a valuation of approximately $2 billion. As part of the separation, Manus instructed its users in August to back up and export their data, as the company was legally required to delete all user data generated after the Meta acquisition to comply with local regulations.
With its founding team remaining at the helm, Manus has officially resumed independent operations. The startup competes directly with platforms like OpenAI, Lovable, and Replit by offering AI-driven chatbots and vibe-coding tools. These tools allow developers and creators to build applications, design websites, generate videos, and draft presentations. For software practitioners, the survival and independent capitalization of Manus ensures that a major alternative ecosystem for automated agent workflows remains active outside the direct control of US tech giants.
This is our own summary of reporting by TechCrunch AI
