AI
Manus Eyes $4B Valuation After Breaking Free From Meta Deal
The Chinese AI startup is seeking $500 million in new funding as it restructures for independence following Beijing's blockade of its $2 billion merger with Meta.
TechCrunch — AI
Chinese AI firm Manus is pursuing a fresh $500 million funding round at a $4 billion valuation, marking a significant recovery after its planned merger with Meta collapsed earlier in the year. The company has now resumed operations as a fully independent entity following months of regulatory turbulence that forced it to unwind the American tech giant's $2 billion acquisition offer.
From Viral Breakout to Regulatory Hurdles#
Manus captured widespread attention last year with a viral demonstration of its AI agent capabilities. The startup had relocated its team to Singapore in mid-2025 before announcing its Meta acquisition deal in December. At that time, the company was generating over $100 million in annual recurring revenue. However, Chinese authorities ultimately vetoed the transaction in early 2026, citing concerns about AI talent flowing westward and potential breaches of export controls and foreign investment restrictions.
Rebuilding and Returning to Market#
The separation process has now largely concluded, with early-stage investors reportedly helping Manus repurchase shares at roughly a $2 billion valuation. The upcoming round—which reportedly includes interest from IDG Capital, Boyu Capital, battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology, and existing supporters like Tencent, HSG, and Zhenfund—comes as the company charts its next chapter.
Beyond the fundraise, Manus is exploring structural reorganizations that could pave the way for a Hong Kong IPO. The company announced its return to independent operations this month, with the founding team maintaining leadership.
What Manus Builds#
The platform develops AI agents and productivity tools that compete directly with offerings from OpenAI, Lovable, and Replit. Its feature set spans interactive chatbots, code generation ("vibe-coding"), website and app builders, design and presentation creation, video generation, and browser assistance—a broad suite aimed at demystifying AI development and creative work for mainstream users.
Data Cleanup From Meta Era#
As part of its separation agreement with Meta, Manus required users in August to export and back up their own data, as the company had to purge information generated during the Meta ownership period in order to satisfy regulatory mandates across multiple jurisdictions.
