BEIJING, China, AI startup Manus has raised more than $500 million in a new funding round as it resumes independent operations following the unwinding of Meta’s proposed acquisition, giving the company fresh capital to expand its AI agent business.
Butterfly Effect, the parent company of Manus, said the funding round was co-led by Boyu Capital and IDG Capital. Existing investors including Tencent, Sequoia China and ZhenFund also participated. The new investment comes months after Meta’s proposed acquisition of Manus was reversed following regulatory scrutiny in China.
Manus returns to independent operations
Manus develops general-purpose AI agents designed to complete tasks such as research, analysis and automation with limited human involvement. The startup has positioned its technology around AI systems that can perform multi-step workflows rather than simply responding to individual prompts.
The company agreed to Meta’s acquisition earlier this year in a deal valued at more than $2 billion. However, Beijing later ordered Meta to unwind the transaction amid increasing scrutiny of U.S. investment in Chinese companies developing advanced artificial intelligence technologies. Manus subsequently announced plans to operate independently again.
The latest funding round gives Manus additional financial resources as it navigates a highly competitive global AI market while operating under a more complex technology and investment environment.
AI agents attract growing investor attention
Manus is part of a broader wave of startups developing AI agents capable of carrying out increasingly complex tasks autonomously.
The technology has attracted significant investor interest because agentic AI could eventually automate portions of research, software development, business operations and other knowledge-intensive workflows.
Manus’ financial growth has also strengthened its position. The Information reported earlier this year that the company’s annualized revenue run rate had reached around $500 million, compared with approximately $100 million when Meta acquired the startup. The company has also explored a potential structure that could support a future Hong Kong listing.
Funding race intensifies across AI startups
The new investment highlights the enormous amount of capital flowing toward companies developing AI infrastructure and applications.
For startups such as Manus, the challenge now extends beyond raising capital. Companies must demonstrate that their AI agents can deliver measurable value while controlling computing costs and building sustainable revenue streams.
The end of the Meta transaction also gives Manus greater independence over its product strategy and future financing plans. At the same time, the company will have to compete against much larger technology businesses investing heavily in AI agents.
The latest funding round therefore represents more than a capital injection. It marks a new phase for Manus as it attempts to build an independent global AI business at a time when investor interest in autonomous AI technology continues to accelerate.
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