Manus has raised more than $500 million in its first funding round since ending its proposed acquisition by Meta, giving the AI startup new capital as it resumes independent operations.
The round was led by Boyu Capital and IDG Capital, with existing investors Tencent, HSG, and ZhenFund also participating.
The funding comes months after Chinese authorities ordered Manus to unwind Meta’s more than $2 billion acquisition of the company. Manus has since separated from Meta and returned to operating independently, with its latest fundraising marking a new stage for the AI startup.
Manus Raises More Than $500 Million
Butterfly Effect, the parent company of Manus, announced the funding on October 8. But the company did not disclose its valuation or explain how much of the new capital would be allocated to specific areas of the business.
However, Manus said it plans to continue hiring in China and internationally as it develops its AI products.
The funding follows a period of significant change for the company. Manus was founded in China before relocating its staff to Singapore in mid-2025. Then, Meta agreed to acquire the startup for more than $2 billion in December 2025, but the deal was later blocked by Chinese authorities.
In April, Beijing ordered the acquisition to be unwound amid increased scrutiny of foreign investment in Chinese companies developing advanced AI technology.
Manus Returns to Independent Operations
The separation from Meta affected how Manus handled user data. The company said in August that some user data generated after Meta’s acquisition would have to be deleted as part of the separation and to comply with regulatory requirements in certain jurisdictions.
Before the latest funding was completed, Manus had reportedly been discussing a $500 million raise at a valuation of about $4 billion. As such, the completed round provides a clearer picture of the company’s fundraising plans after the Meta deal ended, even as its current valuation remains undisclosed.
Manus Expands Its AI Agent Business
Manus develops general-purpose AI agents that can carry out tasks such as research and automation with limited human input. Its products also allow users to build applications and websites, create presentations and designs, as well as generate videos.
The company recently expanded its product lineup with Manus 2.0 and Cue, saying its newer products are designed to give AI agents more capabilities and allow them to work across different services.
Cue, for example, is a standalone application that gives AI agents access to tools such as email addresses, phone numbers, digital wallets, and computers. The agents can then communicate, handle tasks across services, and make payments within limits set by users.
Manus is now competing in an increasingly crowded AI agent market, with Meta’s Muse and OpenAI’s Dots. As such, the new funding gives Manus additional resources as it continues developing its products and building the company independently.
