Manus seeks $4B valuation in new $500M fundraise as it resumes independent ops
News Source
•Fri, 18 Sep 2026 16:35:49 +0000
📰 What Happened
Chinese AI startup Manus is in talks to raise $500 million at a $4 billion value, according to The Wall Street Journal. The company is running on its own again after a planned merger with Meta fell apart.
Possible investors include IDG Capital, Boyu Capital and battery maker CATL. Existing backers Tencent, HSG and ZhenFund may also join. Manus is also thinking about a restructuring to prepare for an IPO in Hong Kong.
Manus went viral last year after a demo of its AI agent. It moved its staff to Singapore in mid-2025 and then announced a $2 billion deal with Meta in December.
🔍 The Backstory
Beijing blocked the Meta deal. It cited possible problems with export controls and foreign investment rules. China has grown worried about losing AI talent and researchers to the West.
Manus has been undoing the merger since then. Early investors helped the company buy back its shares at about a $2 billion value. To obey regulators, it deleted data created after Meta's purchase and told users in August to back up their own data.
🎯 Why It Matters
Manus shows how politics between the US and China can stop big tech deals. Its comeback also shows that AI agents are one of the hottest products in the industry.
Chinese AI startup Manus is in talks to raise $500 million at a $4 billion value, according to The Wall Street Journal. The company is running on its own again after a planned merger with Meta fell apart.
Possible investors include IDG Capital, Boyu Capital and battery maker CATL. Existing backers Tencent, HSG and ZhenFund may also join. Manus is also thinking about a restructuring to prepare for an IPO in Hong Kong.
Manus went viral last year after a demo of its AI agent. It moved its staff to Singapore in mid-2025 and then announced a $2 billion deal with Meta in December.
Beijing blocked the Meta deal. It cited possible problems with export controls and foreign investment rules. China has grown worried about losing AI talent and researchers to the West.
Manus has been undoing the merger since then. Early investors helped the company buy back its shares at about a $2 billion value. To obey regulators, it deleted data created after Meta's purchase and told users in August to back up their own data.
Manus shows how politics between the US and China can stop big tech deals. Its comeback also shows that AI agents are one of the hottest products in the industry.