Manus seeks $500M funding at $4B valuation after Meta merger blocked by China

Funding Round and Valuation

Chinese AI startup Manus is in discussions to raise $500 million, which would value the company at $4 billion. This development comes after the company resumed independent operations following a failed merger attempt with Meta.

Potential investors for this funding round include IDG Capital, Boyu Capital, Contemporary Amperex Technology, and existing backers such as Tencent, HSG, and Zhenfund.

Blocked Merger with Meta

Earlier this year, Manus had to terminate a $2 billion acquisition deal with Meta. The merger was blocked by Beijing due to concerns over losing AI talent and researchers to the West, citing potential violations of export controls and foreign investment rules.

Manus had relocated staff to Singapore in mid-2025 before the acquisition announcement in December, and was reportedly generating over $100 million in annual recurring revenue at the time.

Resumption of Independent Operations

Following the blocked merger, Manus has been disentangling itself from Meta. Early investors and backers reportedly helped the company buy back its shares at a valuation of approximately $2 billion.

In August, Manus informed users they needed to export their data, as the company had to delete data generated after Meta's acquisition to comply with regulatory requirements. The company confirmed this month that its founding team continues to lead its independent operations.

Future Plans and Product Offerings

Manus is reportedly considering a restructuring exercise to prepare for an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong. This indicates the company's strategic shift towards independent growth and public market access.

Manus develops AI products and agents, including a chatbot and 'vibe-coding' tools. These tools enable users to build applications, websites, create designs and presentations, generate video, and utilize a browser assistant.