AI Startup Manus Seeks $4 Billion Valuation in First Funding Round Since Meta Split

Chinese-founded artificial intelligence startup Manus is seeking to raise approximately $500 million in a new funding round that would value the company at around $4 billion, according to a Bloomberg report citing people familiar with the matter. This marks the company's first financing effort since its operational separation from Meta Platforms.

Funding Details

The planned fundraising could potentially double Manus's current valuation, positioning it as China's most valuable startup focused on AI agents. According to the report, discussions are in the early stages and the terms of the deal, including the valuation, could still change. The identities of potential new investors have not been disclosed.

Manus's existing investors include prominent names such as Tencent Holdings, HSG, and ZhenFund, Bloomberg noted. Representatives for Manus and its backers did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.

Unwinding the Meta Deal

This funding round follows the unwinding of an acquisition deal with Meta Platforms. Meta had previously agreed to acquire Manus after the startup's annualized revenue surpassed $100 million. However, the transaction was blocked by Chinese regulators, who raised concerns about critical technology being transferred to a geopolitical rival.

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Following the regulatory intervention, Manus and Meta completed their operational separation in May, which included halting all data sharing between the two companies. Earlier this month, Manus announced it had resumed independent operations under the leadership of its founding team, with a continued focus on developing generative AI agents for a global user base.

Market Position and Competition

A $4 billion valuation would significantly strengthen Manus's competitive standing in China's rapidly growing AI sector and could place it on a path toward a future listing in Hong Kong. The company faces a competitive landscape that includes:

• Direct rivals like Evoken, the developer of AI design agent Lovart, which is reportedly raising funds at a $3 billion valuation.
• Broader competition from foundation-model providers such as Moonshot AI (developer of Kimi) and the U.S.-based Anthropic (developer of Claude), whose products are increasingly capable of handling general desktop tasks.

Unlike some of its larger competitors, Manus does not train its own large-scale base models from scratch, a key strategic distinction in the AI industry.