AI Startup Manus Raises $500 Million Following Blocked Meta Acquisition
Manus, an AI agent startup based in China, has raised over $500 million in its first funding round since the U.S. tech giant Meta was forced to abandon a planned acquisition of the company. The fundraising is led by Boyu Capital and IDG Capital, with additional support from existing shareholders Tencent, HSG, and ZhenFund. Although Manus did not disclose its post-funding valuation, Bloomberg previously reported it could reach $4 billion in this round. The funding indicates strong investor confidence despite the regulatory hurdles that blocked Meta's short-lived $2 billion acquisition attempt by Chinese authorities. The National Development and Reform Commission prohibited foreign investment in the project, citing national security concerns. Despite these challenges, Manus has resumed independent operations after its split from Meta and is advancing new AI agent technologies like Manus 2.0 and Cue. The deal highlights ongoing interest in AI-agent startups despite increasing competition and rapid advancements in foundational models.
Topics: AI funding_rounds Meta acquisition startups