Manus raises more than $500 million in its first funding round since Meta pulled the plug on the acquisition, signaling renewed investor confidence in AI agent tech.
Manus, the AI agent startup, has raised more than $500 million in its first funding round since Meta pulled out of the deal. Led by Boyu Capital and IDG Capital, with participation from Tencent, HSG, and ZhenFund, the round values Manus as an independent company moving forward after regulatory pushback in China and Meta’s exit.
The funds could help Manus expand its automation tools and partnerships, though no specific use of proceeds was disclosed. For readers, this signals more AI-powered tools may appear in everyday software, with attention turn to how they handle data and privacy.
The AI agent startup Manus has closed a funding round of more than $500 million, its first raise since Meta ended the acquisition and separated from the company. The round is led by Chinese investors Boyu Capital and IDG Capital, with existing backers Tencent, HSG (formerly Sequoia China) and ZhenFund among the participants. The company did not disclose a valuation or how the money will be spent. A separate industry report had floated a possible $4 billion valuation back in September, but that figure has not been confirmed by Manus.
Manus built general‑purpose AI agents and automation tools designed to carry out tasks with minimal human input. Meta agreed to buy Manus in December 2025, but Beijing blocked the deal and regulators in China later demanded the purchase be canceled. After the regulatory setback, Meta began winding down its ties to Manus, including cutting Manus off from internal data systems in June. In the months since, Manus’ early investors have moved to re‑finance the company as an independent entity, and Manus has said it plans to resume operations outside Meta’s umbrella.
The deal underscores growing appetite from big investors for AI tooling companies that exist outside of traditional tech giants, even after regulatory turbulence. It also highlights how a company can pivot quickly, from a potential mega‑acquisition to securing a substantial capital raise and continuing as an independent business.
Manus continues to focus on AI agents and software tools that automate complex tasks with limited human input. While details on the use of the new funds weren’t shared, the round gives Manus financial room to scale its product development, accelerate partnerships, and potentially expand its international footprint as regulatory footing stabilizes in some markets.
The Meta deal collapse and China’s intervention created a sharp pivot for Manus. The company moved its headquarters and core staff to Singapore earlier, and now operates as an independent entity with backing that comes from Chinese and other investors. The separation also involved data‑related steps, with Manus deleting user data created after December 29, 2025, per prior disclosures tied to the split.
Lead backers Boyu Capital and IDG Capital anchor the round. Existing investors Tencent, HSG and ZhenFund also participated, signaling continued confidence from a mix of local and international backers in Manus’ potential beyond the Meta deal.
If Manus can maintain momentum, we could see more practical AI agents that handle routine research, scheduling, and automation tasks across industries. For consumers, that could translate into smarter software tools that help with research, plan trips, or automate repetitive online tasks. The bigger question remains whether these tools will respect data privacy and operate transparently as they scale.
Manus will likely use the funding to accelerate product development and expand partnerships. Watch for updates on when the company will share more about its go‑to‑market plans and any new products or features tied to the fresh capital.
No. Meta backed out of the acquisition and split Manus off, with Manus moving forward as an independent company.
The company did not disclose a valuation with this round; earlier reports suggested about $4 billion, but that figure is unconfirmed.
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