Manus seeks $4B valuation in new $500M fundraise as it resumes independent ops

Chinese AI startup Manus is in discussions to raise $500 million at a $4 billion valuation, according to The Wall Street Journal. This fundraise comes as the company resumes independent operations after a $2 billion acquisition deal with Meta was blocked by Chinese regulators in late 2024. Manus had relocated its staff to Singapore earlier in 2025 before the deal. Potential investors include IDG Capital, Boyu Capital, battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology, and existing backers like Tencent. The company is also reportedly considering a restructuring to prepare for an IPO in Hong Kong. Manus, known for its viral AI agent demo, creates AI chatbots and development tools similar to those from OpenAI and Lovable. Early investors reportedly helped Manus buy back its shares at a $2 billion valuation to finalize the separation from Meta.

(Source：TechCrunch)