China’s Manus raises over $500M in first funding round since split with Meta

THE NEWS

What happened

Chinese AI startup Manus has secured over $500 million in its first funding round since splitting from Meta. Backed by major investors including Boyu Capital and IDG Capital, the company plans to continue global hiring despite earlier regulatory hurdles that forced the cancellation of a $2 billion acquisition deal with Meta. Manus offers advanced AI agents for app development, design, and autonomous tasks, recently launching Manus 2.0 and Cue, a standalone app enabling personal AI agents with digital identities.

CONTEXT

Why it matters

Chinese AI lab Manus has secured more than $500 million in its first funding round since Meta abandoned a $2 billion acquisition deal last year. Led by Boyu Capital and IDG Capital, the investment signals strong confidence in the company's trajectory despite geopolitical headwinds. Previously valued at around $4 billion during talks, Manus now focuses on expanding its suite of AI agents capable of building apps, generating video, and managing complex workflows. The startup recently unveiled Manus 2.0 with a new architecture and launched Cue, a standalone application that grants personal AI agents their own email addresses, phone numbers, digital wallets, and computer access. This allows agents to communicate, handle tasks across services, and make payments within user-defined limits. After relocating its team to Singapore in mid-2025 and navigating Chinese regulatory orders to unwind the Meta partnership, Manus is reportedly considering an initial public offering in Hong Kong. The company plans to continue hiring both domestically and internationally, aiming to solidify its position as a leader in autonomous AI agents.

AT A GLANCE

Key facts

• Manus raised over $500 million in its first funding round since the Meta deal collapse.
• Boyu Capital and IDG Capital led the investment round.
• Existing shareholders include Tencent, HSG (formerly Sequoia China), and ZhenFund.
• The company previously faced a failed $2 billion acquisition by Meta due to Chinese regulatory concerns over AI talent migration.
• Manus relocated its staff to Singapore in mid-2025 before the deal was called off.
• At the time of the failed deal, Manus reported annual recurring revenue exceeding $100 million.
• Following the split, Manus resumed independent operations and required deletion of some user data.
• The company is considering an initial public offering in Hong Kong.
• Manus 2.0 introduces a new architecture with enhanced capabilities for building apps, designs, and videos.
• Cue is a new standalone app giving personal AI agents email addresses, phone numbers, digital wallets, and computer access.