AI agent startup Manus has secured over $500 million in a new funding round led by Boyu Capital and IDG Capital. Existing investors, including Tencent, HSG, and ZhenFund, also participated in the round. While the company did not disclose its current valuation, reports suggest it may be around $4 billion.
The startup, owned by parent company Butterfly Effect, develops AI agents capable of executing tasks such as stock analysis and travel bookings. The company currently utilizes Anthropic's Claude, Alibaba's Qwen models, and its own proprietary technology. It recently launched Cue, an application that provides AI agents with dedicated phone numbers and digital wallets.
The funding follows the collapse of a $2 billion acquisition deal by Meta. In April 2026, China's National Development and Reform Commission prohibited the foreign investment, citing regulatory concerns. Consequently, Meta terminated the agreement in June, and Manus resumed independent operations in August.
Manus experienced rapid growth after its March 2025 launch, reaching $100 million in annual recurring revenue by December of that year. Amid geopolitical tensions, the company relocated its team to Singapore in mid-2025, closing most of its Chinese operations and conducting staff layoffs in July.
