Manus, an AI-agent startup developed by Singapore-based Butterfly Effect, is seeking to raise $500 million. The company aims for a post-money valuation of $4 billion, which would position it as the most valuable entity in the Chinese AI-agent market.
The startup previously secured $75 million in a Series B round led by Benchmark in April 2025, at a valuation of $500 million. If the current funding round succeeds, the company will have achieved an eightfold increase in valuation within approximately one year.
The company's independence follows a failed acquisition attempt by Meta. In December 2025, Meta agreed to acquire Manus for over $2 billion, but the deal was blocked by Beijing. The operational separation of the two companies was finalized between May and June 2026.
Manus focuses on agentic AI designed to automate complex, multi-step workflows, competing with firms like ByteDance and Baidu. The company relocated to Singapore in 2025 and is reportedly considering a future listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
