Chinese AI Startup Manus Seeks $4B Valuation in $500M Fundraise
· Technology · TechCrunch
Chinese AI startup Manus is in discussions to raise $500 million at a valuation of $4 billion as it resumes operations as an independent company. Potential investors in the round include IDG Capital, Boyu Capital, and Contemporary Amperex Technology, alongside existing backers Tencent, HSG, and Zhenfund. The fundraising follows the collapse of a planned $2 billion acquisition deal with Meta late last year after Beijing blocked the transaction due to export control and foreign investment rules. Manus has since untangled itself from Meta, with early investors helping the company buy back its shares at a $2 billion valuation. The startup, which relocated its staff to Singapore in mid-2025, is also considering a restructuring exercise to prepare for an initial public offering in Hong Kong. Manus offers AI products including a chatbot and vibe-coding tools for building apps and websites.
Why it matters
The fundraise marks Manus's return to independence following regulatory intervention by Beijing and allows the startup to scale its AI agent products amid tightening cross-border technology rules.
Read the original report — TechCrunch
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