Manus Seeks $500 Million at a Reported $4 Billion Valuation After Meta Split
The proposed round would double the AI-agent startup’s prior valuation, but negotiations remain early and prospective investors are unknown.
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3 key pointsManus is trying to re-establish itself as a standalone AI-agent company after its planned Meta acquisition was unwound in China. The reported $500 million financing would value it at about $4 billion—twice its last benchmark—but no investors or final terms are set. The company completed its operational separation from Meta in May, ending data sharing, and says its founders remain in charge. The reset has also...
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Manus had exceeded $100 million in annualized revenue when Meta announced the acquisition in December.
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Founders and existing backers bought Meta’s shares at the prior $2 billion valuation.
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Tencent became Manus’s largest external investor after acquiring Benchmark’s stake.
Manus is reportedly seeking $500 million at a potential $4 billion valuation, its first fundraising effort since separating from Meta. The proposed price would double the AI-agent startup’s prior $2 billion valuation, but talks remain early and the final terms may change.
The prospective round follows an unusual reversal. Meta announced its acquisition of Manus in December after the startup exceeded $100 million in annualized revenue. Beijing later ordered the transaction unwound, amid concerns that China could lose valuable technology to a geopolitical rival.
From acquisition plan to independent company
Manus and Meta completed their operational split in May and halted data-sharing, according to Bloomberg News. Earlier this month, Manus said it had resumed independent operations and that its founding team would continue to lead the company. The financing talks put a potential new price on that freshly restored independence.
A transition that also reached customers
The separation has had a user-facing consequence. Manus said some customer accounts could be affected and certain user data could be deleted, while offering data-protection tools. It said the step was required for regulatory compliance in specific parts of the world, without naming the rules or jurisdictions.
Manus develops general-purpose AI agents that automate desktop tasks and says it serves millions of users worldwide. Its existing backers include Tencent, HSG and ZhenFund. Before these reported talks, its founders and existing backers bought Meta’s shares at a $2 billion valuation; Tencent then became Manus’s largest external investor after acquiring Benchmark’s stake.
The valuation is still only a target
The potential new investors have not been identified. Until negotiations produce a completed financing, the $4 billion figure remains a proposed valuation rather than a market price established by a deal.
Sources
- moneycontrol.comAI startup Manus eyes $4 billion valuation in first funding round since Meta split- Moneycontrol.com
- cnbctv18.comChinese-founded AI startup eyes $4 billion value in first round since Meta breakup - CNBC TV18
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