Chinese AI startup Manus is in talks to raise $500 million in a new funding round at a valuation of up to $4 billion, after returning to operate as an independent company, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the matter.
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Manus had earlier this year been forced to terminate a merger deal with Meta.
According to the report, the list of potential investors in the new round includes IDG Capital, Boyu Capital, and battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), alongside existing investors such as Tencent, HSG, and ZhenFund.
Manus is also considering restructuring its business ahead of a possible IPO in Hong Kong.
The company gained widespread fame after a demo of its AI-powered agent went viral last year. In mid-2025, it relocated its employees to Singapore, before announcing in December of that year a $2 billion acquisition deal with Meta.
At the time, the company was reported to be generating annual recurring revenue exceeding $100 million.
But growing concerns in China over losing AI talent and researchers to the West ultimately led Beijing to step in and block the deal, citing concerns over potential violations of export controls and foreign investment regulations.
Since then, Manus has been working to disentangle itself from Meta. Reports indicated that its early investors and backers helped the company buy back its shares at a valuation of around $2 billion.
As part of the split from Meta, the company informed its users last August that they needed to export their data and create backups of it, as it was required to delete data generated after Meta's acquisition, in order to "comply with regulatory requirements in certain jurisdictions."
The company said this month that it has resumed operating independently, and that its founding team will continue leading it.
Manus develops AI products and agents similar to those offered by companies like OpenAI, Lovable, and Replit.
The company offers a chatbot and coding tools using natural-language instructions, allowing users to build apps and websites, design presentations, produce videos, and more according to TechCrunch.
Resource: Al Ghad.
