Manus Raises $500M After China Blocks Meta Deal

Manus, the AI-agent startup owned by Butterfly Effect, has raised more than $500 million in its first funding round since resuming independent operations after China blocked Meta’s planned acquisition. Boyu Capital and IDG Capital led the round, with existing investors Tencent, HSG Capital and ZhenFund also participating. Manus did not disclose its valuation, though reports have put it at about $4 billion—roughly twice the value of the proposed Meta deal. The fundraising suggests investors remain confident in Manus and the commercial potential of AI agents despite regulatory uncertainty and intensifying competition. Manus has continued developing its agent products, including the standalone Cue app.