Manus Seeks $500 Million at $4 Billion Valuation After Meta Split

Manus has resumed independent operations following the collapse of its $2 billion acquisition deal with Meta and is now pursuing a new funding round that could value the AI startup at $4 billion.

The company is seeking $500 million from investors, according to The Wall Street Journal, which cited people familiar with the discussions. The potential financing would follow Manus and its backers reportedly arranging a share buyback at a valuation of about $2 billion as part of its separation from Meta.

Manus Funding Talks and Hong Kong IPO Plans

Prospective investors reportedly include IDG Capital, Boyu Capital and battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology. Existing backers Tencent, HSG and ZhenFund are also among the potential participants.

Manus is considering restructuring its business ahead of a possible initial public offering in Hong Kong, according to the Journal. The company has not announced a completed funding round or confirmed plans for a public listing.

Manus Returns to Independent Operations After Meta Deal

Manus attracted attention in 2025 with a demonstration of its AI agent technology and later relocated its staff to Singapore. In December, it announced a $2 billion acquisition agreement with Meta, when its annual recurring revenue was reportedly above $100 million.

The transaction subsequently faced regulatory opposition in China over potential violations of export controls and foreign investment rules. Beijing blocked the deal, leading Manus to separate from Meta and return to independent operations.

In August, Manus instructed users to export and back up their information before the company deleted data generated following Meta’s acquisition. It cited regulatory requirements in certain jurisdictions as the reason for the deletion.

The startup said in September that it had resumed independent operations under its founding team’s leadership.

Manus develops AI agents and chatbot tools that help users build applications and websites, create designs and presentations, and generate videos. Its products operate in areas also served by companies including OpenAI, Lovable and Replit.