Chinese AI lab Manus, whose parent company is Butterfly Effect, has raised more than $500 million in its first funding round since the cancellation of a $2 billion acquisition by Meta. The funding round was led by Boyu Capital and IDG Capital, with participation from existing investors including Tencent and HSG. The company resumed independent operations in August after Chinese authorities ordered it to unwind the Meta deal, citing concerns over the loss of AI talent to the West. Manus had been in talks for a $500 million raise at a $4 billion valuation prior to the deal’s collapse.
Prior to the failed acquisition, Manus was reportedly generating over $100 million in annual recurring revenue and had relocated staff to Singapore in mid-2025. As part of unwinding the Meta deal, the company was required to delete some user data. Manus has since launched Manus 2.0, featuring a new architecture and capabilities, and Cue, an app providing AI agents with digital infrastructure like email addresses and digital wallets.
Left-leaning and center sources report that Manus is considering a public listing in Hong Kong. No right-leaning outlet reported this story. The company intends to continue hiring both domestically and internationally.
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