Manus2026-10-08 21:46:03Manus Raises More Than $500 Million After China Forced Meta to Drop Its $2 Billion DealManus, the AI agent startup that Meta had agreed to buy for roughly $2 billion before Chinese authorities ordered the transaction withdrawn, has raised more than $500 million in new funding. Parent company Butterfly Effect confirmed the round in a WeChat post, saying Boyu Capital and IDG Capital led the financing, with existing investors Tencent, HSG and ZhenFund also participating. The company did not disclose how it plans to use the money beyond saying it will keep hiring in China and overseas, and it did not give a valuation. Bloomberg had previously reported that Manus was seeking about $500 million at a $4 billion valuation. The company launched in March 2025 as a Chinese rival to OpenAI’s invitation-only $200-a-month agent product. It later moved its team to Singapore, shut most China operations, and laid off dozens of employees in July 2025. By December, Manus said it had reached $100 million in annual recurring revenue, and Meta announced its acquisition plan that same month. China’s regulators later stepped in, and the deal was formally withdrawn. Manus said in August that it had resumed operating independently and had deleted some user data created on or after December 29, 2025, to separate its systems from Meta’s.00
Manus2026-10-08 09:17:00Manus parent Butterfly Effect closes new funding round above $500 millionButterfly Effect, the parent company of Manus, has completed a new funding round worth more than $500 million, according to a post published on the company’s official WeChat account and cited by PANews on Oct. 8. The round was co-led by Boyu Capital and IDG Capital. Existing investors Tencent, Sequoia China, and ZhenFund also participated in the financing. Alongside the fundraising update, Butterfly Effect said it is continuing recruitment efforts for roles serving both domestic and overseas markets. The company did not disclose additional terms in the brief announcement. PANews noted that the information was provided for market reference and does not constitute investment advice.10
Manus2026-10-08 04:10:48Manus raises more than $500 million after Meta deal was unwoundManus, through its parent company Butterfly Effect, said it has completed a new funding round worth more than $500 million. The round was led by Boyu Capital and IDG Capital, with existing investors Tencent, Sequoia China, and ZhenFund also participating. The financing comes after a previously reported Meta acquisition was reversed earlier this year. According to the input, Meta had agreed to acquire Manus late last year for about $2 billion. In April, regulators ordered the deal to be unwound. Tencent and other existing shareholders then took part in a buyback, and Manus resumed independent operations in September. Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal had previously reported that the company was seeking a valuation of about $4 billion in the new round, roughly double the approximately $2 billion buyback valuation tied to the canceled Meta transaction. Manus did not disclose a final valuation in its announcement. The company is also considering changes to its corporate structure as it prepares for a possible Hong Kong listing, though that plan has not been officially confirmed.10
