Chinese AI startup Manus could double its valuation to $4 billion only months after regulators forced the unwinding of its proposed acquisition by Meta Platforms 
META, underscoring how quickly investor appetite is returning to one of China’s most closely watched AI-agent developers.
Manus is reportedly seeking roughly $500 million in fresh financing, which would make it China’s most valuable AI-agent company if completed.
The terms are still under discussion and could change. Existing backers include Tencent, though the report did not indicate whether it would participate in the new round.
The financing would mark Manus’ first major capital raise since its relationship with Meta was dismantled.
The two companies had agreed to a roughly $2 billion acquisition before Chinese authorities intervened. Regulators were reportedly concerned that Manus had not notified them before signing the deal and that allowing the acquisition could set a precedent for valuable Chinese AI technology moving into U.S. hands.
Meta had already integrated Manus into internal systems and its advertising platform before the transaction was unwound.
The companies completed their operational separation in May and stopped sharing data. Manus’ founders and existing investors, including Tencent, HSG and ZhenFund, bought Meta’s shares back at the original $2 billion valuation.
Investors Takeaway
The most important signal is the proposed valuation itself.
A jump from $2 billion to $4 billion shortly after the failed Meta acquisition suggests investors still assign substantial value to Manus’ technology and growth prospects despite greater regulatory scrutiny.
It also highlights a broader divide emerging in global AI: Chinese startups may increasingly need to scale through domestic capital markets rather than U.S. strategic buyers.
For Meta, the development is another reminder that geopolitical restrictions can limit access to promising AI assets even when commercial interest is strong.
For Manus, a successful raise could provide the capital needed to remain independent and potentially move closer to a Hong Kong IPO, which the report says could become a future option.
The main risk is that financing terms remain unsettled. Until the round closes, the $4 billion valuation is a target rather than a completed transaction.
