AI start-up Manus confirms fundraising of $500m post Meta’s failed acquisition

What happened

START-UPS AI start-up Manus confirms fundraising of $500m post Meta’s failed acquisition (one company buying another) by Laura Varley 8 Oct 2026 Save article Image: © TA design/Stock.adobe.com Eurasia Group’s Dan Wang noted that the fundraising is evidence of investors’ continued interest in backing Manus, despite the fall out from the Meta incident. It has been confirmed that Manus has raised funds of more than $500m, not long after Meta’s proposed $2bn-plus acquisition of the AI start-up fell through.

The plans were abandoned after Chinese authorities raised concerns around national security. Eurasia Group’s Dan Wang noted that the fundraising is evidence of investors' continued interest in backing Manus, despite the fall out from the Meta incident.

The recent funding round was ​co-led by Boyu Capital and IDG ​Capital, with existing investors Tencent, Sequoia ⁠China and ZhenFund also participating. The announcement was made today (8 October) by Butterfly Effect, which is Manus’ parent company. He said, “The fundraising shows that the short-term fallout of the Meta case has been contained and investors are willing to back Manus as an independent company.”