Chinese AI startup Manus lands Benchmark funding at $500M valuation
Chinese AI startup Manus AI has raised $75 million in a new funding round led by Benchmark, pushing its valuation to around $500 million. This latest round marks a significant milestone for the company, multiplying its previous valuation nearly fivefold.
Previously backed by major investors like Tencent and HSG (formerly Sequoia China), Manus had raised just over $10 million before this surge in investor interest. The new capital is expected to drive Manus’s expansion into key international markets, including the United States, Japan, and the Middle East.
Manus AI gained traction earlier this year after unveiling a demo of a general AI agent capable of executing a variety of digital tasks. While the demo didn’t fully live up to the hype, it still captured attention as part of the broader push toward versatile, task-completing AI agents.
Since then, the company has transitioned into monetization mode, rolling out paid subscription plans priced between $39 and $199 per month. These offerings are part of a growing wave of startups attempting to commercialize AI agents that aim to simplify workflows, automate complex tasks, and integrate across digital platforms.
As competition in the AI agent space intensifies, Manus's latest raise positions it to scale rapidly and refine its core technology. With Benchmark’s backing and a multi-continent expansion strategy, Manus is emerging as a key player to watch in the evolving AI landscape.
