Manus, a Chinese artificial intelligence startup developing autonomous AI agents, has raised $75 million in a new funding round led by prominent Silicon Valley venture capital firm Benchmark. The latest investment values the company at approximately $500 million, marking a significant increase from its previous valuation.
In a playful twist of AI irony, this image about Manus was brought to life by one of its friendly rivals, OpenAI’s DALL·E.
Founded with the goal of creating AI agents capable of executing a wide range of complex tasks, Manus gained attention earlier this year when it demonstrated its technology publicly. In a March demo, the company’s AI agent showcased the ability to analyze stock market trends, plan travel itineraries, and sort resumes. While the technology impressed many observers with its versatility, some users noted occasional errors, suggesting that further refinement is needed before full commercial deployment.
The fresh capital is expected to accelerate Manus’s expansion into international markets, including the United States, Japan, and the Middle East.
Prior to this round, Manus had raised over $10 million from investors such as Tencent and HSG (formerly Sequoia China). Recently, the company began transitioning from early demos to offering paid subscription plans, priced between $39 and $199 per month, signaling a move toward revenue generation.
Manus is entering a highly competitive field, where major technology firms are also investing heavily in autonomous AI. Yet with Benchmark’s involvement — known for backing companies like Uber, Twitter, and Snap in their early stages — the startup is seen as a noteworthy contender.
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