Manus
Delegate research, deliverable creation and software work to a general-purpose agent.
Manus Funding History
Manus develops agents that carry out research, create deliverables and work across software. Its development spans the general-purpose agent launch, a Meta acquisition that was subsequently unwound, a return to independent operations, and the addition of Cue for personal agents.
Company Overview
Manus
Singapore
Official WebsiteManus Funding Timeline
Funding Round
More than US$500 million
More than US$500 million, not an exact amount. The selected evidence does not establish a Series label or official valuation.
Led by Boyu Capital, IDG Capital. Participation included Tencent, HSG, ZhenFund.
Source · mycaijing.com ↗Funding Round
$75M
The reporting date is known; the financing’s exact completion date is not. The company later described this as funding raised before launch.
Led by Benchmark.
Source · bloomberg.com ↗
Manus Founding Team
Manus grew from the Butterfly Effect team. Reporting identifies Xiao Hong and Ji Yichao among its founders; the company said its founding team would continue leading after its return to independence.
Manus Products
Cue
Create personal agents with their own identities, memory and tools, and coordinate them in conversations.
Manus Company Development
From a General-Agent Launch to a Business
Manus attracted attention in March 2025 by presenting itself as the first general AI agent: a system intended to turn an initial request into completed work. That claim became central to its identity and market reception. By December, the company reported more than US$100 million ARR and a separate revenue run-rate above US$125 million, giving its agent business a commercial record beyond the launch demonstrations.
Joining Meta, Then Returning to Independence
The December 2025 announcement placed Manus inside Meta’s plans for general agents across consumer and business products. In April 2026, China’s foreign-investment security review office prohibited the investment and ordered the parties to withdraw the acquisition. Manus formally announced independent operations on September 1, with its founding team continuing to lead the company. The regulatory order and the subsequent return to independence are separate steps in that transition.
Cue Extends the Company into Personal Agents
After returning to independence, Manus introduced Manus 2.0 and Cue. The two products express different uses of shared infrastructure: a workspace for creating and finishing work, and a standalone home for personal agents that can coordinate with people and other agents. New financing above US$500 million followed in October, supporting a renewed independent expansion rather than integration into Meta.
FAQ
What is the relationship between Manus and Cue?
Manus provides a workspace for delegated research, creation and automation. Cue is a separate personal-agent application built on the same infrastructure.
Was Manus the first general AI agent?
Manus promoted its 2025 launch as the first general AI agent. This page records that positioning and its role in the company’s development; it does not treat priority across the entire field as independently established.
Does Meta still own Manus?
Manus announced joining Meta in December 2025. Following China’s withdrawal order in April 2026, Manus formally announced independent operations on September 1, 2026.
What was the price of Meta’s Manus acquisition?
Official announcements did not disclose financial terms. Reuters reported a transaction valuation between US$2 billion and US$3 billion. The transaction was later unwound.
How much did Manus raise after returning to independence?
Butterfly Effect announced more than US$500 million in new financing in October 2026. The selected evidence does not establish an exact amount, Series label or official valuation.
Are Manus ARR and revenue run-rate the same?
No. In December 2025 the company reported more than US$100 million ARR and a separate total revenue run-rate above US$125 million, including usage-based and other revenue.