Chinese AI startup Manus AI has secured $75 million in a new funding round led by Benchmark, catapulting its valuation to around $500 million, according to Bloomberg. This leap is significant for a company that had previously raised just over $10 million from notable backers like Tencent and HSG, formerly known as Sequoia China.
Manus AI develops autonomous AI agents—intelligent digital tools that can carry out complex tasks with little human input. Though it hasn’t reached household-name status yet, the startup is quickly gaining traction as global interest in AI-powered agents intensifies. The recent funding not only boosts Manus AI’s valuation fivefold but also reflects strong investor faith in its underlying tech and market potential.
Armed with fresh capital, Manus AI is now setting its sights on international growth. According to sources familiar with the deal, the company is gearing up to expand into the U.S., Japan, and the Middle East. These regions represent fertile ground for enterprise adoption, especially among developers and businesses looking to integrate scalable AI agents into their operations.
In March, Manus AI drew attention when it unveiled a demo of its general-purpose AI agent capable of handling various online tasks autonomously. While the feature-packed demo turned heads, early testers, including major tech reviewers, noted performance issues that suggested the technology wasn’t quite market-ready. Still, the launch marked a turning point—Manus was no longer just an R&D project, but a company ready to commercialize.
Shortly after the demo, Manus AI introduced subscription plans ranging from $39 to $199 per month. This pricing structure hinted at a clear revenue model aimed at professionals and enterprise users, and placed it in direct competition with other emerging platforms from the U.S. and Europe. While adoption figures remain undisclosed, the monetization move positions Manus AI as a serious contender in the agentic AI race.
Benchmark’s involvement also highlights a broader trend: increasing Western investor interest in Chinese AI startups, especially those building foundational and application-level tools. Despite geopolitical challenges, the decision to back Manus AI reflects confidence in its ability to create globally competitive infrastructure in the fast-evolving AI ecosystem.
The road ahead for Manus AI is both promising and demanding. As it accelerates global expansion, the company must refine its product, address performance concerns, and navigate complex regulatory environments across different markets. Success will hinge not just on technology, but on execution.
If Manus AI delivers, it could soon become a major force in the world of autonomous digital agents—joining the ranks of OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind in shaping the future of work through intelligent automation.
