Manus AI, a Chinese startup focused on developing tools for AI agents, has secured fresh funding of $75 million, led by venture capital firm Benchmark. The deal is valued at around $500 million, according to a Bloomberg report.
The new investment has made a major leap into valuation except for the previous figures, and Manus is in a position to pursue expansion into major international markets, including the US, Japan and the Middle East.
Manus’ previous supporters include Tech Giant Tencent and HSG, previously known as Sequoia China. The startup had previously raised more than $10 million.
Manus attracted attention in March after releasing a demo of a generic AI agent that can complete a variety of tasks. However, early testing by TechCrunch suggests that the product does not meet expectations. Nevertheless, the company has moved forward with launching a paid subscription plan priced between $39 and $199 per month.
The surge in Manus AI ratings reflects accelerated demand for general purpose AI agents, a tool designed to autonomously handle a wide range of digital tasks. Although it is early in development, these agents are seen as potential leaps beyond traditional AI models, using applications ranging from enterprise automation, virtual assistance and software development.
Strong support from the benchmark, along with previous support from Tencent and HSG, demonstrates the growing belief of investors in Asia-based innovators shaping the global AI race. As Manus prepares to enter highly competitive markets like the US and Japan, success still depends on both technical progress and user trust in large quantities of products.
The race to build truly capable and reliable AI agents is just beginning. And stakes are growing rapidly.
Editor’s Note: tHis article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AINEWS.COM, and provided support for writing, images and idea generation from AI assistant ChatGpt. However, the only final perspective and editorial choice is Alicia Shapiro. Thank you to ChatGpt for your research and editorial support in writing this article.
