Manus AI, a rising Chinese startup specializing in artificial intelligence agents, has reportedly secured $75 million in new funding from Benchmark, pushing its valuation to a staggering $500 million, according to Bloomberg. This marks a significant leap for the company, whose previous valuation hovered around one-fifth of that figure.
The fresh capital infusion will power Manus AI’s global expansion strategy, with planned market entries into the United States, Japan, and the Middle East. The move suggests a bold bid by the company to compete on the global AI stage, where the race to develop capable and scalable AI agents is intensifying.
From Demo to Dollars: The Rise of Manus AI
Manus AI first grabbed attention in March when it unveiled a demo of its general-purpose AI agent. The tool promised the ability to handle a wide range of user tasks autonomously, though early tests, including those by TechCrunch, suggested the product wasn’t quite ready for prime time.
Nevertheless, the launch helped the company establish its brand as a serious player in the AI agent space. Shortly after the demo, Manus introduced a tiered subscription model, with pricing ranging from $39 to $199 per month. That monetization push indicated confidence in the product’s potential, even if the tech is still maturing.
Backing From Industry Titans
Prior to this latest funding round, Manus AI raised just over $10 million from prominent investors such as Tencent and HSG (formerly Sequoia China). The new Benchmark-led round represents a major vote of confidence in Manus’s vision—and dramatically increases its runway for scaling operations and refining its technology.
Benchmark’s involvement is particularly noteworthy, given the firm’s reputation for backing successful tech disruptors. It signals not just financial support but also a belief in Manus’s potential to emerge as a category leader in AI agents.
What’s Next for Manus AI?
While the company hasn’t detailed exactly what new features or improvements are coming to its AI tools, sources suggest a strong focus on expanding infrastructure, improving multilingual capabilities, and building out partnerships in key international markets.
With aggressive plans and deep-pocketed backers, Manus AI is clearly aiming to become more than just another player in the AI space—it wants to be a pioneer in making AI agents part of everyday work and life.
With $75 million in fresh capital and a new $500 million valuation, Manus AI is charging full-speed toward global markets. Its AI agents may still be in development, but the funding shows investors are betting big on its future.
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