Manus Founders Seek $1B to Buy Back Business From Meta Following Beijing Unwind Order

According to Bloomberg, Manus founders are considering raising approximately $1 billion from outside investors to repurchase the AI startup from Meta. The funding round is being discussed at a valuation of at least $2 billion, matching Meta's original acquisition price. Founders may contribute additional capital, with plans to restructure Manus as a Chinese joint venture ahead of a planned Hong Kong IPO.

China's regulators ordered the unwinding of Meta's roughly $2 billion acquisition on national security grounds, citing concerns over AI talent and technology capable of handling large data volumes. The case marked the first public block of foreign investment in China's AI sector under the country's national security review system for foreign deals.