Manus co-founders explore raising about $1 billion to reverse Meta's acquisition after China ordered the deal unwound

Manus founders Xiao Hong, Ji Yichao, and Zhang Tao are weighing options to comply with China's order to unwind Meta's $2 billion-plus acquisition, including raising about $1 billion from external investors to buy back the company, Bloomberg News reported.

The proposed funding round would value Manus at a level matching what Meta paid for the Singapore-based startup. The founders may contribute their own capital to bridge any gap, and the move could turn Manus into a joint venture with potential backers and lead to an initial public offering in Hong Kong.

China launched a review of the deal in late December after Meta announced the acquisition, barred two Manus co-founders from leaving the country, and last month ordered Meta to unwind the buyout amid scrutiny of U.S. investments in advanced domestic technology.

Manus develops general-purpose AI agents that function as digital employees, independently carrying out tasks such as research and automation with minimal human input.