Tencent is in talks to become Manus‘ largest shareholder, according to two sources cited in a July 9 report.

The move comes as Manus’ investors seek alternatives after Beijing ordered Meta to unwind its acquisition of the AI startup.

Manus is an autonomous AI agent developed by Butterfly Effect, a company founded in China and now based in Singapore. The product can handle tasks including resume screening, trip planning, and stock analysis.

Butterfly Effect raised about US$75 million in April 2025 at an approximately US$500 million valuation. Benchmark led the round, and Tencent also joined after backing Butterfly Effect’s November 2024 series A round.

Meta’s acquisition of Manus was said to be valued at about US$2 billion to US$3 billion, but China’s National Development and Reform Commission blocked the deal on April 27, 2026.

🔗 Source: Reuters

Recent Tencent developments