Manus AI, the innovative autonomous AI agent platform, has officially kicked off its operations from Singapore, marking a pivotal moment for Southeast Asia's tech landscape.
Originally founded in China by visionary entrepreneurs including Xiao Hong, the startup relocated its headquarters to Singapore in 2025 to navigate geopolitical tensions and tap into global opportunities.
From Humble Beginnings to Rapid Growth
The journey of Manus began with the unveiling of its core technology by Monica.im in early 2025, introducing the world's first fully autonomous AI capable of executing complex tasks without constant human input.
Securing a landmark $75 million funding round led by Benchmark with participation from Tencent and others, Manus achieved a $500 million valuation just months after its debut.
This capital infusion enabled the platform to transition from invite-only to full public access, accelerating user adoption across research, coding, and data analysis.
Impact on Productivity and Industry
Manus' real-time task execution via its 'Manus Computer' interface is transforming how professionals handle multi-step workflows, boosting efficiency in competitive markets.
In Southeast Asia, the startup's success underscores Singapore's emergence as a neutral hub for Chinese-founded AI ventures amid US-China tech rivalries.
Reaching an impressive $100 million ARR within eight months highlights the platform's scalability and demand for flexible AI agents over rigid tools.
Future Horizons and Global Ambitions
Looking ahead, Manus plans to expand features like text-to-video generation and integrations with tools such as Slack and email.
The recent blockbuster acquisition by Meta at over $2 billion valuation positions it as Singapore's first unicorn AI exit, inspiring a wave of similar startups.
With processed trillions of tokens and millions of virtual computers created, Manus is set to redefine AI autonomy on a global scale.
Alfred Lee
