Manus AI is among the hottest AI agent startups round, not too long ago elevating $75 million at a half-billion-dollar valuation in a spherical led by Benchmark.
However two unnamed sources advised Semafor that the funding is now below overview by the U.S. Treasury Division over its compliance with 2023 restrictions on investing in Chinese language firms.
Benchmark’s attorneys cleared the funding as a result of Manus isn’t technically growing its personal AI fashions, however is as a substitute a “wrapper” round present ones, Semafor reported.
These attorneys additionally concluded Manus just isn’t China-based because it’s included within the Cayman Islands. (That’s a standard construction utilized by Chinese language firms, like Alibaba, to entry overseas capital.)
Benchmark has attracted criticism for its Manus funding from Founders Fund companion Delian Asparouhov, who posted on X “wow, actions have penalties?”.
Benchmark, Manus, and Treasury didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
