Chinese AI startup Butterfly Effect has recently announced the completion of a $75 million funding round (approximately ¥550 million RMB), led by renowned Silicon Valley venture capital firm Benchmark. The post-money valuation has soared to nearly $500 million, representing a five-fold increase from its previous valuation. This funding will primarily accelerate the global expansion of its core product - the general-purpose AI agent Manus.
Global Expansion
The company plans to focus on expanding into the US, Japanese, and Middle Eastern markets, with plans to establish its first overseas office in Japan. This marks a significant step in Butterfly Effect's international development journey.
Product Breakthrough
Since its launch in March 2025, Manus has created a market sensation with its positioning as the "world's first general-purpose AI Agent." The product can autonomously execute complex tasks such as booking tickets, stock analysis, and PowerPoint creation. Beta testing invitation codes were reportedly traded for up to ¥50,000 RMB, with the waiting list exceeding 2.6 million users.
Cost Optimization
To address high operational costs (such as the $2 per task cost using Anthropic's Claude model), Manus has partnered with Alibaba Cloud's Tongyi Qianwen. The company plans to implement technology alternatives based on domestic computing platforms to reduce dependence on overseas models.
Business Model and Challenges
Currently, Manus operates on a subscription-based pricing model:
- Basic Plan: $39 per month
- Premium Plan: $199 per month
The company faces challenges from open-source community imitations and server capacity limitations. The new funding is expected to help overcome these bottlenecks and further strengthen its market-leading position.
About Butterfly Effect
Butterfly Effect is a leading artificial intelligence company specializing in developing general-purpose AI agents. The company's flagship product, Manus, holds a leading position in the global AI Agent sector and is dedicated to making AI technology better serve human productivity enhancement.