PeopleofSuperintelligence

Builder

Xiao Hong

Also known as 肖弘

Xiao Hong is the founder and chief executive of Manus, an AI agent from Butterfly Effect. Butterfly Effect, founded in 2022, released Monica, a ChatGPT-powered browser extension, in 2023. In March 2025 Xiao Hong explained Manus, and in April 2025 Benchmark led a Series B round of about US$75 million. Meta announced an agreement to buy Butterfly Effect in December 2025, and China's National Development and Reform Commission blocked the acquisition in April 2026. TIME included him on its 2026 TIME100 AI list.

Now at
Manus

Timeline

  1. 2015

    Founding Wuhan Nightingale Technology

    He registers his first company, Wuhan Nightingale Technology, before graduating from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 2015.

  2. 2022–2023

    Founding Butterfly Effect

    He founds Butterfly Effect in 2022. In 2023 the company releases Monica, a ChatGPT-powered browser extension that combines several large language models behind one interface.

  3. March 2025

    Explaining the Manus agent

    In March 2025 Xiao Hong, co-founder of Butterfly Effect, explains Manus, a newly launched AI agent.

  4. April 2025

    A Benchmark-led funding round

    In April 2025 Butterfly Effect raises about US$75 million in a Series B round led by Benchmark, at a valuation of about US$500 million.

  5. December 2025

    Agreeing to a Meta deal

    In December 2025 Meta announces an agreement to buy Butterfly Effect, the developer of Manus, and Xiao Hong, Manus CEO, says that joining Meta will let the platform build on a stronger, more sustainable foundation.

  6. April 2026

    Beijing blocks the Meta deal

    In April 2026 China's National Development and Reform Commission blocks Meta's acquisition of Manus.

  7. 2026

    Named to TIME100 AI

    TIME includes him in its 2026 TIME100 AI list.

  8. As of October 2026

    Founder and CEO of Manus

    He is founder and CEO of Manus, which announces in August 2026 that it will operate as an independent company.

Sources and credits

Photo: We have no published photo of Xiao Hong yet. Send us a free-licensed photo.

  1. Upon graduation, some people became millionaires while others became debtors. eu.36kr.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  2. Manus (AI agent) - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  3. Meta Acquires Chinese AI Startup Manus for Billions in Third-Largest Deal · TechNode technode.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  4. After DeepSeek: China's Manus – the hot new AI under the spotlight asiatimes.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  5. Meta buys artificial intelligence startup Manus bostonglobe.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  6. The 100 Most Influential People in AI 2026 time.com. Checked 14 October 2026.