Manus.im has recently emerged as a standout platform, heralded by its creators as the world’s first general-purpose AI agent. Launched on March 5, 2025, Manus quickly captured the tech world’s attention with its promise to transform complex tasks into automated, end-to-end solutions. At the helm of this innovative venture is Xiao Hong, a young Chinese entrepreneur whose vision and track record have positioned him as a rising star in the AI industry. This article delves into Xiao Hong’s background, his entrepreneurial journey, and how his experiences culminated in the creation of Manus.im.
Early Life and Education
Xiao Hong, often referred to by his nickname “Red” in English, was born in 1992 in China. While specific details about his early upbringing remain scarce, it is known that he pursued higher education at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), one of China’s top-tier institutions, renowned for its strong engineering and technology programs. Xiao graduated with a degree in Software Engineering, a foundation that would later prove instrumental in his career as a tech innovator. His time at HUST likely exposed him to cutting-edge developments in computer science and software development, sparking an interest in leveraging technology to solve real-world problems.
Born in the early 1990s, Xiao belongs to a generation that came of age during China’s tech boom, a period marked by rapid digital transformation and the rise of internet giants like Tencent and Alibaba. This environment may have influenced his entrepreneurial mindset, blending technical expertise with a keen sense of market opportunities.
Early Entrepreneurial Ventures
Xiao Hong’s entrepreneurial journey began well before Manus.im. After graduating, he demonstrated an aptitude for identifying niche markets and building practical solutions. One of his earliest known ventures was Nightingale Technology, a company he founded to develop productivity tools. During this period, he launched “Yi Ban Assistant” and “Wei Ban Assistant,” two AI-powered assistants tailored for enterprise users. These products reportedly served over 2 million users, showcasing Xiao’s ability to scale solutions effectively. Nightingale also attracted investment from notable players like Tencent and ZhenFund, signaling early confidence in his vision.
A recurring theme in Xiao’s early career is his “wrapper” strategy—building user-friendly interfaces or plugins that enhance existing platforms. For instance, he developed a WeChat editing plugin and a social CRM tool for WeChat, capitalizing on the messaging app’s dominance in China. These ventures were not groundbreaking in their technology but excelled in execution, offering seamless integrations that appealed to users. This pragmatic approach—layering value onto established ecosystems—would later become a hallmark of his work with Manus.im.
Founding Monica and Expanding Overseas
In 2022, Xiao Hong took a significant step by founding Monica, a company initially focused on the overseas market. Monica.im started as an AI assistant browser extension, integrating popular models like ChatGPT to provide users with a versatile, accessible AI tool. This move reflected Xiao’s strategic pivot toward global audiences, likely driven by the saturation of China’s domestic AI market and the growing international demand for AI solutions. Monica’s success hinged on its ability to aggregate multiple large language models into a single, cohesive service—a “kitbashing” tactic that allowed it to offer robust functionality without developing a proprietary model from scratch.
Under Xiao’s leadership, Monica secured a seeding round of investment from ZhenFund in July 2022, with additional backing from Tencent’s venture capital arm. This financial support bolstered Monica’s growth, enabling it to refine its offerings and build a user base outside China. Xiao’s decision to step away from Nightingale and focus on Monica also marked a shift in his ambitions, from localized tools to a broader, more ambitious AI ecosystem. Notably, he exited as a shareholder of Monica in December 2024, according to database firm Tianyancha, though he remained its driving force as CEO during Manus’s development.
The Birth of Manus.im
The launch of Manus.im on March 5, 2025, represented the culmination of Xiao Hong’s experience and vision. Developed by the Monica team, Manus was positioned as a groundbreaking AI agent capable of autonomously executing complex tasks—everything from market research and data analysis to travel planning and code generation. Unlike traditional AI assistants that merely provide answers, Manus promised to “turn thoughts into actions,” a tagline that resonated with its beta testers and early adopters.
Xiao’s technical leadership was complemented by co-founder Ji Yichao, a former Peak Labs founder and developer of the Magi intelligent search engine. Ji oversaw much of Manus’s technical architecture, while Xiao focused on strategy and product direction. Together, they crafted an AI agent that leveraged independent thinking, systematic planning, and tool integration to achieve state-of-the-art performance on benchmarks like GAIA, a test of real-world problem-solving for general AI assistants.
Manus’s release was a calculated move, timed amidst a surge of interest in AI agents from giants like OpenAI and Google. Xiao’s team emphasized its “less structure, more intelligence” philosophy, prioritizing data quality and model flexibility over rigid frameworks. This approach, combined with a multi-signature system powered by multiple independent models, set Manus apart as a pioneer in the AI agent space.
Background Influences and Leadership Style
Xiao Hong’s background reveals a blend of technicality and entrepreneurial agility. His education in software engineering equipped him with the skills to navigate complex systems, while his early ventures honed his ability to spot and exploit market gaps. Posts on X and web reports suggest he thrived on “kitbashing”—repurposing existing technologies into innovative, user-centric products. This resourcefulness likely stemmed from his experiences in China’s competitive tech ecosystem, where speed and adaptability often trump raw innovation.
As a leader, Xiao appears to favor a hands-on, iterative approach. His track record with Monica and Manus indicates a willingness to experiment, pivot, and scale quickly. Industry observers note his knack for building teams that execute efficiently, as seen in Manus’s rapid rise to prominence within days of its launch. However, his exit as a Monica shareholder in late 2024 raises questions about his long-term role, suggesting he may prioritize vision over ownership—a trait common among serial entrepreneurs.
Impact and Future Prospects
Under Xiao Hong’s guidance, Manus.im has sparked debates about the future of AI-powered automation. Its invitation-only beta phase, with codes reportedly resold for nearly 100,000 yuan ($13,797) on platforms like Xianyu, underscores its hype. Analysts see Manus as a potential disruptor, challenging traditional SaaS tools by offering a “do-it-all” AI partner. Xiao’s ecosystem strategy—building a general AI agent platform—could position Manus as a cornerstone of human-computer collaboration, rivaling the likes of GPT-4 or DeepSeek.
Looking ahead, Xiao Hong’s journey with Manus.im is far from over. Future enhancements may include deeper tool integrations, multi-modal capabilities (e.g., image and video processing), and a focus on AI ethics—areas where Manus could solidify its lead. Whether Xiao remains at the forefront or transitions to new ventures, his role as Manus’s founder cements his legacy as a visionary who bridged the gap between AI potential and practical execution.
Conclusion
Xiao Hong, the founder of Manus.im, embodies the spirit of a modern tech trailblazer. From his roots at Huazhong University of Science and Technology to his early successes with Nightingale and Monica, he has consistently demonstrated an ability to innovate within constraints. Manus.im, launched on March 5, 2025, is his boldest endeavor yet—a testament to his belief that AI can do more than assist; it can act. As the tech world watches Manus evolve, Xiao’s background and leadership offer a compelling narrative of ambition, adaptability, and the relentless pursuit of progress.
