Manifest, a Sydney, AU–based AI-powered operational intelligence platform for agencies, has officially launched alongside a $2 million pre-Seed funding round.
Investors
The round was led by Brand Fund, with backing from industry investors including Henry Innis, Mark Coad, Jamie Mackay, Jonathan Isaacs, James Hutchinson, Jordan Taylor-Bartels, Connon Bray, and Tim Burrowes.
Brand Fund is a specialized venture capital vehicle based in New Zealand, formed through a partnership between the innovation studio Previously Unavailable and the investment firm Icehouse Ventures. It invests in brand-led companies where creative strategy and market positioning are the primary drivers of global scale. By providing startups with a unique combination of early-stage capital and world-class brand-building expertise, the fund helps founders in the B2B SaaS and consumer sectors establish strong emotional connections with their audiences.
Manifest Use of Funds
The company will use the funding to scale its AI-powered operational intelligence platform, expand its rollout across agencies, and support global expansion plans.
About Manifest
Founded by Freddie McKenzie and Henry Collinson, Manifest is an AI-driven operational intelligence platform designed specifically for agencies navigating the shift toward AI-enabled workflows. The company provides real-time visibility into how work is performed across teams, tools, and AI systems, automatically capturing data on time, effort, and workflows. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, Manifest uses AI to track and unify data across an entire agency.
Funding Details
Company: Manifest
Raised: $2.0M
Round: Pre-seed
Funding Date: April 2026
Lead Investor: Brand Fund
Additional Investors: Henry Innis, Mark Coad, Jamie Mackay, Jonathan Isaacs, James Hutchinson, Jordan Taylor-Bartels, Connon Bray, Tim Burrowes
Company Website: https://gomanifest.ai/
Software Category: AI / Agency Operations Platform
Source: https://www.bandt.com.au/ai-based-agency-operations-platform-startup-manifest-raises-2m/