DeepSeek Reportedly Raises $15 Billion Days After U.S. Agency Ban
Chinese AI lab DeepSeek has reportedly raised about $15 billion, among China's biggest rounds, two days after the U.S. told federal agencies to drop its tech.
By 1EyeAI Desk ·
Chinese AI lab DeepSeek has raised about $15 billion (roughly 100 billion yuan), Bloomberg reported, in what would be one of the largest funding rounds in China. According to TechCrunch, the raise came just two days after the U.S. ordered federal civilian agencies to remove DeepSeek’s AI technology from their systems over security concerns.
Bloomberg’s report names battery maker CATL and Tencent among the potential investors. It says the Hangzhou-based company is spending more on AI infrastructure and open models for markets at home and abroad, despite the U.S. restrictions.
The round builds on earlier fundraising. TechCrunch reports that DeepSeek raised more than $7 billion at a $50 billion valuation in June. It was also reportedly seeking another $1.5 billion at about a $71 billion valuation in July, with a possible IPO in China as early as next year.
Other Chinese AI companies are raising money too. TechCrunch notes that Moonshot AI, which develops Kimi, raised $2 billion at a $20 billion valuation in May. Zhipu AI and MiniMax, both listed in Hong Kong since January, have market caps of about $29 billion and $7.2 billion. Founder Liang Wenfeng holds an estimated 81.6% stake in DeepSeek’s Chinese operating entity, according to WireScreen data cited by TechCrunch. DeepSeek did not immediately respond to TechCrunch.