DeepSeek Locks Down $15B in Fresh Capital
A massive new investment round arrives for the Chinese AI firm just as Washington moves to limit its reach.
By Mykola Bondarenko ·
Days after U.S. officials directed federal civilian agencies to strip DeepSeek's technology from their networks over security concerns, the Chinese artificial intelligence company has secured a fresh wave of funding. Reports indicate the firm recently raised approximately 15 billion dollars, or 100 billion yuan, marking one of the largest investment rounds in the country.
Potential contributors to this capital injection include major industry players such as battery manufacturer CATL and Tencent, the firm behind the WeChat platform. This financial activity builds on earlier movements by the company. In June, the organization secured over 7 billion dollars at a 50 billion dollar valuation, and by July it was reportedly seeking another 1.5 billion dollars at a valuation of roughly 71 billion dollars. These steps have also been part of a broader strategy that includes a potential public listing in China as early as next year.
The Hangzhou-based startup intends to use these resources to expand its computing infrastructure and develop models for markets both inside China and abroad. This growth plan persists despite the current restrictions on its operations within the United States. Such an expansion could increase the competitive pressure on other domestic rivals in the region.
This transaction reflects a wider pattern of heavy investment flowing into artificial intelligence developers globally, including those operating in China, as nations race to lead the sector. Other companies in this market have also seen significant activity. The developer of Kimi, Moonshot AI, secured 2 billion dollars in May at a 20 billion dollar valuation, while Manus AI raised over 500 million dollars earlier this month. Firms that listed in Hong Kong in January, such as Zhipu AI and MiniMax, currently hold market values of roughly 29 billion dollars and 7.2 billion dollars respectively.
The company began operations in 2023, founded by Liang Wenfeng, who previously helped establish the quantitative hedge fund High-Flyer. That firm assisted in financing the early stages of the AI venture. The startup drew international attention in early 2025 with its free, open-weight R1 reasoning model, which challenged the position of American AI companies. Ownership records analyzed by WireScreen show that Liang continues to hold an estimated 81.6 percent stake in its Chinese operating entity.
The firm did not provide an immediate response to inquiries regarding this funding.
Source: TechCrunch
