DeepSeek Seeks $7.35 Billion in First-Ever External Funding at $50B Valuation

DeepSeek

Industry media only 3 src. ~1 min

DeepSeek is in advanced talks to raise up to CNY 50 billion (~$7.35B) in its first-ever external funding round, which would value the previously self-funded Hangzhou lab at approximately $50–51.5 billion. China's state-backed National AI Industry Investment Fund is negotiating to lead the round, with Tencent and Alibaba also reportedly in discussions to participate.

Why it matters

Marks a historic shift for DeepSeek — ending its stance as a self-funded lab — and signals deep state interest in backing China's leading open-source AI frontier lab

Importance: 3/5

DeepSeek's first external funding; $7.35B round led by China's national AI fund marks a major strategic and governance shift for the lab.

deepseek funding valuation china state-investment

Sources

media DeepSeek could hit $45B valuation from its first investment round — TechCrunch

media DeepSeek reportedly seeks first funding round at $45 billion valuation — TechNode

media DeepSeek Seeks Record $7.3 Billion AI Funding Round — Dataconomy