capital · May 20, 2026
DeepSeek Seeks $3-4 Billion in First External Funding Round
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DeepSeek entered talks for its maiden venture capital round in early May 2026. Sources reported the company seeks $3 billion to $4 billion to expand computing resources and enhance employee benefits. Potential valuation climbed from $20 billion to $45 billion within weeks, with China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund eyed as lead investor. Tencent and Alibaba participated in discussions but founder Liang Wenfeng resisted large external stakes.
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