Moonshot AI Secures $500M Series C Funding, Reaches $4.3B Valuation as Alibaba and Tencent Back Kimi Developer

Jan 02, 2026
South China Morning Post
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Summary

Moonshot AI, creator of Kimi AI models, raises $500 million in Series C funding led by IDG Capital with backing from tech giants Alibaba and Tencent, pushing the Beijing-based company's valuation to $4.3 billion and cash reserves beyond $1.4 billion.

Key Points

  • Moonshot AI raises US$500 million in Series C funding round led by IDG Capital with participation from Alibaba and Tencent, bringing company valuation to US$4.3 billion
  • The Beijing-based developer of Kimi AI models now holds over US$1.4 billion in cash reserves following the latest investment
  • CEO Yang Zhilin states the company is not rushing toward an IPO in the short term, unlike competitors MiniMax Group and Zhipu AI who are preparing public offerings

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