DeepSeek Valuation Surges to $45 Billion as Chinese AI Lab Seeks First-Ever VC Round Led by State Fund

DeepSeek's valuation more than doubles to $45 billion as the Chinese AI lab enters talks for its first-ever VC round, led by a Chinese state fund with Tencent and Alibaba also in discussions, signaling China's aggressive push to build homegrown AI rivaling the U.S.

• DeepSeek is in talks to raise its first-ever venture capital round, with its valuation surging from $20 billion to $45 billion in just a few weeks, according to reports from the Financial Times and Bloomberg.
• The Chinese AI lab's founder, hedge fund billionaire Liang Wenfeng, is seeking outside investment primarily to offer employees equity and combat competitor poaching of DeepSeek's top researchers.
• The funding round is reportedly led by China's state investment vehicle, the China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund, with cloud giants Tencent and Alibaba also in talks to participate, signaling China's push to develop homegrown AI to rival the United States.