DeepSeek raises $15 billion in landmark funding round backed by Tencent and CATL
Chinese artificial intelligence pioneer DeepSeek has secured approximately $15 billion in one of China's largest private funding rounds to date, drawing support from major tech and industrial giants as it prepares for a potential IPO.
Hangzhou-based artificial intelligence developer DeepSeek has raised approximately 100 billion yuan ($15 billion) in its latest financing round, marking one of China's largest private funding rounds ever, Bloomberg reported. The company initially targeted 50 billion yuan before boosting its goal past 80 billion yuan amid heavy investor demand.[1][3][8][11]
The round valued DeepSeek at roughly 500 billion yuan—or around $70 billion to $74 billion—prior to the new capital injection. WeChat operator Tencent Holdings and battery maker CATL were among the largest contributors. Additional participants in the round included automaker Geely, delivery platform Meituan, chipmaker GigaDevice, Stony Creek Capital, Legend Capital, Monolith, Shixiang, and a dishwasher manufacturer, drawing broad backing across China's technology supply chain.[4][5][6][8]
The massive capital infusion arrives as DeepSeek accelerates investments in open-source AI models and data centers to challenge leading U.S. labs such as OpenAI and Anthropic. It also comes just days after the United States ordered federal agencies to remove DeepSeek's technology over national security concerns. The startup hired CITIC Securities in September 2026 to prepare for a potential listing on Shanghai's STAR Market, a move that could place its public debut ahead of OpenAI's.[4][7][9][10][11]
Key facts
- DeepSeek raised approximately $15 billion (100 billion yuan) in one of China's largest-ever funding rounds.
- The company doubled its fundraising target, increasing it from an initial 50 billion yuan to 80 billion yuan before reaching 100 billion yuan.
- Tencent and battery maker CATL were among the largest investors in the financing round.
- DeepSeek was valued at roughly 500 billion yuan ($70 billion to $74 billion) pre-money.
- Other investors included Geely, Meituan, GigaDevice, Stony Creek Capital, Legend Capital, Monolith, and Shixiang.
- The funding was reported days after the U.S. ordered federal agencies to remove DeepSeek software due to national security concerns.
- DeepSeek hired CITIC Securities in September 2026 to prepare for a potential IPO on Shanghai's STAR Market.
Sources · 11 sources
- QU
Quartz@qzPost on X ·
DeepSeek Raises $15B, Eyes IPO Before OpenAI Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has secured roughly $15 billion in a historic funding round, with Tencent and major industrial giants among its backers. The Hangzhou-based company is https://t.co/lZJA5gsG27 #DeepSeek #AIFunding #TechIPO https://t.co/ymUSritNay
Open source - TE
Techmeme@TechmemePost on X ·
Sources: DeepSeek raised ~$15B in its latest fundraising round, one of China's largest ever, with CATL and Tencent among the biggest contributors (@luluyilun / Bloomberg) (Visit Techmeme dot com for the link and full context!)
Open source - TE
TechmemeArticle ·
Sources: DeepSeek raised ~$15B in its latest fundraising round, one of China's largest ever, with CATL and Tencent among the biggest contributors (Lulu Yilun Chen/Bloomberg) Lulu Yilun Chen / Bloomberg : Sources: DeepSeek raised ~$15B in its latest fundraising round, one of China's largest ever, with CATL and Tencent among the biggest contributors — The Chinese AI pioneer DeepSeek has raised about 100 billion yuan ($15 billion) in its latest fundraising round, one of the country's largest ever …
Open source - MT
MTS@MTSlivePost on X ·
SITUATION EXPLAINED: DeepSeek is closing a $15 billion raise, and its backers include Tencent, CATL, and a dishwasher maker. • The round is about 100B yuan, double the original 50B yuan target, at roughly 500B yuan (about $70B) before the new money • Carmaker Geely, delivery giant Meituan, and chipmaker GigaDevice joined too • Most of the backers are companies in China’s tech supply chain rather than VC firms, which could make DeepSeek a core part of that chain • That valuation is a fraction of what top US labs are worth, with Anthropic’s last round valuing it at $965B • DeepSeek hired CITIC Securities in September to prepare a possible IPO on Shanghai’s STAR Market @theojaffee: "It’s a sort of flywheel where DeepSeek helps Huawei build chips that are then used to train the next DeepSeek model that then makes DeepSeek money that they can use to invest in chips made by Huawei. It’s a virtuous cycle."
Open source - TD
The Daily Block@thedailyblockPost on X ·
🚨 BREAKING: DeepSeek Raises Nearly $15B to Fuel AI Race The Chinese AI startup has reportedly raised around $14.98 billion from investors including Tencent, CATL, Meituan and Geely, valuing DeepSeek at 500 billion yuan ahead of the new funding.
Open source - *B
*Walter Bloomberg@DeItaonePost on X ·
CHINA'S DEEPSEEK RAISES $15 BILLION IN FINANCING ROUND, SOURCES SAY DEEPSEEK VALUED AT $74 BILLION PRE-MONEY IN LATEST ROUND, SOURCES SAY CATL, TENCENT, MONOLITH, SHIXIANG INVEST IN DEEPSEEK, SOURCES SAY NEW DEEPSEEK BACKERS INCLUDE STONY CREEK CAPITAL, LEGEND CAPITAL AND GEELY, SOURCES SAY
Open source - TE
TechCrunch@TechCrunchPost on X ·
DeepSeek has reportedly raised $15 billion in one of China's largest funding rounds, just days after the US ordered federal agencies to remove its technology over national security concerns. https://t.co/f5KLp5252X
Open source - AC
Andrew Curran@AndrewCurran_Post on X ·
The Whale has raised another $15 billion. https://t.co/AghYcLmseD
Open source - BL
Bloomberg@businessPost on X ·
The Chinese AI pioneer DeepSeek has raised about $15 billion in its latest fundraising round, one of the country’s largest ever and a sign of the startup’s ambitions to compete globally with the likes of Anthropic and OpenAI https://t.co/cSDTZs1k7S
Open source - QU
Quartz@qzPost on X ·
DeepSeek just raised $15B and could IPO before OpenAI The Chinese AI startup that rattled Silicon Valley earlier this year is now one of the largest private financings in China's history — and it's racing toward a Shanghai IPO that could beat OpenA #DeepSeek #AIFunding #TechIPO https://t.co/aKwaQNHhTp
Open source - WS
Wall St Engine@wallstenginePost on X ·
DEEPSEEK RAISES $15 BILLION IN ONE OF CHINA’S LARGEST FUNDING ROUNDS Chinese AI startup DeepSeek raised approximately 100 billion yuan, with Tencent and battery giant CATL among its biggest investors, according to Bloomberg. The company initially targeted 50 billion yuan but doubled its fundraising goal amid strong investor demand. DeepSeek is preparing for an IPO while increasing spending on AI data centers and open-source models to compete with OpenAI and Anthropic. Source: Bloomberg
Open source - MI
Mint@livemintPost on X ·
The Chinese AI pioneer DeepSeek has raised about 100 billion yuan ($15 billion) in its latest fundraising round, one of the country’s largest ever and a sign of the startup’s ambitions to compete globally with the likes of Anthropic PBC and OpenAI. https://t.co/HPc8yx7GY1
Open source