DeepSeek raises $7 billion at $50 billion valuation
——0——
DeepSeek targets RMB 50 billion ($7.35 billion) in its first external funding round, valuing the Chinese AI company at $50 billion post-money. Founder Liang Wenfeng, who owns 90% of the firm originally spun out from his hedge fund, commits $3 billion personally, the maximum permitted. The raise marks the largest single AI funding round in Chinese history, confirmed by multiple reports.
AI 1000 · 6 actions
- REPOSTDF#632@DANIELLEFONG@CRYPTOPUNK7213deepseek is raising a monster $7 billion round at $50B val making it china's largest ever AI raise but what shocks me the most is the founder, liang wenfeng: > he's personally contributing 40% of the round himself. $3 billion. > he owns 90 PERCENT of the company (unheard of at this valuation) > deepseek was founded inside his hedge fund, one of China's most successful funds. guys a fucking beast. this round is meant to achieve 2 things: 1. acquire as much compute to push out new deepseek models more often 2. turn deepseek revenue-positive by pushing new enterprise products (same tactic as OAI and anthropic) deepseek v4.1 is expected to release soon.
- REPOSTDF#632@DANIELLEFONG@KUKREJA_ABHINAVMy favorite liang wenfeng story is that when he was in college, a buddy offered him a cofounder position in his drone startup. He turned him down to focus on academics. The drone startup became DJI. You would assume making such a decision would be the defining career moment of someone’s career. That they would regret it forever. But not this guy 😅
