Gate News message, April 18 — DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, is reportedly in talks to raise its first external capital, according to multiple media reports and sources. The company is seeking to secure funding to strengthen its position in the costly race to develop cutting-edge AI models. The fundraising target is set at a valuation of at least $10 billion, with the company aiming to raise no less than $300 million.
DeepSeek has previously declined investment offers from leading Chinese venture capital firms and tech giants. According to a person from a major state-owned equity institution, “There are channel feedbacks suggesting that DeepSeek’s first external fundraising is very likely to be true, but currently it’s completely impossible to invest.” The company had rejected multiple investment approaches before initiating these current discussions with investors.
On April 18, attempts were made to reach two executives from Huifang Quantitative (DeepSeek’s backing entity) via phone calls and WeChat messages for comment on the fundraising news. However, as of publication, both calls went unanswered and WeChat messages received no response.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
POLITICO Poll: 45% of Americans Say Crypto Investments Too Risky, 50% Trust Banks More
According to a POLITICO survey, 45% of Americans believe cryptocurrency investments are not worth the risk, with approximately 50% stating they trust traditional banks more for protecting their money. The poll also found that 44% of respondents believe artificial intelligence is developing too fast,
GateNews8h ago
Amazon and OpenAI expand their cooperation: models are added to Bedrock, and Microsoft’s exclusive deal ends
OpenAI announced on May 3 that it is expanding its partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), with OpenAI models and Codex coding agents being made available to AWS customers through Amazon Bedrock. According to CNBC, this expansion is a key next step after OpenAI and Microsoft ended their cloud exclusive agreement at the end of April—OpenAI shifting from “Microsoft cloud only” to multi-cloud deployment. AWS has also completed initial integration of OpenAI products on the Bedrock platform.
Background: OpenAI–Microsoft exclusive cloud contract ends; IP licensing extended to 2032
At the end of April, OpenAI and Microsoft reached a new agreement: the original structure of “Microsoft’s exclusive access to OpenAI products and IP” ends, Op
ChainNewsAbmedia9h ago
Researchers Deploy DPN-LE Technology to Edit AI Personality Traits, Editing Just 0.5% of Neurons
According to BlockBeats, on May 3, AI researcher Brian Roemmele disclosed that his Zero-Human Company has deployed DPN-LE (Dual Personality Neuron Localization and Editing) technology to precisely adjust
GateNews9h ago
Claude Checks Clock Every 15 Minutes After Gaining Time Tool Access
According to developer Om Patel, Claude AI started frequently checking the clock after gaining access to a time tool on May 3, with the model checking every 15 minutes. The observation highlights that large language models previously lacked native time perception and were unaware of current time or
GateNews11h ago
Founders Fund Closes $6 Billion Flagship Fund, Largest Since Inception, on May 3
According to Bloomberg, Founders Fund completed fundraising for its latest flagship fund at $6 billion on May 3, significantly exceeding its previous fund of approximately $3.4 billion. The fund, co-founded by billionaire Peter Thiel, will focus on high-growth sectors including artificial
GateNews11h ago
Latest POLITICO Poll: 45% of Americans Say Crypto Investment Too Risky, 44% Worry AI Advancing Too Fast
According to a POLITICO poll, despite AI and crypto industries injecting significant political funding into the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, the American public remains largely skeptical of both sectors. The survey found that 45% of Americans believe investing in cryptocurrency is not worth the
GateNews12h ago
