Chinese AI Firm Lands $15 Billion Despite Recent US Pushback

Approximately $15 billion, or roughly 100 billion yuan, is the amount Chinese AI laboratory DeepSeek has reportedly raised in one of the largest funding rounds in the nation's history. This significant financial injection came just two days after the United States ordered federal civilian agencies to remove DeepSeek's AI technology from their systems due to security concerns. According to reports from Bloomberg, the move signals a strong commitment from investors to back the company despite the diplomatic and technical friction arising from Washington's recent restrictions.

The reported round of investment includes participation from high-profile entities within China's tech and energy sectors. Potential investors cited in the report include CATL, a leading Chinese battery manufacturer, and Tencent, the major technology conglomerate that operates the popular messaging app WeChat. Their involvement suggests that DeepSeek is attracting capital from across the industrial spectrum, not just from traditional software investors.

This latest capital raise builds on a series of aggressive funding moves that have defined DeepSeek's recent trajectory. In June, the company secured more than $7 billion in investment at a valuation of $50 billion. Shortly after, in July, reports indicated that DeepSeek was seeking an additional $1.5 billion, which would have placed its valuation near $71 billion. The company has also been planning a potential initial public offering in China, with timelines suggesting it could occur as early as next year.

DeepSeek is utilizing this influx of capital to accelerate its expansion in key areas. The Hangzhou-based startup is increasing its spending on AI infrastructure and developing open models for both domestic and international markets. Even with the U.S. government restricting the use of its tools in federal civilian systems, the company is pushing forward with its growth strategy. This aggressive posture is expected to intensify competition among its domestic rivals in the Chinese market, forcing them to accelerate their own development efforts to keep pace.

The broader context of this funding round reflects a global trend of massive capital flows into artificial intelligence. Investors are pouring billions into AI companies worldwide to secure a position in the competitive global race. China has seen particular activity in this space recently. For example, Moonshot AI, the developer of the Kimi model, secured $2 billion at a $20 billion valuation in May. Similarly, Manus AI raised over $500 million earlier this month, highlighting the robust appetite for AI startups in the region.

Public market valuations for other Chinese AI firms also underscore the sector's strength. Zhipu AI, also known as Z.ai, and MiniMax both went public in Hong Kong in January. As of today, their market capitalizations stand at approximately $29 billion and $7.2 billion, respectively. These figures illustrate that the financial ecosystem supporting Chinese AI is both deep and active, providing multiple avenues for companies to access capital beyond private equity rounds.

DeepSeek's origins trace back to 2023, when it was founded by Liang Wenfeng. Liang previously co-founded High-Flyer, a quantitative hedge fund that provided early financial support for DeepSeek's development. The startup gained significant global attention in early 2025 by releasing its free, open-weight RI reasoning model. This release challenged the established dominance of U.S. AI companies and positioned DeepSeek as a major player on the international stage. According to corporate ownership data analyzed by WireScreen, Liang retains an estimated 81.6% stake in the company's Chinese operating entity following its earlier funding activities.

DeepSeek did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the new funding round. The company's continued expansion and its ability to secure such a large sum of capital suggest that the recent U.S. restrictions have not slowed its momentum. Instead, the move appears to have reinforced the confidence of investors who view DeepSeek as a critical component of the future global AI landscape.