DeepSeek Set to Raise $7.4B in First Outside Round at Over $50B Value

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek is reported to be raising about 5 billion yuan (around $7.4 billion) in its first-ever external funding round, lifting its post-money valuation to 350-400 billion yuan ($52-59 billion). Notably, founder and CEO Liang Wenfeng is putting in about 2 billion yuan (around $2.8 billion) of his own money, making him the single largest contributor. The deal was reported around June 3 by Reuters and Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter.