Chinese AI Startup DeepSeek Valued Over $50 Billion in Funding Round

Kathmandu. Chinese Artificial Intelligence startup DeepSeek has received a valuation of over 50 billion US dollars in its first funding round. This has further boosted the company's rapid rise in the global AI market. Investors gave the company the said valuation in a recently concluded funding round. With this, DeepSeek appears to have established itself as a rapidly emerging new force in the AI sector. The company had previously surprised the world in 2025 with a low-cost chatbot and had shown competitive capability with American competitors. This year in April, the company released its new AI model. According to the Wall Street Journal and 'The Information', the company has recently raised more than 50 billion yuan (approximately 7.4 billion dollars) in capital. It is said that this funding round has pushed the company's valuation above 50 billion dollars. DeepSeek, however, has not responded to AFP's request for comment on this matter.

The development and operation of cutting-edge models in the AI industry are considered extremely expensive. This requires billions of dollars in investment in vast computing infrastructure. However, it is analyzed that major AI companies worldwide have not yet become profitable and are struggling to clarify their business models in the future.

Meanwhile, Washington has assessed DeepSeek's new AI model as one of China's most advanced technologies, but it is said to be about eight months behind American companies. In the US, the valuation of startup Anthropic, active in the AI sector, has reached approximately 65 billion dollars after a recent funding round, while the valuation of ChatGPT maker OpenAI was mentioned as approximately 852 billion dollars in March. Both these companies have recently started preparations for public listing, and analysts say this indicates that the private AI investment market is reaching its expansion limit.

According to the report, DeepSeek's founder Liang Wenfeng has personally invested about 20 billion yuan. It is also reported that he has created a unique investment structure to maintain control over the company using a limited partnership structure.

Similarly, China's state-backed National Artificial Intelligence Industry Investment Fund has invested about 1 billion yuan. Large Chinese technology and industry companies such as Tencent, JD.com, and NetEase are also participating as investors. These companies have refused to comment publicly or have not responded regarding this.