DeepSeek Pursues $7.4B First-Ever Raise at $52–59B Valuation, Led by Tencent and CATL

Tech Startups·medium signal

DeepSeek is raising roughly $7.4B (≈¥50B) in its first external funding round at a $52–59B post-money valuation, backed by fewer than ten investors led by Tencent (~¥10B) and battery maker CATL (~¥5B). Founder Liang Wenfeng is reportedly contributing up to ~40% himself. If it closes, it ranks among the largest private tech financings in China's history and would fund the open-weights lab's next model push.