DeepSeek this week began preliminary talks with new investors about opening a fresh round of fundraising just one month after it closed its first-ever external funding round, and is seeking a valuation of about $71 billion (£53bn) before the new money, according to multiple reports.
The Hangzhou-based start-up, known for bringing mainland China-based AI into the spotlight in early 2025, is believed to have raised about $7bn at a post-funding valuation of about $52bn at the end of May, according to earlier reports citing people familiar with the matter.
While details of the new round have not yet been finalised, the $71bn valuation would represent a 37 percent jump over the previous figure.
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