DeepSeek Suspends Second Fundraising Effort
Chinese artificial intelligence company DeepSeek has reportedly halted its second fundraising round, according to a Bloomberg News report on Saturday, citing individuals familiar with the situation. The startup had aimed for a valuation of approximately 500 billion yuan (around $74 billion) in this new funding initiative.
Details of the Suspension
Prospective investors were verbally informed that investment agreements would not be signed in the immediate future. While the process is currently suspended, the company may choose to resume its fundraising efforts at a later time, as indicated by the report. Reuters was unable to independently confirm these details, and DeepSeek did not provide comment outside of standard business hours.
Context and Reported Motivations
This pause follows a successful initial funding round where DeepSeek secured approximately $7.4 billion. The decision to suspend the current round is reportedly linked to the frustration expressed by DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng. This frustration reportedly stems from online reports concerning comments he made to investors during the company's first fundraising phase.
Future Plans Include Potential IPO
Separately, DeepSeek, based in Hangzhou, has also begun preliminary discussions regarding a potential initial public offering (IPO). These deliberations are focused on listing on Shanghai's Nasdaq-style STAR Market, a development Reuters reported last week.
