DeepSeek plans second funding round one month after first

What we know

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek is planning a new funding round approximately one month after closing its first, according to the Financial Times. This pace of capital injection is described as unusually rapid.

The objective of this new funding round is to finance the development of the company's infrastructure.

Context

DeepSeek is a Chinese artificial intelligence company — the set of computer systems capable of performing tasks typically associated with intelligence — established in Hangzhou. It was founded and is backed by High-Flyer, a Chinese hedge fund.

The company is known for developing a conversational agent under the same name, which leverages a large language model.

Timeline

1. June 2026 (approximately)
   DeepSeek closes its first external funding round, marking its entry into institutional fundraising cycles.
2. July 14, 2026
   The Financial Times reports that DeepSeek is planning a second funding round, approximately one month after the first, intended to finance its infrastructure.

What remains uncertain

The amount targeted by this new funding round has not been disclosed. The identity of potential investors and the precise timeline of the operation remain unknown.