DeepSeek closes first funding round at 51 billion yuan, CATL among investors, Liang Wenfeng holds 84% stake

DeepSeek has completed its first external funding round, led by existing investors and joined by new backers such as battery giant CATL and other funds. The round raised approximately 51 billion yuan (about $7 billion), with a significant portion coming from existing shareholders. Founder Liang Wenfeng remains the controlling shareholder with an 84% stake. The company's valuation is estimated at around 300 billion yuan. The funding will be used to further develop DeepSeek's AI models and maintain its competitive edge in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.