DeepSeek suspends fundraising after founder's comments go viral

DeepSeek, a prominent Chinese artificial intelligence lab, has put its second fundraising round on hold. The company's founder, Liang Wenfeng, verbally informed prospective investors that they would not be signing investment agreements in the near future, reversing earlier expectations. People familiar with the matter indicated that DeepSeek may resume the fundraising process at a later date but did not specify when that might occur. The suspension was triggered in part by Liang's frustration over online reports concerning comments he reportedly made to investors during the company's first financing round. That June deal raised $7 billion（約1.1兆円） for DeepSeek. The viral posts, which circulated widely on social media and were reported by Chinese media outlets including Yicai, contained what was described as a transcript of a meeting Liang held with unidentified parties. The authenticity of these posts has not been verified. According to reports, the transcript covered two key topics: DeepSeek's reliance on Nvidia chips for AI development and China's persistent technological lag in AI sophistication compared to the United States. Both subjects are sensitive in the context of ongoing U.S.–China competition in artificial intelligence. DeepSeek has not yet issued a public response to inquiries about the transcript, the fundraising suspension, or the circumstances surrounding the viral comments.

DeepSeek's decision to suspend its second fundraising round underscores the sensitivity surrounding China's AI development strategy in a period of intensifying U.S.–China tech competition. The company's June funding round, which closed at $7 billion（約1.1兆円）, had already positioned it as a significant player in the Chinese AI landscape. The emergence of unverified transcripts attributed to founder Liang Wenfeng—discussing China's dependence on Nvidia chips and relative technological gaps—appears to have triggered a reassessment of the fundraising timeline, reflecting how closely investor discussions in the AI sector are monitored and how quickly they can circulate publicly. Liang's frustration over the leak or spread of these comments suggests the company is attempting to control its public messaging around sensitive geopolitical technology topics. The suspension, while framed as temporary, hints at the reputational and strategic stakes involved in fundraising discussions at the intersection of advanced AI and U.S.–China relations.

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