Key facts
- DeepSeek closed its Series A funding round.
- DeepSeek reached a valuation of approximately $59.2 billion.
- DeepSeek raised around $7.4 billion in its Series A round.
- Liang Wenfeng was the largest investor in DeepSeek's Series A.
- Baseten is reportedly close to finalizing a $1.5 billion funding round.
- Baseten's reported valuation is $13 billion.
- Baseten raised $300 million five months ago at a $5 billion valuation.
- Baseten raised $150 million nine months ago in a Series D round.
- Manifold AI raised several hundred million yuan in new funding.
- Manifold AI has raised nearly 1 billion yuan in total funding.
- Manifold AI's total funding is approximately $148 million.
- Manifold AI was founded just over a year ago.
Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has successfully closed its Series A funding round, achieving a valuation of approximately $59.2 billion and raising around $7.4 billion. The founder and CEO, Liang Wenfeng, was the most significant investor, contributing nearly half of the total amount raised. This substantial investment aims to maintain founder control and advance the company's pursuit of artificial general intelligence.
In parallel, AI inference company Baseten is reportedly in the final stages of securing a $1.5 billion funding round. This round is expected to value the company at $13 billion. This development follows closely on the heels of Baseten's previous funding activities, having raised $300 million just five months prior at a $5 billion valuation, and a $150 million Series D round nine months ago.
Additionally, Chinese AI startup Manifold AI has announced new funding, raising several hundred million yuan. This latest infusion of capital brings the company's total funding to nearly 1 billion yuan, which equates to approximately $148 million, since its inception just over a year ago. The investment highlights a growing investor interest in 'world models,' a specialized area of AI research focused on improving artificial intelligence's comprehension of the physical world.