# DeepSeek Plans to Raise $1.5B Funding and IPO Chinese AI giant prepares for new funding round at $71B valuation ahead of public listing. - **Source:** [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com) - **Published:** 2026-07-14 - **Topic:** [Finance](https://brifing.si/c/finance) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/bfe229b8-8cef-4839-abd0-f4251c03909b ## Record Valuation Funding Round Chinese AI company DeepSeek is preparing to raise $1.5 billion in funding at a $71 billion valuation ahead of its IPO plans. According to Bloomberg, this comes just a month after its $7 billion funding round, signaling aggressive expansion plans. ## Competitive AI Technology Founded in 2023, DeepSeek gained attention last year with AI models more efficient and cost-effective than US competitors. Its cloud service powered by Huawei chips symbolizes China's technological ascent in the AI race. ## Rapid Market Share Growth In June, DeepSeek processed 23% of enterprise AI tokens through Vercel's gateway, closely trailing US-based Anthropic's 32% share. This demonstrates the company's accelerating adoption in key markets. ## Success Despite Chip Restrictions Despite US chip export controls, DeepSeek competes globally with open-source models. Its collaboration with Huawei reflects China's strategy for technological self-sufficiency in critical AI infrastructure. ## Strong Investor Backing With major investors like Tencent and Beijing's National AI Investment Fund, DeepSeek embodies China's state-supported tech growth model. This backing provides significant resources for its global expansion. ## New Player in Global AI Race DeepSeek's rapid growth and aggressive funding strategy highlight China's ambitions in AI leadership. Its upcoming IPO could mark a significant milestone in global technology markets, potentially reshaping competitive dynamics. ## Sources covering this story - https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/14/deepseek-reportedly-in-talks-to-raise-1-5b-then-ipo/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._