DeepSeek resumes funding round, reportedly seeking $8 billion at a $74 billion valuation

DeepSeek has resumed its paused second funding round, reportedly seeking close to $8 billion at a pre-money valuation near $74 billion, according to people familiar with the talks. That works out to about 50 billion yuan at a valuation near 500 billion yuan.

The restart reverses a halt from July 2026, when the Chinese AI company shelved the raise after founder Liang Wenfeng grew frustrated over leaked, then viral, reports of comments he made to investors during the first round. The resumed round marks a sharp step up in both size and price for a company that has become China’s most closely watched AI developer.

Investment firm Monolith Management is among those said to be in talks to join. DeepSeek’s first round raised 50 billion yuan at a valuation above 350 billion yuan, with backers including Tencent, NetEase, JD.com, battery maker CATL and China’s national AI fund. Investment agreements for the new round are reportedly expected to be completed in late August 2026.

None of the figures have been confirmed by DeepSeek, which has not commented publicly on the raise, and the terms could still change before agreements are signed. DeepSeek and its investors are said to be hoping the round proceeds quietly after the earlier disruption.

Whether that low-key restart holds, or another leak stalls the round a second time, is the near-term test for a company whose fundraising has repeatedly spilled into public view.