DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, has started preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) and has opened early talks with new investors for another funding round. The moves come only weeks after DeepSeek closed its first external round, signaling that investors are aggressively chasing top Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) plays. According to Bloomberg, DeepSeek could file its IPO paperwork late this year or in early 2027, clearing the way for a debut next year.
IPO Preparation
The company is working with accounting and banking advisers to finish its financial report by the end of December. DeepSeek has also opened preliminary talks with new investors, targeting a pre-money valuation of about $71 billion, which tops the roughly $50 billion figure from its first external round.
Funding and Expansion
The rapid return to fundraising reflects DeepSeek’s expectation of higher spending ahead, including building its own data center and buying more AI chips. The company is also developing its own AI chip, which could cut reliance on Nvidia and Huawei, as reported by Reuters earlier this month.
Market Context
DeepSeek’s IPO push comes as US rivals move in the same direction, with Anthropic and OpenAI both filing confidential IPO prospectuses in June, although their timelines remain uncertain.
Based on reporting from crypto.news.
