DeepSeek2026-09-04 03:46:11Caijing says DeepSeek fundraising drew steep intermediary fees and fake allocation claimsA Caijing report said some intermediaries marketing access to DeepSeek investment allocations were asking for unusually high fees, with terms described as "18% upfront and 35% on the back end." Under that structure, an investor committing 100 million yuan would first pay 18 million yuan, then give up 35% of any future returns. The report added that even investors willing to accept those terms still had no guarantee of receiving an allocation. According to the report, DeepSeek conducts look-through identity checks on participating investors and on the limited partners behind investment funds. The investment also carries a five-year lock-up period, during which transfers are not allowed. Aside from the National Artificial Intelligence Industry Investment Fund, most outside investors do not receive voting rights or board seats and only share in financial returns based on their contribution. The report also described a broader wave of fake allocation claims and intermediary disorder around the fundraising. Some institutions claimed to control large allocations but did not make the final investor list. In another case, an investor reportedly paid a 5 million yuan "meeting fee" in an attempt to reach Liang Wenfeng, but the effort did not succeed.800
DeepSeek2026-08-05 01:27:56DeepSeek Restarts Second Funding Round, Plans 50B Yuan Raise at 500B Yuan ValuationDeepSeek, the Chinese AI model developer, has restarted its second round of financing, according to Caijing magazine, citing multiple traders. The round is planned to raise 50 billion yuan, with a pre-money valuation of approximately 500 billion yuan, and signing is expected to be completed in late August. Several investors said the round had already begun in mid-July but was suddenly paused at the end of July, when some investors on the negotiation waiting list were told to hold off on signing agreements. Media reported on July 26 that one reason for the pause was founder Liang Wenfeng's displeasure with widely circulated remarks, likely related to a suspected leaked meeting transcript for investors. DeepSeek and the investors in talks now want the restart to be kept low-key. Some previously active investors say they have not yet received word about the restart, and the channel remains suspended.1710
