{"slug": "deepseek-prepares-for-ipo-filing-as-soon-as-2026-eyes-us-71b-valuation-ft", "title": "DeepSeek prepares for IPO filing as soon as 2026, eyes US$71B valuation: FT", "summary": "Chinese AI startup DeepSeek is preparing for an initial public offering as soon as 2026 and targeting a $71 billion valuation, according to the Financial Times. The company has begun talks with potential investors for a new funding round weeks after closing a $7 billion round, as it seeks to expand computing capacity and compete globally in AI.", "body_md": "# DeepSeek prepares for IPO filing as soon as 2026, eyes US$71 billion valuation: FT\n\nThe startup begins talks with potential backers for a fresh funding round after closing a US$7 billion round of financing\n\n[BEIJING] Chinese artificial intelligence pioneer DeepSeek is considering raising more funds weeks after closing a US$7 billion round of financing, the *Financial Times* (FT) reported, citing people with knowledge of the deal.\n\nThe startup began talks this week with potential backers for a fresh funding round targeting a pre-money valuation of US$71 billion, the FT said.\n\nThat is a big leap from the [roughly US$50 billion valuation](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/chinas-deepseek-closes-over-50-billion-yuan-funding-unusual-deal-structure-information) that DeepSeek scored in its first round of external financing, which closed in early June with big names including Tencent and Contemporary Amperex Technology.\n\nDeepSeek has been at the heart of China’s [effort to compete globally on AI](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/china-narrows-ai-gap-us-open-source-shift-could-hit-valuations-george-yeo).\n\nIt developed a model in 2025 that [stunned the tech world](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/global/china-ai-firm-deepseek-shocks-us-tech-nvidia-dives-us589b-biggest-one-day-loss-us-history), demonstrating the ability to build a cutting-edge yet more efficient platform with fewer computing resources.\n\nThe breakthrough demonstrated that Chinese companies could compete with the best of Silicon Valley despite [US export restrictions on advanced hardware](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/startups-tech/startups/chinas-deepseek-uses-banned-nvidia-chips-ai-model-report).\n\nThe startup is now chasing more funds to support an ambitious expansion plan, including an increase in computing capacity. AI labs around the world are striking deals to secure the data centre infrastructure they need to train and operate AI services.\n\nDeepSeek’s senior management has told potential investors that the startup will [prioritise groundbreaking AI research over short-term commercialisation](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/startups-tech/startups/deepseek-founder-declares-artificial-general-intelligence-goal-70-billion-yuan-funding-round), Bloomberg News has reported.\n\nFounder [Liang Wenfeng](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/who-liang-wenfeng-geek-behind-deepseek) pledged in at least one meeting with investors to keep developing open-source AI models while pursuing the broader goal of achieving artificial general intelligence, underscoring the company’s focus on advancing the frontiers of AI rather than monetisation.\n\nLiang’s net worth [more than doubled](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/global/deepseek-founder-liang-wenfeng-becomes-worlds-richest-ai-model-creator) after his firm’s most recent fundraising round, making the Chinese entrepreneur the world’s richest among creators of AI models.\n\nHe’s now worth US$36 billion, up from about US$16.7 billion previously, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. That ranks him well above Anthropic co-founder Dario Amodei and OpenAI’s Greg Brockman. BLOOMBERG\n\nDecoding Asia newsletter: your guide to navigating Asia in a new global order. Sign up here to get Decoding Asia newsletter. Delivered to your inbox. Free.\n\nShare with us your feedback on BT's products and services", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/deepseek-prepares-for-ipo-filing-as-soon-as-2026-eyes-us-71b-valuation-ft", "canonical_source": "https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/startups-tech/technology/deepseek-prepares-ipo-filing-soon-2026-eyes-us71-billion-valuation-ft", "published_at": "2026-07-15 06:12:21+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-07-15 06:47:58.204933+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["artificial-intelligence", "ai-startups", "ai-products", "ai-policy", "ai-research"], "entities": ["DeepSeek", "Tencent", "Contemporary Amperex Technology", "Liang Wenfeng", "Anthropic", "OpenAI", "Dario Amodei", "Greg Brockman"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/deepseek-prepares-for-ipo-filing-as-soon-as-2026-eyes-us-71b-valuation-ft", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/deepseek-prepares-for-ipo-filing-as-soon-as-2026-eyes-us-71b-valuation-ft.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/deepseek-prepares-for-ipo-filing-as-soon-as-2026-eyes-us-71b-valuation-ft.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/deepseek-prepares-for-ipo-filing-as-soon-as-2026-eyes-us-71b-valuation-ft.jsonld"}}