据知情人士向CNBC透露，中国人工智能初创企业深度求索正在考虑将最新一轮融资规模扩大至1000亿元人民币（约合149亿美元），这一数额是原先目标的两倍。目前，多家国有背景基金及企业投资者纷纷争相参与投资。
China's DeepSeek is considering expanding its latest funding round to as much as 100 billion yuan ($14.9 billion), double its earlier target, with state-backed funds and corporate investors jostling for stakes, people familiar with the matter told CNBC. The AI startup has fielded strong interest from state-backed funds, investment arms of listed Chinese companies and venture capital firms, according to the two people, who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to discuss the private talks.
上述两位不愿透露姓名的知情人士称，深度求索已收到大量来自国有基金、中国上市公司投资部门以及风险投资机构的投资意向。不过，该公司正在严格筛选潜在投资者，对于面向个人投资者募集资金的私募投资基金则予以婉拒，最终入选的投资方主要限于政府及企业背景的基金。
But DeepSeek is vetting prospective investors closely, turning away private investment funds raised from individual investors and limiting the pool largely to government and corporate funds, the people said. The company, which began taking outside capital for the first time this year, initially set a 50 billion yuan target for the current round.
今年，深度求索首次开始引入外部资本，最初设定的本轮融资目标为500亿元人民币。知情人士指出，目前融资进程仍存在变数，最终金额在谈判结束前仍有可能调整。彭博社周二早些时候曾报道称，深度求索有望成功筹集至少800亿元人民币，腾讯与电池制造商宁德时代将是最大的出资方，该公司还计划于2027年初上市。
The fundraising process remains fluid, and the amount could still change before talks conclude, the people said. Bloomberg reported earlier Tuesday that DeepSeek is close to securing at least 80 billion yuan, with Tencent and battery maker CATL among the largest backers, and is eyeing an IPO in early 2027. CATL, Geely Auto and investment managers Monolith Management and Loyal Valley Capital have committed capital in the latest round, one of the people told CNBC.
其中一位知情人士向CNBC透露，宁德时代、吉利汽车以及投资管理机构Monolith Management与Loyal Valley Capital均已承诺参与本轮融资。
DeepSeek, CATL, Geely Auto, Monolith Management and Loyal Valley Capital did not respond to CNBC's requests for comment.
截至目前，深度求索、宁德时代、吉利汽车、Monolith Management及Loyal Valley Capital均未对CNBC的置评请求作出回应。
The round, initially expected to close by the end of August, has taken longer than planned as some prospective investors waver over the price, one of the people said, though talks are nearing the end.
据上述人士介绍，由于部分潜在投资者对估值水平持保留态度，原本预计在8月底结束的融资进程较预期有所延迟，不过目前谈判已接近尾声。知情人士称，深度求索期望本轮融资后的企业估值能达到5000亿元人民币，约合750亿美元。今年6月完成的首轮外部融资中，该公司共筹集到约500亿元人民币；而当时相关投资文件显示的估值水平约为3500亿元人民币。
DeepSeek is seeking a valuation of about 500 billion yuan, or $75 billion, the people said. Its first external funding round, which closed in June, raised about 50 billion yuan. An investor filing related to the round implied a valuation of roughly 350 billion yuan.
这家人工智能初创公司在2025年1月发布了以远低成本匹敌美国同行的AI模型后，引发了美股科技股的抛售潮。该公司表示，其最新模型V4.1 Flash于9月发布，旨在实现更强的能力和更快的推理速度。
The AI startup triggered a sell-off in U.S. tech stocks in January 2025 after releasing AI models that rivaled American peers at far lower cost. Its latest model, V4.1 Flash, released in September, is designed for greater capability and faster inference, the company said.
DeepSeek决定接受外部融资被视为AI领域资本需求膨胀以及在竞争加剧中留住人才面临越来越大压力的信号。
DeepSeek's decision to open up to external funding was seen as a sign of AI's ballooning capital demand and mounting pressure to retain talent amid intensifying competition.
创始人梁文锋在7月的一次私人会议上告诉投资者，他优先考虑推动技术向通用人工智能发展，而非最大化利润。
Founder Liang Wenfeng told investors at a private meeting in July that he prioritizes pushing the technology toward artificial general intelligence over maximizing profit.
据报道，梁文锋在一次私人投资者会议上表示，中国AI公司仍远落后于美国同行，且严重依赖英伟达芯片，随后本轮融资谈判曾短暂暂停。
Talks on the current round were briefly suspended after Liang reportedly said in a private investor meeting that Chinese AI companies still lagged far behind their U.S. counterparts and relied heavily on Nvidia chips.
路透社9月报道称，DeepSeek已聘请中信证券为在上海科创板可能的IPO做准备。
DeepSeek has tapped CITIC Securities to prepare for a possible IPO on Shanghai's STAR Market, Reuters reported in September.
彭博社周二报道称，其国内竞争对手Moonshot AI（月之暗面）也据称在以500亿美元估值融资后，目标是在2027年初进行IPO。
Its domestic rival Moonshot AI is also reportedly targeting an early-2027 IPO after raising at a $50 billion valuation, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.