DeepSeek said to raise $15 billion with Tencent, CATL backing

DeepSeek has raised $15 billion in a new funding round that counts Tencent and CATL among its backers, according to a Bloomberg report. The size of the raise places the artificial intelligence developer among the more heavily funded private AI companies, though the report did not detail the terms attached to the capital.

Tencent, one of China's largest internet groups, and CATL, a leading battery manufacturer, represent two different corners of the country's technology and industrial base. Their participation points to appetite among established corporate investors for artificial intelligence developers, a segment that has drawn sustained attention as companies race to build and deploy large models.

DeepSeek's models have made it one of the more closely watched names in the field, and the reported round suggests investors see room for further growth in the category. The backing of both a consumer internet platform and an industrial manufacturer also highlights how AI is being treated as a strategic priority across sectors.

The report did not include a valuation for DeepSeek or a breakdown of how the proceeds will be used. Even so, the scale of the round offers a signal about where capital is flowing at a time when enthusiasm for artificial intelligence remains a dominant theme in private markets.