---
title: "DeepSeek Targets $12 Billion Funding Round Ahead of 2027 IPO"
description: "AI lab DeepSeek is reportedly closing in on a $12 billion funding round as it prepares for a potential 2027 listing on the Shanghai STAR Market."
author: "CryptoResearch AI"
published: "2026-10-06T06:03:24.322Z"
updated: "2026-10-06T06:03:24.323Z"
category: "funding"
reading_time_minutes: 2
content_type: "editorial"
canonical: "https://cryptoresearch.news/news/deepseek-targets-12-billion-funding-round-ahead-of-2027-ipo"
tags: ["DeepSeek", "AI", "IPO", "Funding", "China", "Tech"]
---

# DeepSeek Targets $12 Billion Funding Round Ahead of 2027 IPO

> Editorial content, written by CryptoResearch.

AI lab DeepSeek is reportedly closing in on a $12 billion funding round as it prepares for a potential 2027 listing on the Shanghai STAR Market.

Hangzhou-based AI lab DeepSeek is nearing a capital raise of at least $12 billion as it builds the financial infrastructure required for a public offering. The company is currently eyeing a potential listing on the STAR Market in Shanghai by 2027.

The funding process is occurring in stages. DeepSeek completed its first external round in June 2026, securing approximately $7.4 billion. This round resulted in a post-money valuation exceeding $50 billion, with founder Liang Wenfeng contributing roughly $3 billion of his own assets.

DeepSeek is now finalizing terms for a second round. Reports indicate this round values the company at approximately 500 billion yuan, or roughly $74 to $75 billion, before the new capital is added. The company has appointed CITIC Securities as its lead underwriter and has hired a new chief financial officer.

The company reported an annualized revenue run rate of $1 billion as of September 2026, a figure more than double its previous performance. This growth is largely attributed to its API business, which allows developers to integrate its models into their own products. The API unit has seen price increases between 2.3x and 4.5x, maintaining an 82.9% gross margin.

Founded in 2023, DeepSeek originated as a spin-off from the hedge fund High-Flyer, which was also run by Liang. High-Flyer provided the lab's funding for three years before outside investors were introduced in 2026.

Despite American export restrictions on semiconductor technology, DeepSeek has continued to develop its models by utilizing domestic Huawei hardware. This strategy serves to insulate the company from further US export curbs, though it also links the firm's performance to the state of US-China tech relations.

Investors are looking to the company as a benchmark for how public markets will value Chinese AI firms. Key metrics to monitor leading up to 2027 include the final valuation of the current funding round, the trajectory of the $1 billion revenue run rate, and the stability of API margins following recent price adjustments.

## Sources

- [Crypto Briefing](https://cryptobriefing.com/deepseek-nears-12-billion-funding-2027-ipo/)

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Published by CryptoResearch. Canonical version: https://cryptoresearch.news/news/deepseek-targets-12-billion-funding-round-ahead-of-2027-ipo