DeepSeek Insider Dismisses Rumors of Leaked Minutes Halting Funding Round
A DeepSeek insider has dismissed reports claiming that leaked investor meeting minutes led founder Liang Wenfeng to pause the company's second funding round. The insider characterized these external rumors as untrustworthy, false, or speculative. As a prominent player in the AI industry known for cost-effective models, DeepSeek's financial status and funding rounds are highly watched by venture capitalists and competitors. Clarifying these rumors helps stabilize market expectations regarding the company's financial health and operational continuity. The rumors originated from a Bloomberg report stating that DeepSeek had suspended its funding round due to leaked meeting minutes. While the insider denied the claims, DeepSeek has not yet issued an official public statement regarding the matter.
## BACKGROUND
DeepSeek is a Chinese artificial intelligence company founded in July 2023 by Liang Wenfeng and funded by the hedge fund High-Flyer. The company gained global attention in early 2025 with the release of its DeepSeek-R1 model, which achieved performance comparable to top Western models at a fraction of the training cost.