DeepSeek is reportedly in the process of raising a minimum of $300 million, with a valuation soaring beyond the $10 billion mark—a move that marks a pivotal strategic pivot. By tapping into external capital, DeepSeek aims to bolster its computational capabilities and safeguard against the exodus of its key researchers. Potential investors are anticipated to hail predominantly from domestic circles. Previously, DeepSeek had consistently declined external investments, as its founder, Liang Wenfeng, harbored reservations about potential external interference in decision-making processes. However, some investors have hinted that this funding round might serve the dual purpose of pricing and facilitating the cashing out of employee stock options. In the current landscape, where the competition for AI talent is intensely fierce, DeepSeek has already witnessed the departure of several core researchers. Initially incubated by High-Flyer Quantitative Trading, a venture that has yielded substantial returns and offered financial backing in the past, DeepSeek now faces financial strain. This is likely due to the burn rate in the large-scale model competition surpassing initial expectations.