In the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence, a new contender has emerged that has captured both attention and admiration: DeepseekThis platform has made waves by reaching the extraordinary milestone of over 100 million users in just seven days, surpassing the records set by ChatGPTSuch sensational growth marks Deepseek as the fastest platform to achieve this achievement in human historyBut alongside this extraordinary rise, a multitude of questions and reflections have taken root in several corners of the tech and investment community.

One of the most poignant reflections comes from the neighboring city of Nanjing, which has reconsidered its own technological ecosystem and why it has not produced a similar tech phenomenonEven Guangzhou, a major metropolis in southern China, has found its citizens questioning their local tech landscapeThis phenomenon illustrates the broader competitive dynamic that exists among Chinese citiesThe rapid success of Deepseek has instigated a series of self-reflective inquiries among cities that have long prided themselves in technology innovation yet have been overshadowed by the explosive growth of Deepseek.

Meanwhile, the venture capital world is grappling with another intrigue: the question of why they missed the opportunity to invest in such a groundbreaking platformSince the emergence of ChatGPT over two years ago, various venture capital firms have funneled money into numerous large-scale AI projects, yet they overlooked Deepseek, which is now positioned as one of the most significant players in AI narrativesSpeculations arise, igniting debates among investors about missed opportunitiesWas Deepseek hidden in plain sight, or is it genuinely ahead of its time? Reports suggest that Deepseek has undergone multiple financing rounds, yet clarity on the specifics remains elusive.

The rumors surrounding Deepseek's financing gained traction when reports suggested it secured seed funding back in June 2024 from High-Flyer Quan, followed by angel investment from Dongfang Jiafu Asset Management

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A notable mention included the involvement of a regional AI fund, as well as the claim that Runhe Software invested a substantial 50 million yuanHowever, my inquiries into the matter led to conflicting accountsA conversation with a colleague revealed skepticism regarding any financing, asserting that Deepseek had not engaged in significant capital-raising operations.

Seeking further clarity, I turned to a prominent figure within the tech sphere, KimiHer insights echoed some of the rumors, indicating that Deepseek had indeed engaged with early investors like 360, with significant financial backing reportedly occurring in 2023 and an impressive round of investments following in 2024. This brings into question the reliability of our models and sources: if even insiders seem uncertain, how does one dissect the truth from the noise?

Queries to Deepseek themselves unraveled additional layers of ambiguityTheir AI offered a thoughtful breakdown of media commentary, but ultimately clarified that official confirmation was lackingMoreover, it cited clarifications from multiple other companies involvedThe conclusion was that while there might be elements of truth to the financing rumors, the exact details remain unverified and uncertain.

On February 7, rumors erupted online about Alibaba's interest in Deepseek, citing a phenomenal $10 billion valuation for a 10% stakePublic interest soared, only for Alibaba to swiftly deny any equity collaboration, which only added to the confusion and speculation surrounding Deepseek’s financial arrangementsA technological marvel without financial backing appeared almost impossible to comprehendHow can such a prominent company exist without significant investment support, especially amidst the record-breaking user influx?

Digging further into the company's structure reveals that Deepseek's corporate framework is led by the Hangzhou Deep Seek AI Fundamental Research Co., Ltd. with its ownership split primarily between founder Liang Wenfeng and a consulting partnership in Ningbo

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