As the rivalry between the U.S. and China in the AI sector escalates, Chinese companies are drawing significant investment, preparing for initial public offerings (IPOs).
DeepSeek and Moonshot attract substantial funding ahead of IPOs, while OpenAI seeks major investors.
By James Van Straten, AI Boost|Edited by Jamie CrawleyOct 6, 2026, 5:25 a.m. EDT1 min read
- DeepSeek is close to completing a funding round that could exceed $12 billion.
- Moonshot has reached a valuation of $50 billion and is looking to raise up to $5 billion in its upcoming IPO.
- OpenAI aims to secure at least $30 billion with a valuation of $1.4 trillion.
AI companies are actively pursuing multi-billion dollar funding rounds and preparing for stock market entries as investors remain eager to support advancements in the sector.
DeepSeek, backed by Tencent and CATL, is targeting a funding round of at least $12 billion ahead of its anticipated IPO in early 2027. Reports suggest that demand may push this amount closer to $15 billion, surpassing initial goals.
This funding follows the launch of DeepSeek’s V4 Flash model, which enhances its competitive edge against OpenAI and Anthropic in terms of cost and performance.
Meanwhile, Moonshot AI, known for the Kimi chatbot, has successfully completed its final funding round at a valuation of $50 billion. The company plans to go public in Hong Kong in the first quarter of 2027 and anticipates raising up to $5 billion. Its annual recurring revenue is projected to double to $2 billion by December.
OpenAI is looking to raise at least $30 billion at a pre-money valuation of $1.4 trillion, following a delay in its IPO plans. Recent reports indicate that potential investors such as BlackRock and various funds from the UAE may contribute up to $10 billion.
Additionally, Anthropic is set to pursue an IPO in November, post-U.S. midterm elections, with a potential valuation around $2 trillion.