# DeepSeek leads $400 million funding round for Chinese robot AI startup

Digest AI · Business & Funding · published 2026-10-12T04:55:00Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/deepseek-leads-400-million-funding-round-for-chinese-robot-ai-startup

## Summary

DeepSeek, the Hangzhou‑based AI lab, led a financing round that values an unnamed Chinese robot AI startup at $400 million. The deal follows DeepSeek’s own external fundraising in June 2026, when it raised about 50 billion yuan (nearly $7.4 billion) and reached a post‑money valuation of roughly 400 billion yuan (around $59 billion). Founder Liang Wenfeng contributed roughly 20 billion yuan to that raise.

In August 2026 DeepSeek bought a 2.31% stake in Unitree Robotics for 140.8 million yuan (about $20.8 million) after Unitree’s IPO valued the robot maker at about 61 billion yuan (roughly $9 billion). The article notes that Deep Robotics, a different Chinese firm, raised 500 million yuan in December 2025 but has no ties to DeepSeek. Early October 2026 reports say DeepSeek is discussing a second funding round targeting at least 80 billion yuan (approximately $12 billion) ahead of a possible 2027 IPO.

## Key points

- DeepSeek led a round that values an unnamed Chinese robot AI startup at $400 million.
- DeepSeek raised ~50 billion yuan (~$7.4 billion) in June 2026, valuing the lab at ~400 billion yuan (~$59 billion).
- DeepSeek bought a 2.31% stake in Unitree Robotics for 140.8 million yuan (~$20.8 million) after Unitree’s $9 billion IPO.

## Why it matters

The financing shows AI labs moving into robotics, linking advanced software with physical machines and potentially accelerating robot AI deployment in China.

## Sources

1. [DeepSeek leads funding round valuing a Chinese robot AI startup at $400 million](https://cryptobriefing.com/deepseek-leads-robot-ai-startup-funding) (cryptobriefing.com, 2026-10-12)

Part of the developing story: [DeepSeek's AI Funding and Robot Venture](https://digestai.news/thread/deepseek-raises-at-least-12b-with-catl-tencent-backing-v4-flash-model) (3 stories)

## Cite

Digest AI, "DeepSeek leads $400 million funding round for Chinese robot AI startup", 12 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/deepseek-leads-400-million-funding-round-for-chinese-robot-ai-startup

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