Fundraising

• Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) reported record first-half 2026 results, with profits increasing 24% to HK$10.6 billion. • Growth was primarily driven by record trading volumes and a surge in IPO activity, specifically among technology and AI-focused companies. • A total of 87 listings were completed during this period, successfully raising HK$212.4 billion in capital.

• Multiverse Computing has announced a Series C fundraising round targeting up to $570 million (€500 million) to advance efficient AI across edge and cloud environments. • The funding round is led by a consortium including Forgepoint Capital International, BNPP Solar Impulse Venture Fund, and Bullhound Capital. • The capital will support the company's goal of powering "Frontier AI" and Large Language Models (LLMs) through its CompactifAI technology, which optimizes model efficiency.

• DeepSeek has suspended its second round of fundraising following the viral spread of leaked comments made by founder Liang Wenfeng. • The controversy centers on Liang's remarks regarding the company's reliance on Nvidia hardware, highlighting the challenges Chinese AI firms face amid chip export restrictions. • This pause is significant as it disrupts the capital flow for one of China's most prominent AI developers during a critical phase of growth and competition.

• DeepSeek has paused its second funding round following the leak of founder Liang Wenfeng's comments regarding the AI gap between China and the United States. • The decision follows a successful initial funding round that closed in June, raising $7 billion to support the company's rapid growth since its 2023 founding. • The pause is partly attributed to Liang's frustration with media coverage of his statements to backers, highlighting the sensitivity of China's global AI competition with Silicon Valley.

• DeepSeek has abruptly halted its second round of fundraising following the leak of private remarks made by founder Liang Wenfeng during an investor meeting. • During the meeting, Liang emphasized that the company's primary objective is the pursuit of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) rather than prioritizing market share. • This decision is significant as it signals a strategic shift toward long-term research goals over immediate commercial expansion and capital accumulation.

• DeepSeek has suspended its second funding round following the viral leak of comments made by founder Liang Wenfeng. • The leaked discussions centered on the company's heavy reliance on Nvidia chips and the existing gap in AI capabilities between China and the West. • The pause comes as DeepSeek, owned by Zhejiang High-Flyer Asset Management, prioritizes open-source development and aggressive pricing over immediate revenue.

• Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has paused its second fundraising round shortly after securing a record $7 billion in previous funding. • The decision follows the viral spread of comments attributed to founder Liang Wenfeng regarding China's AI industry and its competition with the United States. • This pause highlights the volatility of the AI investment landscape and the potential impact of public statements on corporate financing.