DeepSeek burst onto the scene in early 2025. The Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) start-up's open-source large language model (LLM) relies on a technique known as interference-time computing. This approach only activates the most relevant portions of the model to perform each query, which saves time and money.
The private Chinese company was formed in July 2023 by Liang Wenfeng, who created it with money from his hedge fund. It released its latest AI model in mid-January 2025; the model reportedly only cost about $6 million to make, a fraction of the roughly $1 trillion leading U.S. AI companies like OpenAI, Alphabet's (GOOG -1.92%) (GOOGL -1.85%) Google, and Meta Platforms (META -3.54%) plan to plow into AI infrastructure in the coming years. If DeepSeek can truly build AI models for such a low investment -- because it requires significantly fewer specialized semiconductors from companies like Nvidia (NVDA -7.03%) -- it could cause a massive disruption to the AI industry in the coming years.
Artificial Intelligence
Given the company's quick rise to fame, many investors wonder how to get in on this potentially game-changing AI company. Here's everything you need to know about how to invest in the AI sector and DeepSeek before its initial public offering (IPO).
Is DeepSeek publicly traded?
Is DeepSeek publicly traded?
DeepSeek was not a publicly traded company as of early 2025. Chinese hedge fund High-Flyer, founded and run by DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng, owns DeepSeek and is the sole funder of the AI start-up.
IPO
When will DeepSeek IPO?
DeepSeek didn't have an IPO on the calendar as of early 2025. The AI start-up likely won't go public anytime soon. The company is still a very early stage start-up that hasn't yet started to commercialize its latest AI model, so it could be quite some time before the company goes public.
IPO
How to buy
How to buy DeepSeek stock
Since DeepSeek hasn't completed an IPO, you can't buy shares of the AI stock in your brokerage account. As of early 2025, you also couldn't buy pre-IPO shares of the company because it's wholly owned and funded by High-Flyer, a Chinese hedge fund.
While you can't currently invest directly in DeepSeek, you can invest in the AI trends driving its popularity through another leading AI company. Three DeepSeek alternatives to consider investing in are:
Nvidia
Nvidia is a leader in developing the advanced chips required for developing AI training models and applications. DeepSeek uses Nvidia's chips; its founder, Liang Wenfeng, reportedly stockpiled them before the U.S. banned the export of AI chips to China. It reportedly used Nvidia's cheaper H800 chips instead of the more expensive A100 to train its latest model. However, many in the tech sector believe DeepSeek is significantly understating the number of chips it used (and the type) due to the export ban. But even if DeepSeek isn't understating its chip usage, its breakthrough could accelerate the usage of AI, which could still bode well for Nvidia.
Microsoft
Microsoft (MSFT -3.67%) is a leader in AI. The technology titan was an early investor in OpenAI, the developer of the breakthrough ChatGPT chatbot. The company has been integrating AI into all aspects of its business to help users improve productivity. While DeepSeek is a potential rival to ChatGPT, Microsoft still stands to benefit from its potential breakthrough in cost. It would make AI cheaper to implement, which could enable the technology company to make more money in the future.
Meta Platforms
Meta Platforms is investing heavily in AI. It announced plans to invest as much as $65 billion to expand its AI infrastructure in early 2025, days after DeepSeek unveiled its lower-cost breakthrough. That's an eye-popping 50% increase from the prior year. The company expects this massive investment to drive its core products and business in the coming years. Meta would benefit if DeepSeek's lower-cost approach proves to be a breakthrough because it would lower Meta's development costs.
It's easy to invest in one of these DeepSeek alternatives or another IPO in 2025. Here's a step-by-step guide to add them to your portfolio:
- Step 1: Open your brokerage app: Log into your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
- Step 2: Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
- Step 3: Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
- Step 4: Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
- Step 5: Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
- Step 6: Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.
Is it profitable?
Is DeepSeek profitable?
DeepSeek is a privately held AI start-up owned solely by a Chinese hedge fund, so there isn't currently any financial data available on the company.
Should I invest?
Should I invest in DeepSeek?
You can't currently invest in DeepSeek because it's a privately held company owned by Chinese hedge fund High-Flyer.
However, if the company does complete an IPO, there are several factors you should consider before buying IPO stock in the company. A big one is whether the company is being completely transparent about the number and types of chips it's using to train its AI model. Many in the tech industry believe the company is understating the chips it's using due to an export ban on certain AI chips. It might cost more -- potentially significantly more -- to train its AI model than the $6 million figure initially reported in the media.
Investors also need to consider the risks of investing in Chinese companies. These risks include geopolitical issues (such as the export ban on certain AI chips), the potential for the lack of transparency in its finances, the greater possibility of fraud due to less oversight, security and privacy concerns, and other possible factors that could negatively affect an investment in the company.
ETFs
ETFs with exposure to DeepSeek
You can't currently use an exchange-traded fund (ETF) to gain passive exposure to DeepSeek because it's not a publicly traded company. However, you can use ETFs to invest broadly in trends like AI, robotics, and Chinese technology stocks. Some top options to consider include:
- Invesco China Technology ETF (CQQQ -2.14%): This fund invests broadly in Chinese technology stocks. It owned around 150 companies in early 2025, led by top-holding Tencent (TCEHY -1.68%) at 9.7% of its net assets. The fund has a 0.65% ETF expense ratio.
- Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF (BOTZ -2.1%): This AI ETF aims to invest in companies that should benefit from the increased usage and adoption of AI. The fund held around 45 stocks in early 2025, led by Nvidia (13% of its assets). The ETF had a 0.68% expense ratio.
- iShares Future AI & Tech ETF (ARTY -3.05%): This fund focuses on AI innovators that are at the forefront of areas like generative AI, AI data and infrastructure, AI services, and AI software. The ETF held about 50 AI stocks in early 2025, including Nvidia as the fourth-largest holding at 4.4% of the fund's assets. It had a 0.47% expense ratio.
Related investing topics
The bottom line
The bottom line on DeepSeek
DeepSeek has sent shockwaves through the AI sector after unveiling its much cheaper approach to training AI models. While there are some questions about how much its model actually costs, the implications are significant. It could disrupt some AI leaders while potentially enhancing the use of the technology in the future. That makes DeepSeek a very interesting company to watch.
FAQs
Investing in DeepSeek FAQs
What company owns DeepSeek AI?
Chinese hedge fund High-Flyer owns DeepSeek. The hedge fund's founder, Liang Wenfeng, also founded DeepSeek.
What is the best AI company to invest in?
There are many great AI technology companies. However, as DeepSeek's breakthrough shows, there's a high risk for disruption in the sector. Investors should consider investing in a basket of the top AI stocks, like industry leaders Nvidia, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Alphabet, and others, to help protect their portfolio from the potential that an AI start-up could make today's top AI stock tomorrow's laggard.
What is the ticker for DeepSeek?
There is no ticker for DeepSeek. The AI start-up is a privately held company owned and funded by Chinese hedge fund High-Flyer, an entity founded and run by DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng.
Is DeepSeek publicly traded?
DeepSeek isn't a publicly traded company. It's a private AI start-up owned and funded by Chinese hedge fund High-Flyer.
Is DeepSeek a threat to Nvidia?
DeepSeek is a potential threat to Nvidia. While it doesn't develop AI chips, the company built its AI model on lower-cost chips. As a result, Nvidia might not be able to sell as many of its premium AI chips in the future if DeepSeek's novel approach becomes the new industry standard.
