Who Is The Mysterious AI Investor Behind DeepSeek’s Disruption

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DeepSeek, the Chinese AI lab that has sent shockwaves through Silicon Valley, is now at the top of the App Store charts, surpassing ChatGPT. But behind this sudden rise is an enigmatic figure: Liang Wenfeng, a former AI investor turned tech disruptor.

The Rise of DeepSeek
DeepSeek’s R1 reasoning model claims to rival leading AI models from OpenAI and Google while using significantly less computing power. The model is also open source, further fueling its adoption. The impact has been immediate and dramatic—DeepSeek’s emergence wiped billions off Nvidia’s stock as investors reacted to the potential shift in AI dominance.

Who is Liang Wenfeng?
Unlike typical AI founders who rely on VC funding, Liang Wenfeng controls his own financial fate:

Founded Jacobi in 2013, an investment firm that used AI-driven stock picking algorithms.
Launched High-Flyer, an AI-powered hedge fund in 2015, which now manages $8 billion.
Funds DeepSeek entirely through his hedge fund, allowing him to offer DeepSeek’s AI models for free.

Why It Matters
Liang’s decision to open-source DeepSeek’s AI is a strategic move that could pressure U.S. companies like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic to rethink their closed AI models. With DeepSeek dominating app downloads, the AI industry is witnessing a power shift that could reshape the entire ecosystem.

The AI arms race is no longer just about technology—it’s about who controls access to intelligence itself.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/28/who-is-liang-wenfeng-deepseek-founder-comes-from-ai-investing/?utm_source=tldrai

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