Nvidia has invested again; this AI large model company aims to become the "DeepSeek" of the United States.

NVIDIA Invests $800 Million Leading Reflection AI's Funding, Supports Building the U.S. Version of “DeepSeek” in Open-Source Large Model Track. On October 9, according to media reports, American AI startup Reflection AI announced it had completed a $2 billion funding round, with NVIDIA leading with an $800 million investment, bringing the company’s valuation to $8 billion. This company, established just a year ago, is betting on open-source AI models, attempting to create an “American DeepSeek”. Reflection AI co-founder and CEO Misha Laskin stated, “There’s a DeepSeek-shaped gap in the U.S.—existing Western open-source AI models are losing to competitors like DeepSeek.” The company believes that the U.S. needs an open-source model developer that can compete with top closed-source models to maintain global technological advantage. This funding round comes just seven months after its $130 million Series A in March, with the valuation soaring from approximately $545 million then to $8 billion now. Other investors in this round include Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital, DST, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and 1789 Capital, with Trump’s eldest son as a partner. This financing highlights investors’ ongoing fervor for the AI sector. According to PitchBook data, foundational AI model companies have raised $71.9 billion globally so far this year, far surpassing last year’s $34.9 billion. NVIDIA Bets Big on Open Source AI NVIDIA played a key role in this funding round, not only investing $800 million as the largest investor but also sending engineers to work with Reflection AI to optimize its latest AI chips. According to insiders, the two sides have established deep technical cooperation. This investment strategy shows that NVIDIA is betting on both closed-source and open-source AI models. Last month, NVIDIA just pledged up to $100 billion in investment to OpenAI. By diversifying its investments, NVIDIA ensures it remains ahead regardless of how AI technology splits. NVIDIA’s involvement also gives Reflection AI a technical edge. As the absolute leader in AI chips, NVIDIA’s engineering support helps Reflection AI gain competitive advantages in compute efficiency and model performance. Open Source Models Challenge Closed-Source Dominance Reflection AI’s rise reflects the ongoing technological route struggle in the AI industry. For a long time, companies like OpenAI and Google have dominated the AI sector with their proprietary closed-source software, but companies like DeepSeek are changing the landscape by releasing high-performance, free open-source models. Laskin likened the current situation to the space race during the Cold War, stressing that the U.S. needs to build competitive advantage in open-source AI. Although critics of open-source AI worry that this approach may bring significant risks, Reflection AI believes demand from big companies and governments will ultimately create a sustainable business model. AI model development is requiring increasing computing power and R&D talent, which means a greater need for funding. Laskin admitted that Reflection AI needs more capital to remain competitive, especially as rivals are also aggressively fundraising. Reportedly, Reflection AI negotiated with potential investors over the past few months and completed the funding in weeks. The speed reflects strong investor interest and urgency in the field. Laskin is optimistic about the company’s prospects, hoping that smaller AI companies can eventually become the Amazons and Metas of the future. “I expect we have the potential to become bigger than today’s hyperscale cloud providers,” he said. Risk Warning and Disclaimer There are risks in the market, so investments require caution. This article does not constitute personal investment advice, nor does it take into account the special investment goals, financial status, or needs of any individual users. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article apply to their specific situations. Investing based on this is at your own risk.