
From finance to tech visionary
Liang Wenfeng, a former hedge fund manager and founder of Chinese AI company DeepSeek, has rapidly emerged as a transformative figure in the global AI industry. Known for his unconventional path, Liang’s journey from finance to technology has reshaped the AI landscape, particularly with the recent success of DeepSeek’s chatbot.
Since its launch in 2023, DeepSeek has stunned Silicon Valley with its ability to rival Western AI models like ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude—all at a fraction of the cost. The AI chatbot has skyrocketed to the top of the Apple App Store, surpassing competitors and prompting a wave of volatility in U.S. tech stocks.
A bold vision fueled by finance
Liang’s career began in the world of finance. After earning his degree from Zhejiang University, he co-founded the hedge fund High-Flyer in 2015. High-Flyer specializes in leveraging AI for quantitative trading, using machine learning to predict market trends and optimize investments.
In 2021, Liang Wenfeng took a risk that would later define his career. Viewing AI as more than a financial tool, he began purchasing thousands of Nvidia GPUs to build an ambitious AI cluster. At the time, his project was dismissed by many as a passion project unlikely to yield results.
“When we first met him, he was this very nerdy guy with a terrible hairstyle talking about building a 10,000-chip cluster to train his own models,” a business partner told the Financial Times. “We didn’t take him seriously. He couldn’t articulate his vision beyond saying, ‘I want to build this, and it will be a game changer.’”
In late 2023, Liang Wenfeng officially launched DeepSeek, aiming to develop cutting-edge AI models that challenge Silicon Valley’s dominance. The company’s defining moment came with the release of its DeepSeek R1 chatbot, which quickly became a global phenomenon.
Unlike Western tech giants like OpenAI, Meta, and Google—whose AI projects often require billions in funding—DeepSeek reportedly operates on shockingly low costs. Its revolutionary model was developed with just $5.6 million, contrasting sharply with Silicon Valley’s capital-intensive approach.
A challenge to Silicon Valley’s narrative
DeepSeek’s rise has unsettled the traditional AI hierarchy. While Silicon Valley’s giants rely on massive capital spending, Liang’s strategy prioritizes efficiency. His early purchase of Nvidia GPUs in 2021, before U.S. export restrictions limited AI chip access to Chinese firms, proved to be a critical move.
According to Fortune, this lean yet effective approach calls into question the assumption that only deep-pocketed companies can lead the AI revolution.
Liang Wenfeng vs. Sam Altman: A new rivalry in AI
Liang’s ascent is often compared to Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, yet the two leaders represent starkly different trajectories. While Altman is rooted in Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, Liang’s expertise stems from finance, offering a fresh perspective on how AI can be developed and applied.
Despite initial skepticism from peers, Liang’s vision of democratizing AI development has proven to be more than just a lofty ambition. By building a competitive model with limited resources, DeepSeek represents a new chapter in the AI race—one that could redefine global technology innovation.
Liang Wenfeng’s story is a testament to the transformative potential of unorthodox thinking. As DeepSeek continues to gain traction, its success challenges established norms in the tech industry and highlights the power of innovation, no matter where it originates.