That's a sharp jump from earlier discussions that pegged the raise at around $10 billion—suggesting investor demand is accelerating quickly, the Information reported.A New AI Contender EmergesDeepSeek isn't a typical startup.The company is backed by High-Flyer Capital Management, marking a rare crossover where quantitative finance meets large-scale AI development.DeepSeek has gained attention for building competitive AI models at dramatically lower cost than Western rivals, with some estimates suggesting its systems can run at a fraction of the expense.That cost angle may be key.Why Big Tech Is CirclingFor Tencent and Alibaba, the interest goes beyond financial returns.Both companies are racing to…