Tencent was founded in Shenzhen, China.
The company was established in 1998 by Ma Huateng, Zhang Zhidong, Xu Cheney, Chen Yidan, and Zeng Liqing. Shenzhen's technology-focused business environment helped provide a base for a company that would grow from internet messaging into a broad digital-services group.
Tencent's best-known products and businesses include QQ, WeChat, online games, digital payments, and cloud services. WeChat began in 2011 and became especially important in mobile communication and everyday digital transactions. Tencent's headquarters remain in Shenzhen, although its services and investments are global. Shenzhen is sometimes confused with Beijing or Shanghai because all three are major Chinese business centers, but Tencent's corporate origin is specifically tied to Shenzhen.