Tencent is the Chinese technology company that owns WeChat and was founded by Pony Ma in 1998.
Tencent began with internet services and became widely known for QQ, an instant-messaging platform. It later built a broad ecosystem covering social networking, digital payments, online games, music, video, advertising, and cloud services. WeChat, launched in 2011, became Tencent’s flagship mobile communication and services platform.
Pony Ma, whose Chinese name is Ma Huateng, co-founded Tencent with Zhang Zhidong and other partners in Shenzhen in 1998. Tencent’s gaming investments and publishing operations have also made it one of the most influential companies in the global video-game industry.
WeChat and QQ are related Tencent products but are not the same service. Tencent is also distinct from Alibaba, whose major consumer platforms include Taobao and Tmall. Its market capitalization fluctuates with investor views of China’s technology sector and Tencent’s business results.