Tencent founded the WeChat messaging and payments platform.
Tencent was founded in Shenzhen in 1998 by Pony Ma, Zhang Zhidong, Xu Cheney, Chen Yidan, and Zeng Liqing. Its first major product was QQ, an instant-messaging service that became widely used in China. Tencent later built a broad technology and entertainment business.
WeChat, known in China as Weixin, was released in 2011. It developed from a messaging app into a multifunctional platform supporting voice and video calls, social feeds, mobile payments, mini-programs, and business services. This integration helped make WeChat central to everyday digital activity in China.
Tencent is sometimes confused with Alibaba because both are major Chinese technology companies. Alibaba is especially associated with e-commerce and cloud computing, while Tencent is strongly associated with social platforms, online games, digital content, and financial technology.