Who co-founded Baidu with Eric Xu in 2000?

Robin Li co-founded Baidu with Eric Xu in 2000.

Li Yanhong, better known internationally as Robin Li, was already working on search technology before Baidu was created. In 1996, he developed RankDex, a site-ranking algorithm that evaluated webpages using links. That earlier work helped shape the search technology he later brought to Baidu.

Baidu was incorporated on January 18, 2000, by Robin Li and Eric Xu. The company began as an internet-search business serving Chinese users and grew into one of China’s dominant technology companies. Li has remained its central public figure, serving as co-founder and chief executive officer.

Several other Chinese technology entrepreneurs can cause confusion in this question. Lei Jun is associated with Xiaomi, while Pony Ma co-founded Tencent and Jack Ma founded Alibaba. None of them co-founded Baidu. Another useful distinction is that Baidu’s founding date is 2000, while its Nasdaq initial public offering came later, on August 5, 2005.