Kuaishou Technology

Kuaishou Technology is a publicly traded Chinese digital media company headquartered in Beijing, known for its short-video and social networking app, Kwai, and Snack Video in select markets. Founded in 2011 by Su Hua and Cheng Yixiao, the company initially started as a GIF-making app, later evolving into one of China’s largest video-sharing platforms. 

It focuses on content creation, live streaming, e-commerce, and community interaction, serving hundreds of millions of users globally. Kuaishou is the second-largest short-video platform worldwide, after Douyin (TikTok), and also ranks highly in live-streaming e-commerce.
 

The company’s content recommendation system uses AI and big data to offer users a personalised experience. Kuaishou launched several apps, including Kuaishou Flagship, Kuaishou Express, Yitian Camera, and Kwai for international markets. Kuaishou’s AI technologies include the Kling AI text-to-video model, which can generate videos from text input. The company also owns AcFun, a video-sharing platform, and has expanded into online games, e-commerce, and knowledge-sharing content.

In February 2021, Kuaishou completed its IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, raising US$5.4 billion. Despite initial success, its stock value fluctuated significantly due to regulatory challenges in China. The company’s leadership includes Cheng Yixiao as CEO, with Su Hua serving as the chairman. Kuaishou has expanded its reach into international markets, especially in Latin America, the UAE, and Nigeria.
 

Known for fostering a diverse and inclusive community, Kuaishou operates on the philosophy of embracing all lifestyles. It continues to grow by enhancing its platforms and creating new opportunities for content creators and businesses. The company currently has over 20,000 employees and a significant presence in global digital media.

Kuaishou Technology, a publicly traded Chinese digital media company, was founded in 2011 by Su Hua and Cheng Yixiao. Initially, the company launched a mobile app named "GIF Kuaishou" for creating and sharing GIFs. By November 2012, it transitioned to a short-video platform where users could record, upload, and share videos. By 2013, Kuaishou had rapidly expanded, reaching 100 million daily users.

In the years that followed, Kuaishou expanded its features, incorporating live streaming, e-commerce, and content creation tools. In March 2017, the company raised US$350 million in a funding round led by Tencent Holdings. By January 2018, Forbes estimated the company’s valuation at US$18 billion. In April 2018, Kuaishou temporarily faced a setback when the app was removed from Chinese app stores after concerns were raised over teenage-mother videos. By 2019, Kuaishou partnered with People’s Daily to explore using AI in news delivery.
 

The app faced significant challenges in June 2020 when the Indian government banned its international version, Kwai, along with 58 other Chinese apps due to data and privacy concerns. 

In 2021, Kuaishou made its IPO debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, raising approximately US$5.4 billion, and its market value reached US$150-180 billion at its peak. However, it soon faced a decline in its stock price due to increased regulatory scrutiny on Chinese tech companies.
 

In October 2022, Beijing Radio and Television Station acquired a minority stake in Kuaishou. By June 2024, the company released the Kling AI model, capable of generating text-to-video content with high-quality resolution.

Kuaishou continues to grow, operating several apps such as Kuaishou Express, Kwai, and SnackVideo, supporting content creation, live streaming, and e-commerce. The company is now a global leader in short-video platforms, with a robust AI recommendation system, a vast user base, and a growing presence in international markets. It has over 20,000 employees and remains headquartered in Beijing, China.

Kuaishou’s mission is to empower people to record, share, and connect with the world through short videos and live streaming. By using artificial intelligence and big data, Kuaishou aims to provide a personalised and interactive platform that allows users to express their creativity, engage with others, and discover new content. The company strives to create an inclusive environment where everyone, regardless of background, can share their unique experiences and talents, making it easier for individuals and businesses to reach a global audience and form meaningful connections.

Kuaishou’s vision is to become a leading global content community that embraces all lifestyles. It seeks to build a diverse and vibrant ecosystem where people from different backgrounds can freely create and share content, explore new interests, and engage with like-minded individuals. Kuaishou aims to be a platform that fosters real connections, enabling users to discover the world around them while encouraging creativity and self-expression. By continuously improving its services and technologies, Kuaishou aspires to connect people globally and create value for content creators, users, and businesses.

Kuaishou has received significant recognition for its innovative approach to short videos, live streaming, and e-commerce. The company’s rapid growth and success have earned it a spot among the top short-video platforms globally. Kuaishou's IPO debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2021 was a major milestone, with its shares soaring and reflecting the company's strong market position. In addition, Kuaishou’s ability to foster a thriving content community and its commitment to leveraging AI for personalised user experiences have made it a standout player in the digital media industry.

Kuaishou Technology offers a wide range of products and services, primarily focused on short-video sharing, live streaming, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence. The company aims to provide a platform for users to create, share, and interact with diverse content, while also offering businesses opportunities for marketing and engagement.
 

Kuaishou Flagship- Kuaishou's main product is the Kuaishou app, a leading short-video and social networking platform. The app allows users to capture and share moments from their everyday lives. It supports a wide variety of content, from personal vlogs to entertainment and educational videos. Kuaishou uses AI and big data to personalise the content for each user, ensuring a highly tailored and engaging experience. It has become especially popular in China, where it has hundreds of millions of active daily users, and is also expanding globally with versions like Kwai and SnackVideo in markets outside of China.
 

Kuaishou Express- Kuaishou Express is a simplified version of the main Kuaishou app, designed to offer a more streamlined content consumption experience. This variant appeals to users looking for an easy-to-navigate interface that enhances their viewing experience without the complexity of additional features. It retains the core features of Kuaishou but provides a more immersive and focused content viewing experience, attracting a broader audience, especially those new to the app.

Kuaishou Concept- Launched in 2018, Kuaishou Concept explores different user preferences and content needs. It serves as an extension of the main app through mini-programs, mobile web pages, and websites. Kuaishou Concept helps to attract more users by offering unique content-sharing features and a focus on user acquisition.
 

Yitian Camera- The Yitian Camera, released in 2018, is a tool that enhances user-generated content by offering Japanese- and Korean-style filters and cute stickers. It allows users to easily create styled photographs and videos with beautifying effects. This product targets users who want to make their content visually appealing without requiring advanced editing skills, catering to a growing trend in social media aesthetics.
 

Kmovie- Kmovie is a mobile app developed by Kuaishou that simplifies the process of video shooting, editing, and production. It includes powerful editing features, a rich music and sound library, and trendy covers, enabling users to create professional-looking videos with ease. This tool has become a popular option for content creators who want to produce high-quality videos on their smartphones.

AcFun- AcFun, also known as ACFun, is one of China’s earliest video-sharing platforms, originally founded in 2007. Kuaishou acquired AcFun in 2018, and it now operates as a subsidiary under Kuaishou Technology. AcFun is known for its integration of bullet chat, a feature that allows viewers to send comments that appear overlaid on the video in real time, enhancing the viewing experience and encouraging user interaction.
 

Live Streaming- Kuaishou’s live streaming service allows users to interact with their audiences in real-time. Viewers can engage with streamers through virtual gifting and comments, making it a dynamic and interactive experience. The platform supports a wide range of live-streaming content, including entertainment, gaming, education, and e-commerce. Kuaishou has become one of the leading live-streaming platforms, providing a space for creators and businesses to connect with their audience.
 

E-commerce- In 2018, Kuaishou expanded into e-commerce by introducing live-streaming commerce. The platform enables influencers and brands to promote products through live streams, allowing viewers to make purchases directly during the stream. This integration of e-commerce into Kuaishou’s ecosystem has made it one of the top live-streaming e-commerce platforms globally. The platform's ability to seamlessly blend content creation and shopping has made it highly attractive for both businesses and consumers.
 

AI and Online Marketing Services- Kuaishou leverages artificial intelligence and big data to power its content recommendation system, ensuring that users receive highly personalised content. The company also offers online marketing services, allowing advertisers to target specific user groups based on their preferences and behaviour. These services help businesses reach a broader audience, improving return on investment and increasing engagement with potential customers.