Tencent-backed Douyu named fastest-growing tech firm in Asia Pacific
The three-year-old company became a unicorn in June after investments from backers Tencent and Sequoia Capital pushed its valuation to over US$1 billion
Tencent-backed live streaming game platform Douyu, which broadcasts everything from video games to cooking lessons, topped the list of the fastest growing technology companies in Asia Pacific, according to global accounting and consultancy firm Deloitte.
Wuhan Douyu Network Technology Co, operator of douyu.com, a website similar to Amazon’s Twitch, has seen its revenue surge 707.8 times over the past three years as live-streaming and mobile gaming continues to grow in the region, according to Deloitte.
The revenue surge comes as the three-year-old start-up achieved unicorn status -- a term for startups that have valuations over US$1 billion -- in June after investments from backers including Tencent and Sequoia Capital.
“Companies that are focused on providing China’s millennials with inexpensive entertainment options, such as gaming and live streaming, or those focused on e-commerce and fintech, are continuing to succeed,” William Chou, Deloitte China’s managing partner in technology, media and telecommunications, said in a statement on Monday.
The market penetration of digital technology in China continues to grow, with those born after 1990 showing a much higher propensity to consume online content due to greater acceptance of digital payments and credit facilities, he added.
Live-broadcasting has taken off in China, becoming one of the hottest sectors in China’s rapidly evolving internet environment, with nearly 400 million people regularly watching live broadcasts via mobile devices, according to iResearch.