Goldman-backed chat app Symphony unlocks access to WeChat users through partnership with Tencent

Symphony Communications Services, a cloud-based messaging start-up for global markets professionals, is teaming up with Chinese tech giant Tencent Holdings to integrate WeChat into its system, opening it up to the one billion users on China’s dominant chat app.

Symphony, which is backed and used by some of the world’s biggest financial services companies including Goldman Sachs, will allow its users to connect via a QR code and chat with WeChat users in China and across the world while complying with their firm’s rules, according to a statement by the two companies on Thursday.

The messages between Symphony and WeChat, known as Weixin in mainland China, will be compliance checked in line with financial industry rules, which include trust barriers, information protection governance and data sovereignty requirements.

“Our global markets and private wealth management customers need a solution that can provide companies with a secure and compliant way to connect to the Weixin community,” David Gurle, founder and CEO of Symphony said in the statement. “Our partnership brings together our trusted collaboration and workflow platform with Tencent’s Weixin ecosystem.”

Tencent did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The integration has been tested with a number of financial services companies including BNP Paribas, Citi, Deutsche Bank, and Goldman Sachs, according to the statement.