36Kr

Corporate brand

A Chinese technology and business media company that also provides information and connection services for entrepreneurs, companies, and investors.

Last updated October 12, 2026

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Overview

36Kr is a Chinese technology and business media brand and a publicly listed company whose activities extend beyond journalism into services for entrepreneurs, companies, and investors. Its principal public-facing product is a digital media platform covering technology, internet businesses, startups, finance, investment, enterprise software, consumer technology, and other emerging industries. The company has often been compared with TechCrunch because of its combination of startup reporting, technology analysis, and connections among founders, investors, and business operators. The brand originated from a technology blog written by Liu Chengcheng while he was a student. The early publication focused on new applications, gadgets, internet businesses, and entrepreneurship. After its establishment in 2010, 36Kr grew as China's startup and venture-capital ecosystem expanded. Its editorial presence helped attract founders and investors to the platform, while the company developed adjacent products intended to turn media attention into structured business information and commercial services. An important part of this expansion was the creation of 36tr in 2011. The database collected information about entrepreneurial projects and was initially available to a limited group of investors. More than 1,000 projects were reportedly included during 2012. 36Kr subsequently introduced 36Kr+, a platform designed to provide resources and support to entrepreneurs. These initiatives positioned the brand not only as a publisher but also as an intermediary for the startup ecosystem. The company later entered physical and community-based startup services. In 2014 it launched Kr Space, an incubator and, subsequently, a co-working-space business. Kr Space was compared with WeWork in coverage of the sector and was spun off as an independent business in 2016. 36Kr also launched a financing platform in 2015 to connect entrepreneurs with investors, followed by Jing Data in 2016, a subscription-based database focused on venture capital and private equity information. The business has therefore combined editorial content, data products, financing and resource connections, events, and startup-oriented commercial services. This model reflects a broader shift among specialized technology publications toward membership, data, professional information, and ecosystem services. 36Kr's audience and influence grew alongside China's internet and venture-investment industries; by the end of 2017, public descriptions reported a global readership exceeding 150 million and approximately 50,000 stories published online. 36Kr completed an initial public offering on Nasdaq on November 8, 2019. The offering reportedly raised approximately US$20 million, and the shares declined on their first trading day. In March 2022, Ant Group, an Alibaba affiliate that reportedly held 15.1 percent of 36Kr, sold its entire stake. The company remains an active technology-media and startup-services brand, although its precise corporate structure, ownership composition, product mix, and current securities information should be checked against the latest company disclosures.

History

The origins of 36Kr lie in a technology blog created by Liu Chengcheng, who was studying communications engineering at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications and later pursued graduate study in data mining at the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The blog initially covered applications, gadgets, and emerging internet businesses. By late 2010 it had attracted a regular group of contributors. Liu subsequently received an investment of 300,000 yuan from Wang Xiao, one of Baidu's founders, after the two met at a university alumni gathering. Liu established 36Kr in 2010. The name refers to Krypton, the fictional home planet of Superman. Krypton has atomic number 36, which supplied the numerical part of the brand name. This naming choice reflected the publication's technology-oriented identity and its association with ambitious startups and internet innovation. In July 2011, 36Kr expanded beyond editorial publishing by launching 36tr, a database of entrepreneurial projects. The product was initially made available to a limited group of investors and became a structured source of startup information. More than 1,000 projects were reportedly added during 2012. The company also introduced 36Kr+, a service platform intended to provide resources to entrepreneurs. As China's startup and venture-capital markets grew, 36Kr developed a broader platform model. Its website became a destination for technology and startup news, while adjacent offerings sought to connect founders, investors, companies, and other professional users. In 2014 the company launched Kr Space, first described as a business incubator and later operating as a co-working-space provider. The business was compared with WeWork and was spun off independently in 2016. The company continued to add services related to capital and professional information. In 2015 it launched a financing platform connecting entrepreneurs and investors. In 2016 it introduced Jing Data, a subscription database for venture-capital and private-equity information. These initiatives represented a transition from a specialist publication toward a multi-product technology-media and business-services platform. Public accounts also identify investment or funding support from parties including Alibaba Group, Matrix Partners, and e.ventures. By the end of 2017, public descriptions stated that 36Kr had more than 150 million readers globally and had published around 50,000 online stories. On November 8, 2019, it completed an initial public offering on Nasdaq. The offering reportedly raised US$20 million, and the stock declined 10 percent on its first trading day. In March 2022, Ant Group, an Alibaba affiliate reported to have held 15.1 percent of 36Kr, sold its entire stake. 36Kr continues to be described as an active Chinese technology and financial-news company with data and connection services for entrepreneurs and investors.

2022
Ant Group exits its investment
[1]36Kr - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Ant Group sold its entire reported 15.1 percent stake in 36Kr in March 2022.
2019
Nasdaq initial public offering
[1]36Kr - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
36Kr became publicly listed on Nasdaq on November 8, 2019.
2016
Jing Data launches and Kr Space is separated
[1]36Kr - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
36Kr introduced its subscription venture-capital and private-equity database, while Kr Space was spun off as an independent business.
2015
Financing platform launches
[1]36Kr - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
The company launched a platform designed to connect entrepreneurs and investors.
2014
Kr Space launches
[1]36Kr - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
36Kr entered incubation and co-working services through Kr Space.
2011
36tr database launches
[1]36Kr - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
36Kr launched 36tr, a database of entrepreneurial projects intended initially for selected investors.
2010
36Kr is established
[1]36Kr - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Liu Chengcheng established 36Kr after developing a technology blog focused on applications, gadgets, internet businesses, and entrepreneurship.

Products and positioning

Technology and business media combined with startup, investment-information, and enterprise connection services.

Technology and business media · 2010
36Kr website and digital media
The core 36Kr media platform publishes reporting, analysis, interviews, and industry information concerning technology, internet companies, entrepreneurship, finance, investment, enterprise services, consumer products, and emerging industries. It is the brand's primary public channel and provides the editorial foundation for its relationships with founders, investors, and business readers.
Startup database · 2011
36tr
36tr was a database of entrepreneurial projects launched in 2011. It collected structured information about startups and was initially made available to a limited group of investors. The product illustrated 36Kr's early move from publishing toward professional information services for the venture ecosystem.
Entrepreneur services
36Kr+
36Kr+ was introduced as a service platform for entrepreneurs, providing access to resources and connections associated with startup development. Public descriptions identify it as part of the company's effort to extend its media audience into a broader support and service network.
Incubation and co-working · 2014
Kr Space
Kr Space began as a business incubator launched by 36Kr and later developed into a co-working-space provider. Its model placed the brand in the physical startup-infrastructure market and attracted comparisons with WeWork. Kr Space was spun off as an independent business in 2016.
Venture-capital and private-equity data · 2016
Jing Data
Jing Data was launched as a subscription-based database for venture-capital and private-equity information. It extended 36Kr's information business toward professional users seeking structured market, investment, and transaction intelligence.
Business services · 2015
Startup and investment connection services
36Kr's broader service activities connect entrepreneurs, companies, investors, and other ecosystem participants through financing-related services, information distribution, events, and resource connections. The precise composition of these services has changed across the company's development and is not fully specified in the available reference material.

Controversies

2016
Source 1 Source 2

2022
Ant Group exits its 36Kr investmentM&A
Background
Ant Group, an Alibaba affiliate reported to hold 15.1 percent of 36Kr, changed its investment position.
Action taken
Ant Group sold its entire stake in 36Kr in March 2022.
Aftermath
The transaction removed Ant Group's reported equity position; the available source does not provide further ownership details.
Source
2019
Complete Nasdaq initial public offeringOther
Background
After expanding its media, data, and startup-service activities, 36Kr pursued a public-market listing.
Action taken
36Kr completed its initial public offering on Nasdaq on November 8, 2019.
Aftermath
The offering reportedly raised US$20 million, while the shares fell 10 percent on the first trading day.
IPO proceeds. US$20 million raised (November 8, 2019)
Source
2016
Launch Jing DataProduct launch
Background
36Kr sought to serve professional users requiring structured information about private markets.
Action taken
The company launched Jing Data as a subscription-based venture-capital and private-equity database.
Aftermath
The product broadened 36Kr's role from news publisher to paid professional information provider.
Source
2015
Add entrepreneur-investor financing servicesStrategy
Background
The company's media and database activities gave it relationships with startup founders and investors.
Action taken
36Kr launched a financing platform intended to connect entrepreneurs with investors.
Aftermath
The move reinforced the company's development into a broader startup-services platform.
Source
2014
Expand into incubation and co-workingStrategy
Background
36Kr was developing beyond media as startup activity and venture investment expanded in China.
Action taken
The company launched Kr Space as a business incubator that later operated as a co-working-space provider.
Aftermath
Kr Space was later spun off as an independent business in 2016.
Source

Recent events

2022
Ant Group sells its entire stake in 36Kr[1]36Kr - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Ant Group, described as an Alibaba affiliate holding 15.1 percent of 36Kr, sold its entire stake in March 2022.
2019
36Kr completes Nasdaq initial public offering[1]36Kr - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Other
36Kr became a Nasdaq-listed company on November 8, 2019. The offering reportedly raised US$20 million, while the shares fell 10 percent on the first trading day.
2016
36Kr launches Jing Data[1]36Kr - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Product launch
The company launched a subscription-based database covering venture-capital and private-equity information.
2016
Kr Space is spun off[1]36Kr - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Other
Kr Space was separated from 36Kr as an independent business after developing from an incubator into a co-working-space provider.
2015
36Kr launches a financing platform[1]36Kr - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Product launch
36Kr introduced a platform intended to connect entrepreneurs and investors.
2014
36Kr launches Kr Space[1]36Kr - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Product launch
The company entered incubation and co-working services with Kr Space, broadening its activities beyond media and information products.
2011
36Kr launches 36tr entrepreneurial-project database[1]36Kr - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Product launch
36Kr introduced a database collecting information about startup projects for access by selected investors.

Sources17 sources

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