INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Originally launched as a question-and-answer site similar to Quora, Zhihu has grown to be a central hub for professional knowledge,
allowing users to interact with experts and companies in a wide range of industries.Headquartered in Beijing, Zhihu recently raised a $434
million Series F, its biggest round since 2011
The funding also brought Zhihu two important new partners: video and live-streaming app Beijing Kuaishou, which led the round, and Baidu,
While it resembled those Q-A platforms at first, it has grown in scope
example, Zhihu has an invitation-only blogging platform for verified experts and since launching official accounts, it has become a channel
for companies and organizations to communicate with users
A representative for Zhihu told TechCrunch that the platform had 220 million users and 30,000 official accounts as of January 2019 (for
growth will be closely watched since Zhihu is reportedly preparing for an initial public offering
Last November, the company hired its first chief financial officer, Sun Wei, heightening speculation
currently no timeline for a public listing.At the same time, the company has also dealt with reports that its growth has slowed.
