Company Profile is an initiative by ListMyStartUp to publish verified information on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved by Likee.
Likee Success Story
Short video-making apps have become immensely popular today, particularly among the millennials. While TikTok continues to remain the most popular short videos platform, another platform that grabbed attention is Likee. In 2019, Likee registered 330 million downloads worldwide, and half of these downloads were from India. On 29 June 2020, the Government of India declared a ban on 59 apps on the grounds of "stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India." Likee is one among those banned apps.
While Likee is not currently available for download in India, the app is still functioning in around 180 countries. It was declared the sixth most downloaded app globally in the Q1 Global App Market Index (reported in April 2020) by 'App Annie', a leading mobile data and analytics company. This StartupTalky post covers everything you need to know about Likee.
Likee – Company Highlights
- Startup Name-Likee
- Headquarters-Singapore
- Sector-Video Editing and sharing application
- Founder-Jason Hu
- Founded-2017
- Parent Organization-Bigo Technology Private Limited
- Website-www.likee.com
Likee - About
Likee is an app that allows users to create, edit, and share short videos. The app helps in the creating engaging videos through cutting-edge special effects, video shooting techniques, and editing tools. Likee was launched in July 2017 by Singapore-based Bigo Technologies, its parent organization. The video creation app connects people across the world and forms communities based on shared interests. The mobile app is compatible with both Android and iOS.
One of the primary reasons behind Likee's popularity among Indians was the app's availability in 15 Indian regional languages. The app also supports other languages such as Portuguese, Arabic, English, and many others. Likee also provides a 'parental control' feature to address the growing concerns of the parents over the type of content their children view on the app.
Likee - Parent Company and Owner
Likee is the brainchild of Singapore-based BIGO Technology, which in turn is owned by JOYY, a Chinese company listed on the NASDAQ.
BIGO Technology is a growing technology-oriented company with more than 30 offices and 6 R&D centres around the world. BIGO's products and services are powered by Artificial Intelligence; the catalog includes Bigo Live (live streaming) and Likee (short-form video platform). With the aim to empower the new generation in today's digital environment, BIGO has touched the lives of billions of people across the globe.
Likee - Founders and Team
Li Xueling and Jason Hu are the co-founders of BIGO Technology, the parent company of Likee.
Jason Hu - Co-Founder, Bigo Technology
Bigo Technology co-founder and President Jason Hu had a humble beginning. At the age of 19, he was working at a factory in China. Jason, who had a junior college degree, appeared for national graduate entrance exams and was selected for a post graduate computer science program at Peking University. Jason worked with Alibaba and Microsoft, post which he joined 'JOYY' (earlier known as YY). JOYY is a leading video-based social media platform. JOYY founder Li Xueling was quite impressed with Jason's way of working and selected the latter as the co-founder of JOYY's Singapore-based venture 'BIGO Technology', which was launched in 2014.
Bigo Technology co-founder and CEO David Xueling Li holds a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Renim University of China. Xueling Li also founded CFP.cn in the year 2000, a copyright trading platform for journalists and photographers. From 2003-2005, Xueling Li worked as the chief editor at Netease.com, a Chinese portal, before staring JOYY in 2005.
Likee - Name and Logo
When the app was launched in 2017, it was named “LIKE” and in mid-2019, the name was changed to “Likee”. The idea behind adding the extra 'e' to 'like' was to stress on the extra value the company began generating for its users.
Likee - Revenue Model
Likee generates money through in-app purchases, advertisements, and live streaming. Many music and movie production houses also tie up with Likee to promote their projects; this collaboration also brings in revenue for Likee. Popular Bollywood movies such as Chhichhore, Dabangg 3, Panipat, and Housefull 4 were promoted through Likee and succeeded in garnering massive user engagement.
Likee - Revenue and Growth
The app caters to more than 115.3 million active users. As per Sensor Tower's data, Likee made $776,000 in India through in-app spending.
Likee was declared as the 'most popular app' , 'the best social app', and 'the most entertaining app' in the Google Play Awards of 2017.
Likee was ranked as the number one app in 'Top 10 Breakout Apps' list by App Annie’s report of 2019. Likee ranked sixth in the list of the top apps throughout 2019 and seventh in terms of overall worldwide downloads in Q4 of 2019, as reported by Sensor Tower.
In 2019, Likee made it to the Guinness Book of World Records for creating the "largest online video album of people waving a flag in India" under its 'No matter where I am, #IAMINDIAN' campaign.
In June 2020, before its ban, Likee's app had 6.1 million new installs in India. The Likee team was quite optimistic about its expansion in India but with the ban on the app, the situation doesn't appear to be optimistic. The ban will have a significant impact on the app's revenue and user base size.
Likee - Competitors
Some of the main competitors of Likee are:
- TikTok
- Helo
- VMate
- Sharechat
- Roposo
If Likee is to maintain an indomitable lead, it has to focus on the enchanting factors of the video creation and user participation.
Likee - FAQs
Who is the founder of Likee?
Li Xueling and Jason Hu are the founders of Likee app.
Which country developed Likee App?
The parent organization of Likee's app is Singapore-based BIGO Technology, which is owned by Chinese Internet firm JOYY Inc.
When was Likee created?
Likee was founded in 2017.
Who is the Owner of Likee?
Likee is owned by Singapore-based BIGO Technology. JOYY Inc. is the parent company of BIGO.
Is Likee App same as Tik Tok?
Yes. Likee is similar to TikTok in the sense that it allows users to create short videos.
Is Likee also banned in India?
Yes. Likee App is among the 59 apps banned by the The Government of India. The ban also encompasses Tik Tok, UC News etc., for "engaging in activities prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order."
Is Likee Chinese app?
The parent organization of Likee app is Singapore-based Bigo Technology, which in turn is owned by Chinese Internet firm JOYY Inc.
