WeChat maker Tencent invests in China’s hottest new social app

Photo credit: Lisa Verhas.

One of China’s most unique social apps has just won funding from social media giant Tencent, which makes the smash hit WeChat messaging app.

Fenda, where users pay experts and celebrities for answers to their queries, now has what it calls “series A-plus” funding of an undisclosed amount to help it grow, writes China Money Network. It comes nearly five months after its first major round of funding, worth US$25 million.

Getting an answer from a big movie star will set you back almost 500 bucks.

Tencent executive Xia Yao describes Fenda as “one of the most important knowledge sharing platforms in China.” The startup has apps for iPhone and Android, and it also works fully within its WeChat brand account.

The unusual Q&A app gained a lot of traction and visibility over the summer as a number of Chinese celebrities joined the social network, including movie star Zhang Ziyi. China’s richest son, Wang Sicong, also joined the fun by answering a bunch of user questions, including about his sex life, for increasing exorbitant sums of money, reported my colleague Charlie Custer in June. Wang is an investor in Fenda.

Pricing is set by the individual answering the question so it varies according to how famous that person is. Picking the brain of well-known sexologist Li Yinhe will cost you around US$40, but asking Zhang Ziyi something will set you back almost US$500.

Zhang Ziyi in action. GIF credit: Le Belle Verita.

All the answers are recorded as voice messages. The responses will cost you about US$0.15 to listen to.

There are plenty of entertaining questions on Fenda, but there are also plenty of more serious, Quora-style stuff, particularly those asked of respected academics or investors.

Highlighting the dangers of running a social media company in China, Fenda was on lockdown for several weeks at the behest of authorities in August before reopening, with some content deleted, in September.

Converted from Chinese yuan. Rate: US$1 = RMB 6.92.

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from Tech in Asia https://www.techinasia.com/tencent-invests-fenda-social-app
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