Alibaba

Alibaba Group is one of the world's largest e-commerce and technology companies, founded in 1999 by Jack Ma in Hangzhou, China. The company operates major platforms including Taobao, Tmall, AliExpress, and Alibaba Cloud. Following a major 2023 restructuring into six independent business groups, Alibaba generates annual revenues exceeding $130 billion and employs over 200,000 people worldwide while maintaining leadership in Chinese e-commerce and growing its international presence.

Alibaba was founded in 1999 by Jack Ma, a former English teacher, along with 17 co-founders in a Hangzhou apartment. The company initially launched Alibaba.com as a B2B marketplace connecting Chinese manufacturers with overseas buyers. The platform filled a critical gap in China's early internet economy, enabling small and medium businesses to access global markets.

In 2003, Alibaba launched Taobao, a consumer-to-consumer marketplace that competed directly with eBay in China. Taobao's success — built on free listings and a deep understanding of Chinese consumer behavior — drove eBay out of the Chinese market by 2006. Alibaba subsequently launched Tmall in 2008 as a business-to-consumer platform for branded goods.

The company's ecosystem expanded with the creation of Alipay (2004), which became China's dominant digital payment platform, and Alibaba Cloud (2009), which grew into Asia's largest cloud computing provider. AliExpress launched in 2010 as an international retail marketplace.

Alibaba's 2014 NYSE IPO at $25 billion was a watershed moment for Chinese technology companies on the global stage. The company continued to expand through acquisitions and new ventures including Cainiao logistics network, Ele.me food delivery, and Lazada in Southeast Asia. In 2023, Alibaba announced a major corporate restructuring, splitting into six independent business groups to increase agility and unlock shareholder value.

Throughout 2024-2025, Alibaba focused on revitalizing growth in its core Chinese e-commerce markets while expanding international operations. The company invested heavily in artificial intelligence through its Tongyi Qianwen AI models and integrated AI capabilities across its e-commerce platforms to improve user experience and operational efficiency. Alibaba Cloud continued its global expansion, competing with Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure in international markets while maintaining leadership in Asia.

In 2025, Alibaba faced increased competition from Pinduoduo and ByteDance's TikTok Shop in Chinese e-commerce, leading to strategic price cuts and enhanced merchant support on Taobao and Tmall. The company also navigated regulatory challenges in both China and international markets, adapting its business practices to comply with evolving data privacy and antitrust regulations while pursuing growth opportunities in digital payments and cloud computing.