Kika Tech

What Kika Tech does

Kika Tech is a mobile communications software company that builds an AI-powered keyboard application — the Kika Emoji Keyboard — distributed globally through Google Play, the Apple App Store, and OEM pre-installation arrangements. The core product uses an AI engine for predictive text, intelligent autocorrect, voice-to-text input, and predictive emoji, sticker, and GIF recommendations, with support for 150+ languages. The company was founded in 2011, operates a primary legal entity in Beijing (北京新美互通科技有限公司, Beijing Xinmei Hutong Technology Co., Ltd.), and is headquartered in San Jose, California, with additional offices in Taipei, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Gurgaon, and Bangalore. Kika claims 500M+ cumulative device installs and 60M monthly active users, and ranks #1 in the Productivity category on Google Play in the United States and top 5 in 62 countries.

The business model is freemium on the consumer side — the keyboard app is free, monetized through a marketplace of premium themes (Love Heart Neon, Gold Diamond, etc.), in-app advertising via the Kika Ads Platform, and content licensing deals with movie studios and sports franchises including Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Wonder Woman, and Minions. On the B2B side, the Global IME Service provides OEM-grade keyboard, font, handwriting, and voice input customization in 90+ languages across Android, Linux, KaiOS, and WinCE, with deployment partners including OPPO, Vivo, Xiaomi, Hisense, Panasonic, and TCL. Sub-brands HyFont (font customization), Kika TV, and Kika Watch extend the keyboard technology into adjacent device surfaces.

Kika has raised approximately $63.6 million across two disclosed venture rounds in 2016 (a $30M Series B led by Hongdao Capital and a $33M Series B+ led by Cheetah Mobile with China Prosperity Capital, Five Stars Capital, and QianKunHanHai). The company is founder-led by Bill Hu (CEO) and remains privately held with no parent company, acquisition, or IPO signals in the public record.

Name

Kika Tech

Legal name

北京新美互通科技有限公司 (Beijing Xinmei Hutong Technology Co., Ltd.)

Website

https://kikatech.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Kika Tech builds an AI-powered mobile keyboard (Kika Keyboard) with 60M monthly active users and 500M+ cumulative installs, supporting 150+ languages. It monetizes via freemium themes, advertising, IP licensing (sports/entertainment), and B2B Global IME services for OEMs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile Keyboard Software

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Voice Assistants & Voice UI (VUI) (HDAAAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Translation, Language Accessibility & Reading Support Tools (e.g., TTS, Captions, Immersive Reader) (EDAFAOAL)

Keywords

• AI-powered keyboard app
• Mobile input method editor
• Emoji and sticker messaging
• Multilingual keyboard software
• OEM keyboard customization

Headquarters

HQ city

San Jose

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Advertising: Kika operates the Kika Ads Platform to serve online advertisements to users of its keyboard and supported applications. The platform collects analytics information and uses tracking technologies including cookies to deliver targeted, interest-based advertisements from the company and its partners.
2. Premium Theme Sales: Kika offers a marketplace of keyboard themes including signature products like Love Heart Neon, Gold Diamond, Cute Cartoon Unicorn, and Sakura Floral themes available for purchase through the Google Play Store.
3. Content Licensing & IP Partnerships: Kika generates revenue through licensing agreements with movie studios and sports teams (Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Wonder Woman, Minions) to create branded keyboard themes, stickers, and content that appeals to their fan bases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Kika Tech develops and operates the Kika Keyboard, an AI-powered mobile keyboard application providing predictive text, intelligent autocorrect, voice typing, emojis, stickers, GIFs, and 1000+ customizable themes across 150+ languages. The company also offers the Kika Global IME Service, an enterprise Input Method Editor (IME) customization platform supporting 90+ languages on Android, Linux, KaiOS, and WinCE for smart device manufacturers, plus the HyFont font customization service.

Product overview

Kika Tech offers a suite of communication-enrichment products centered on its flagship Kika Emoji Keyboard app (500M+ users), complemented by enterprise solutions (Global IME Service for 90+ languages on Android, Linux, KaiOS, WinCE), font customization (HyFont), and premium theme packs (Signature Keyboard Themes). The core keyboard provides predictive text, voice input, emojis, stickers, and GIFs across mobile and smart devices, while the Global IME Service targets OEM and device manufacturers seeking customizable input solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HyFont: Font customization service for global languages
• Kika Global IME Service
• Kika Ads Platform

Products and services

• Kika Emoji Keyboard Flagship mobile keyboard application providing emoji, stickers, GIFs, themes, and AI-powered predictive text input. Available on Android and iOS, rated #1 on Google Play Store in the United States with 500M+ cumulative installs and 60M monthly active users. Supports 150+ languages.
• Kika Global IME Service Enterprise turnkey Input Method Editor customization platform providing keyboard, font, handwriting, and voice input customization for smart device manufacturers including smart TVs, feature phones, wearables, telematics, and IoT devices. Supports 90+ languages on multiple OS platforms.
• HyFont Font customization service allowing users to personalize their keyboard with custom fonts across multiple languages, part of Kika's broader keyboard personalization ecosystem.
• Voice Board for Android AI-powered voice typing keyboard application for Android devices enabling hands-free text input via speech recognition.
• Kika Indian Keyboard Android keyboard supporting 30+ Indian languages, expanded localization offering for the Indian market.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500M+ cumulative device installations
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability8 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered regional, flagship, core and minor.

• San Jose SharksregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 October 2017Corporate partnership announced with NHL's San Jose Sharks for branded content and local community engagement.
• FC BarcelonaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 August 2017FC Barcelona unveiled Kika-powered keyboard app with branded themes and stickers for fan engagement.
• Real MadridflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 August 2017Kika Tech announced official partnership with Real Madrid football club to provide branded keyboard themes and stickers for the team's global fan base.
• GIPHYcoreTechnology or Integration · 27 June 2017Kika partnered with GIPHY to expand its GIF library, integrating GIPHY's GIF search engine into the Kika Emoji Keyboard app for enhanced content discovery.
• TenorcoreTechnology or IntegrationGIF search integration through Tenor's legal terms and privacy policies for enhanced GIF content in the keyboard app.
• GSMAminorOthersKika was nominated by GSMA for the Global Mobile Awards 2018 at Mobile World Congress.
• OPPOcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerDevice manufacturer partnership for pre-installation and keyboard customization services on OPPO smartphones.
• VivocoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerDevice manufacturer partnership for pre-installation and keyboard customization services on Vivo smartphones.
• XiaomicoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerDevice manufacturer partnership for pre-installation and keyboard customization services on Xiaomi smartphones.
• HisenseminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerSmart TV and device manufacturer partnership for IME and keyboard solutions.
• PanasonicminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerElectronics manufacturer partnership for keyboard and font customization services.
• TCLminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerConsumer electronics manufacturer partnership for keyboard solutions on smart devices.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SwiftKey (Microsoft): One of the most prominent third-party AI keyboard apps, acquired by Microsoft in 2016 and now pre-installed on many Android devices. Direct competitor to Kika with predictive text, multilingual support, and similar consumer keyboard positioning.
• Sogou Keyboard: Major Chinese AI keyboard input method and explicit reference competitor in Kika's company history. Operates a similar consumer keyboard + IME service model with strong Chinese market presence.
• CooTek (TouchPal): Mobile keyboard app developer offering AI-powered typing, themes, and emoji/sticker content. Competes directly with Kika in the consumer keyboard app category with similar freemium monetization.
• Grammarly Keyboard: AI-powered keyboard extension providing writing assistance, autocorrect, and tone suggestions across mobile apps. Competes with Kika on the AI-powered typing experience layer.

Broad incumbents

• Gboard (Google): Google's first-party AI keyboard pre-installed on Android devices, offering predictive text, GIF search, multilingual typing, and voice input. The dominant platform-native competitor that limits third-party keyboard market opportunity.
• Tencent: Owns Sogou and QQ Pinyin input methods and integrates keyboard functionality across WeChat and QQ ecosystems. A broader incumbent whose integrated keyboard + messaging stack competes with Kika's content partnerships and multilingual features.

Emerging players

• Bobble AI: India-focused AI keyboard with strong regional language support, stickers, and emoji. Closely comparable to Kika's India strategy and emerging-market keyboard positioning.
• Fleksy: AI-powered virtual keyboard SDK and consumer app with predictive text and customizable themes. Targets similar AI keyboard developer and OEM licensing opportunities as Kika's Global IME Service.
• Typewise: Privacy-focused AI keyboard app emphasizing on-device text prediction. Competes in the AI keyboard space with a differentiated privacy-first positioning relevant to Kika's category risks.
• Hike (Rush/StickerChat): India-based messaging platform with sticker and keyboard features targeting the same multilingual emerging-market consumer segment where Kika launched its Indian Keyboard offering.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kikakeyboard
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC28Ifyn1Jr--YaaVBoDBgmA
• Facebookfacebook.com/KikaKeyboard?ref=hl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kika-tech-inc-?trk=biz-companies-cym
• Instagraminstagram.com/kikakeyboard

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments6 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kika Tech