Kika Tech
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersSan Jose, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
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.
Kika Tech firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Kika Tech industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Kika Tech is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Jose
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
Kika Tech business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free Base App - Core keyboard functionality with basic themes |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Premium Themes - Signature keyboard themes with unique designs |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Global IME Service B2B Solutions |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels11 records
Kika Tech product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Kika Tech
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Kika Tech technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
AI capability8 records
Feature6 records
Kika Tech partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered regional, flagship, core and minor.
- San Jose SharksregionalCorporate partnership announced with NHL's San Jose Sharks for branded content and local community engagement.
- FC BarcelonaflagshipFC Barcelona unveiled Kika-powered keyboard app with branded themes and stickers for fan engagement.
- Real MadridflagshipKika Tech announced official partnership with Real Madrid football club to provide branded keyboard themes and stickers for the team's global fan base.
- GIPHYcoreKika partnered with GIPHY to expand its GIF library, integrating GIPHY's GIF search engine into the Kika Emoji Keyboard app for enhanced content discovery.
- TenorcoreGIF search integration through Tenor's legal terms and privacy policies for enhanced GIF content in the keyboard app.
- GSMAminorKika was nominated by GSMA for the Global Mobile Awards 2018 at Mobile World Congress.
- OPPOcoreDevice manufacturer partnership for pre-installation and keyboard customization services on OPPO smartphones.
- VivocoreDevice manufacturer partnership for pre-installation and keyboard customization services on Vivo smartphones.
- XiaomicoreDevice manufacturer partnership for pre-installation and keyboard customization services on Xiaomi smartphones.
- HisenseminorSmart TV and device manufacturer partnership for IME and keyboard solutions.
- PanasonicminorElectronics manufacturer partnership for keyboard and font customization services.
- TCLminorConsumer electronics manufacturer partnership for keyboard solutions on smart devices.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Kika Tech competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Kika Tech social profiles
Digital presenceKika Tech compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Kika Tech financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kika Tech leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Kika Tech funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kika Tech M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments6 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kika Tech
What does Kika Tech do?
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.
Is Kika Tech a public or private company?
Kika Tech is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Kika Tech founded?
Kika Tech was founded in 2011. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Kika Tech based?
Kika Tech is headquartered in San Jose, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kika Tech make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Advertising is the primary driver. The others are premium Theme Sales and content Licensing & IP Partnerships.
Who are Kika Tech's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SwiftKey (Microsoft), Sogou Keyboard, CooTek (TouchPal) and Grammarly Keyboard. Broad incumbents are Gboard (Google) and Tencent. Emerging players are Bobble AI, Fleksy, Typewise and Hike (Rush/StickerChat).
Does Kika Tech have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kika Tech.
What industry is Kika Tech in?
Kika Tech's product category is Mobile Keyboard Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAAAFAD, Voice Assistants & Voice UI (VUI), with a secondary code of EDAFAOAL, Translation, Language Accessibility & Reading Support Tools (e.g., TTS, Captions, Immersive Reader). Its NAICS code is 541511 and its SIC code is 7371.