YY Group
YY Group operates YY Live, a Chinese live streaming platform for individual viewers and creators across music, gaming, dance, and outdoor content. Revenue comes from virtual currency gifting and VIP subscriptions, with expansion into Southeast Asia and enterprise AI.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersBeijing, China
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What YY Group does
YY Group Holding Limited operates YY Live (YY直播), a long-established interactive live streaming and social entertainment platform headquartered in Beijing, China. The platform is accessible via web (yy.com), PC client (YY语音/YY8), and mobile application (手机YY), and hosts a broad horizontal content mix spanning entertainment categories — music, dance, talk shows, outdoor/lifestyle, traditional MC performances, sports, and ACG/anime — alongside dedicated gaming channels for Honor of Kings, League of Legends, Valorant, and PUBG Mobile (Game for Peace). The platform's core technology centers on real-time interactive video broadcasting with viewer participation features including live chat, virtual gifting, and tiered VIP user systems, supported by a guild/agency (公会) creator management system that recruits, trains, and promotes streamers.
YY Group monetizes primarily through a virtual currency model in which users purchase YY coins/gold to send virtual gifts to streamers during live broadcasts, with creators receiving a revenue share, supplemented by recurring VIP membership subscriptions that unlock premium features and exclusive content. The platform operates on a direct-to-consumer model with no third-party resellers, distributing through its owned website and mobile applications to a long tail of individual viewers and content creators across multiple content verticals.
The company is actively pursuing strategic expansion beyond its China-centric consumer core. In October 2025 it partnered with Obita to integrate stablecoin payment infrastructure for cross-border gig-work payouts, with pilot programs planned for Southeast Asia and the Middle East. In December 2025 it entered a strategic partnership with Graymatics-SG Pte Ltd to distribute AI-powered video analytics solutions to enterprise customers in Singapore, and amended a $4 million registered direct offering to fund these initiatives. These moves signal a deliberate diversification into enterprise AI distribution and cross-border fintech infrastructure, layered on top of the established consumer live streaming business.
YY Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- YY Group
- Legal name
- YY Group Holding Limited
- Website
- https://yy.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- YY Group operates YY Live, a Chinese live streaming platform for individual viewers and creators across music, gaming, dance, and outdoor content. Revenue comes from virtual currency gifting and VIP subscriptions, with expansion into Southeast Asia and enterprise AI.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
YY Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Streaming Platform
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Creator Monetization & Tipping Platforms (MPACABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Monetization Analytics & A/B Testing (LTV, pricing, experimentation) (MPAFAJAL), Audio Social Monetization (Tips, Subscriptions, Gifting) (MPACAEAJ)
Keywords
Where YY Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Beijing
- HQ country
- China
- HQ region
- Asia
Markets served
YY Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Virtual Gift/Gold Currency System: The platform operates on a virtual currency model where users purchase YY coins/gold to send virtual gifts to streamers during live broadcasts. Content creators receive a share of the virtual gift revenue.
- Subscription/VIP Membership: Users can purchase VIP memberships and subscriptions for premium features, exclusive content access, and enhanced interactive privileges within the platform.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
YY Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
YY Group operates YY Live (YY直播), an interactive live streaming platform accessible via web (yy.com), PC desktop client (YY Voice / YY8 / YY语音), and mobile app (Mobile YY / 手机YY), offering real-time video broadcasts across entertainment categories (music, dance, talk shows, outdoor) and gaming titles (Honor of Kings, League of Legends, Valorant). Monetization is delivered through a virtual currency / virtual gifting system, VIP memberships, and creator monetization tools organized around a guild / agency (公会) system.
Product overview
YY Group operates YY直播 (YY Live), a comprehensive interactive live streaming platform that serves as a unified ecosystem connecting content creators with audiences across entertainment and gaming verticals. The platform is structured around a core streaming product accessible via web, PC client (YY语音/YY8), and mobile app (手机YY), hosting dozens of specialized content categories including music, dance performances, talk shows, outdoor/lifestyle content, appearance-based broadcasts, traditional Chinese MC performances, sports, and anime/ACG culture. On the gaming side, YY Live maintains dedicated channels for major titles including Honor of Kings, League of Legends, Valorant, Game for Peace (PUBG Mobile), and broader console/PC gaming content. The platform differentiates through real-time interactive features including live chat, virtual gifting, VIP/tiered user systems, and short-form video clips. Strategic partnerships with Graymatics (AI video analytics in Singapore) and Obita (stablecoin payment rails for cross-border gig-work payouts) extend the platform's technology capabilities into enterprise analytics and fintech domains.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- 手机YY: Mobile streaming application for smartphone users
- PC YY
Products and services
- YY Live (YY直播) Interactive live streaming platform hosting real-time video broadcasts across entertainment (music, dance, talk shows, outdoor) and gaming categories, with virtual gifting, VIP memberships, and creator monetization. Targeted at Chinese consumer viewers and content creators.
- YY Voice / YY8 (YY语音) Desktop PC client application delivering YY Group's live streaming and voice chat experience to PC users in China.
- Mobile YY (手机YY) Mobile application version of the YY Live platform, available on iOS and Android, providing on-the-go access to live entertainment and gaming streams for Chinese consumer viewers and creators.
- VIP Membership (YY Live) Recurring VIP subscription tier offered to YY Live viewers, providing enhanced access, privileges, and identity features on the live streaming platform.
Companies that use YY Group
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
YY Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature1 record
YY Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.
- Graymatics-SG Pte LtdstrategicYY Group Holding Limited and Graymatics-SG Pte Ltd entered into a strategic partnership for preferred distribution of Graymatics' AI-powered video analytics solutions in Singapore. The partnership aims to enable enterprises in various sectors to optimize operations and make data-driven decisions using intelligent analytics.
- ObitacoreYY Group partnered with Obita to integrate stablecoin payment infrastructure for cross-border operations. This collaboration aims to reduce costs, speed up settlement processes, and enhance operational efficiency across YY Group's global gig-work platform. The companies plan to pilot the system in Southeast Asia and the Middle East as part of their expansion strategy.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights5 records
YY Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Twitch: Amazon-owned live streaming platform centered on gaming and creator content with virtual gifting/subscription monetization. Most directly comparable to YY Live in product model and creator-economy mechanics, though globally oriented rather than China-focused.
- Douyin: ByteDance's Chinese short-video and live streaming platform; YY is explicitly named alongside it as a key China live streaming competitor. Competes head-to-head for streamer talent and viewer attention with superior recommendation algorithms and capital.
- Kuaishou: Major Chinese short-video and live streaming platform with strong gifting and creator monetization. Listed alongside YY as a key industry player and competes directly for the same Chinese mass-market live entertainment audience.
- Bilibili: Chinese video community platform combining on-demand video, ACG content, and live streaming with a strong tipping/gifting economy. Overlaps with YY on gaming (LoL, Valorant) and ACG categories and shares a similar creator-monetization model.
- Huya: Tencent-backed Chinese game live streaming platform. Directly competes with YY's gaming categories (Honor of Kings, LoL, PUBG Mobile) and operates a similar streamer-tipping and subscription monetization model.
- TikTok: ByteDance's global short-video and live streaming platform. Identified in YY's competitive set; competes for international creator/audience mindshare and is rapidly expanding live gifting features.
- Momo (Hello Group): Chinese social and live streaming platform (formerly Momo Inc.) with a similar virtual gifting and video-based dating/social monetization model. Comparable in scale and product overlap with YY's social live streaming segments.
- Inke: Chinese mobile live streaming app with a similar streamer-gifting monetization model and entertainment-focused content mix. A like-for-like competitor in the Chinese mobile live streaming category.
Broad incumbents
- YouTube Live: Google-owned video platform with a sizable live streaming component and Super Chat gifting feature. Competes indirectly as part of a much broader video portfolio rather than as a live-streaming specialist.
Regional players
- ShareChat/Moj: India-focused short-video and live streaming platform explicitly named alongside YY as a key industry player. Comparable in short-form/live streaming mechanics but operates in a different geography without direct head-to-head overlap in China.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
YY Group social profiles
Digital presenceYY Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
YY Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
YY Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
YY Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about YY Group
What does YY Group do?
YY Group operates YY Live (YY直播), an interactive live streaming platform accessible via web (yy.com), PC desktop client (YY Voice / YY8 / YY语音), and mobile app (Mobile YY / 手机YY), offering real-time video broadcasts across entertainment categories (music, dance, talk shows, outdoor) and gaming titles (Honor of Kings, League of Legends, Valorant). Monetization is delivered through a virtual currency / virtual gifting system, VIP memberships, and creator monetization tools organized around a guild / agency (公会) system.
Is YY Group a public or private company?
YY Group is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was YY Group founded?
YY Group was founded in 2008.
Where is YY Group based?
YY Group is headquartered in Beijing, China, in the Asia region.
How does YY Group make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Virtual Gift/Gold Currency System is the primary driver. The others are subscription/VIP Membership.
Who are YY Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Twitch, Douyin, Kuaishou, Bilibili, Huya, TikTok, Momo (Hello Group) and Inke. YouTube Live is listed as a broad incumbent. ShareChat/Moj is listed as a regional player.
Does YY Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for YY Group.
What industry is YY Group in?
YY Group's product category is Live Streaming Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACABAE, Creator Monetization & Tipping Platforms, with a secondary code of MPAFAJAL, Monetization Analytics & A/B Testing (LTV, pricing, experimentation). Its NAICS code is 516210 and its SIC code is 7990.