265 Network

What 265 Network does

265 Network (265上网导航) is a privately held Beijing-based Chinese internet navigation portal founded in 2007 (with a 2004 IDG Capital seed round) that operates a free web directory organizing thousands of external websites into categories including news, entertainment, shopping, finance, education, sports, gaming, travel, technology, and lifestyle. The core product is a curated, browser-homepage-style landing page (265.com) with a parallel mobile-optimized version (265.com/m/) that aggregates external links, embeds Baidu search verticals (web, news, maps, video, encyclopedia, shopping), surfaces trending search queries, and offers weather widgets and a "recently visited sites" history. Underlying technology is a server-rendered, HTML-based directory with no disclosed APIs, SDKs, AI/ML components, or mobile app — the differentiator is ease-of-use categorisation rather than proprietary technology.

The business model is advertising-led and B2C-free at the user level: end users access 265.com at no cost (and are explicitly prompted to set it as their browser homepage), while revenue is generated through display advertising and sponsored/affiliate links distributed across category pages (links to JD, Tmall, Ctrip, Decathlon, and similar commerce properties carry visible affiliate redirect patterns). The customer base is a horizontal, mass-market segment of general Chinese-speaking internet users seeking a centralized starting point for daily browsing; the company has no disclosed enterprise customers, B2B contracts, paid subscriptions, or named advertisers. Operational footprint is small (11–50 employees), with no documented parent company, no post-2004 disclosed funding, no M&A history, no leadership changes on record beyond CEO Wensheng Cai, and no geographic expansion beyond mainland China.

Name

265 Network

Legal name

265上网导航

Website

https://265.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

265 Network operates a free Chinese web navigation portal (265.com) that organizes thousands of external websites into categorized directories for general internet users, generating revenue through display advertising and sponsored links rather than user fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

265 Network (265上网导航) operates a free Chinese-language web directory and navigation portal that aggregates and categorizes links to thousands of popular Chinese websites across verticals such as news, entertainment, sports, gaming, shopping, finance, banking, travel, technology, education, health, literature, music, and lifestyle. Users can set the portal as their browser homepage to gain one-click access to frequently visited sites, and the service is monetized through advertising and sponsored link placements. A mobile-responsive version (265网址导航) is also offered for smartphone and tablet users.

Product overview

265 Network operates a web directory platform consisting of 265上网导航 (desktop version) and 265网址导航 (mobile version). The platform serves as a comprehensive internet navigation hub that categorizes and links to thousands of websites across diverse categories including news, entertainment, sports, gaming, shopping, finance, education, technology, and lifestyle services. Users can customize their homepage, manage bookmarks, and access weather information through the platform's integrated tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 265上网导航 (265 Web Navigation)
• 265网址导航 (Mobile Version)

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about 265 Network