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Dotc United

Marketing · Huangpu, China · Founded 2015

Established in Shanghai in 2015 by founder Yi Shi, DotC United Group is a technology company focused on developing and monetizing mobile applications for the global market. The company's name was inspired by a Steve Jobs' commencement speech about connecting the dots. Yi Shi, a Chinese-German tech entrepreneur, previously founded Avazu Inc., a marketing technology firm, and his experience in programmatic advertising laid the groundwork for DotC's global ambitions. He has been recognized multiple times by Forbes' "30 Under 30" and Fortune's "40 Under 40" for his contributions to the tech industry. DotC United has demonstrated significant fundraising capabilities, securing a $45M Series A round in July 2016 and a substantial $350M Series B round in June 2017. The Series B round was led by Dalian Zeus Entertainment, which, as part of the deal, converted its wholly-owned subsidiary, Avazu Inc., into a subsidiary of DotC United, making Zeus Entertainment the second-largest shareholder while Shi Yi remained the actual controller. This strategic move valued DotC United as a "unicorn" company with a valuation surpassing $1 billion by 2017. The company's business model is centered on two primary pillars: global application development and programmatic advertising. It creates a portfolio of mobile utility applications, such as input apps, system security, and network security tools, which are offered to a worldwide user base. By the end of March 2017, its suite of applications had already amassed 450 million users globally. Key products include 'Swift WiFi', a WiFi sharing platform, and 'Flash Keyboard', a customizable Android keyboard, both of which have been featured on Google's global recommendation lists. The monetization strategy involves leveraging this large user base through programmatic advertising and providing business intelligence solutions. More recently, the company has expanded its offerings to include Marketing-as-a-Service (MaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) products like FlashClick Partnership Cloud for managing distribution partners and FlashCloud for B2B revenue intelligence. Keywords: mobile application developer, programmatic advertising, ad-tech, marketing technology, global apps, business intelligence, SaaS, MaaS, user monetization, Android applications, Swift WiFi, Flash Keyboard, mobile globalization, unicorn, venture capital, data-driven marketing, CTW (China to World), mobile utility apps, app monetization, user acquisition