Kingsoft Network Science

The company's initial focus was on mobile internet security and utility applications, designed to make the mobile experience faster and safer. Its business model primarily revolves around providing free utility applications to a massive user base and generating revenue through in-app advertising. This portfolio includes well-known applications like Clean Master and CM Security. The firm serves a global audience, with a significant user base in emerging markets. Revenue streams were historically tied to advertising policies from major platforms. Over the years, the company diversified its offerings to include mobile gaming, entering into agreements to operate and distribute games, such as those from its parent company, Kingsoft. This involved a revenue-sharing model and licensing fees.

A significant milestone was its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in May 2014, which raised $168 million and provided capital for global expansion. Kingsoft and Tencent were major investors at the time of the IPO. Following the IPO, Cheetah Mobile made several strategic acquisitions, including the French mobile advertising firm MobPartner in 2015 and the news aggregator News Republic in 2016. More recently, the company has pivoted its strategy towards artificial intelligence and the industrial internet. This shift involved creating a subsidiary, OrionStar, in 2016 to focus on AI and robotics. Cheetah Mobile has since developed a range of AI-powered products, including service robots, smart speakers, and translation devices, in collaboration with OrionStar, aiming to empower various industries with its technology.