VMate

About VMate

VMate operates as a social video sharing platform, initially launched in September 2016 by UCWeb, a subsidiary of the Alibaba Group. The company was founded by Cheng Daofang. Originally focused on featuring online movies, the platform transitioned to prioritize short-form videos created by its user base. This strategic shift positioned VMate in the competitive social video space, particularly targeting the Indian market.

The platform's business model is centered on an attention-based framework, generating revenue through advertisements and monetizing user-generated content. VMate provides a mobile application available for Android devices that allows users to create, edit, and share short videos. Key features include a variety of editing tools, special effects, stickers, and music options to enhance video creation. The application also facilitates video downloading from other social media sites, enabling offline viewing. It supports multiple languages and offers personalized video recommendations to its users.

In May 2019, VMate secured a significant funding round of $100 million from its parent entity, the Alibaba Digital Media and Entertainment Business Group. This investment was aimed at scaling its operations and strengthening its market presence in India. At its peak, the platform reported having around 30 million users globally. The company also engaged in strategic partnerships, such as a collaboration with the Indian dance reality show 'Nach Baliye 9', to boost user engagement. However, some sources indicate that the company is now considered deadpooled.