Yeecall

About Yeecall

Yeecall Network Limited is a technology company operating in the communication software industry, founded in 2014 by former Baidu director Lei Zhang. Based in Beijing, China, with R&D centers in both Beijing and Shenzhen, the company developed the Yeecall messenger app for video and voice calling. The firm positioned itself as a provider of high-quality internet calls, leveraging HD video and voice technology to offer an immersive communication experience. The initial application was launched on app stores in early 2015.

The Yeecall platform was designed to provide free and unblocked video and voice calls over various internet connections, including 2G, 3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi. Key features included conference calls for up to 20 people, group chats for up to 10,000 participants, real-time photo sharing, and a unique doodling function available during calls. The app also incorporated a 'Beauty Video Call' feature with a retouch filter to enhance user appearance during video chats. The service focused on providing stable connections through automatic detection and adjustment for connection speed and encrypted calls to ensure user privacy. The company's business model relied on offering these communication services for free, with revenue potentially generated through other means, although specifics on monetization are not detailed. Its target audience included a global user base, with a significant concentration of users from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam who were working in the Middle East, reaching nearly 40 million registered users by mid-2018.

Yeecall secured a total of $12 million in funding over two rounds, with its Series A round in April 2017 raising $12 million from investors including Addor Capital, Sinovation Ventures, and Zhen Fund. A subsequent strategic financing round in July 2018, led by Leo Digital Network, raised an additional $5 million. This capital was intended to establish a blockchain industry solution unit, signaling a strategic pivot to develop blockchain applications for sectors such as travel, medical care, and agriculture, and to offer low-cost cross-border money transfers. Despite its initial traction and funding, the company is now considered deadpooled.