36Kr

Chinese business/tech media, operating under PRC censorship rules

Background

36Kr was founded in 2010 by Liu Chengcheng as a blog covering technology startups, modeled loosely on U.S. outlets like TechCrunch, and grew into one of China's most-read business and tech news platforms. It expanded into venture capital data services, event hosting, and co-working space rentals (Kr Space) before narrowing its focus back to media and information services. The company attracted investment from major Chinese financial and tech players, including Ant Financial (now Ant Group), Matrix Partners China, China Securities, and China Merchants Group, reflecting close ties to China's established financial and tech establishment. It went public on Nasdaq in November 2019 under the ticker KRKR, becoming one of the few Chinese media companies with U.S.-listed shares. Revenue has declined in recent years (from roughly RMB340 million in 2023 to about RMB231 million in 2024), driven mainly by online advertising. As a mainland China-based outlet, 36Kr operates under Chinese government content regulations and self-censorship norms common to domestic Chinese media, meaning its reporting on politically sensitive topics — including U.S.-China relations — generally stays within boundaries acceptable to Chinese authorities, even though its day-to-day coverage centers on startups, venture funding, and industry trends rather than geopolitics.

Sources

1. 36Kr Further Expands Global Reach, Bringing Awareness of China's Economy Worldwide
2. Chinese tech media site 36Kr Holdings goes public on Nasdaq - Xinhua
3. 36Kr Holdings Inc. Reports Unaudited Financial Results for the Second Half and Fiscal Year 2024
4. 36Kr Holdings (KRKR) Company Profile & Description
5. 36Kr - Products, Competitors, Financials, Employees, Headquarters Locations - CB Insights

Profile compiled 2026-09-28; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.

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