China-born audio networking app Tiya sets up Singapore headquarters

TikTok will be the most profitable app that has emerged from China and is making spectacular worldwide inroads, however there’s a host of smaller leisure apps inbuilt China which can be additionally replicating their fashions abroad.

Tiya is one in every of them. Born out of Chinese language podcasting platform Lizhi, it presents an audio-based, real-time networking expertise. Sounds acquainted? Sure, Tiya has been in comparison with Clubhouse. And due to the Clubhouse fad final 12 months, Lizhi noticed its inventory skyrocket in spring 2021.

However the thought behind Tiya predates Clubhouse’s rise (and fall). The app launched in 2019 and attracts fairly a unique crowd, a lot of whom use it to talk whereas taking part in video games collectively. Its mum or dad Lizhi, based in 2013, included interactive options into audio content material early on, permitting listeners to message and buy digital items for creators. The enterprise mannequin of promoting digital objects rapidly turned out to be a income driver.

Over the previous three years, Tiya has steadily gained traction within the U.S., its debut market, and it’s now able to double down on its worldwide growth. The app introduced at this time that it has arrange a ten,000-square-foot headquarters in Singapore, nestling alongside company giants like Yahoo and Goldman Sachs within the central enterprise district.

With the workplace opening, the app will change into out there for obtain in Singapore as early as Q1 this 12 months. Worldwide, Tiya has amassed practically 20 million downloads, although it’s unclear what number of are lively customers.

Organising store abroad is a pure transfer for Chinese language tech companies with a rising worldwide footprint. Take TikTok. Because it took off world wide, the video sharing app started considerably ramping up its operational power outdoors China. It’s additionally storing consumer knowledge in Singapore, it claims, as considerations over knowledge safety rise amongst Western regulators. China’s new knowledge safety regulation can be tightening how firms can transfer knowledge overseas, so it could be in firms’ curiosity to isolate their home and abroad knowledge.

Tiya’s Singapore head workplace will host departments for features like massive knowledge, human sources, consumer analysis, administration and operation, a staff that may assist its “know-how platform and product improvement plans,” the corporate mentioned in an announcement. It’s aiming to have a “totally operational staff” within the city-state by the tip of 2022 and plans to “progressively launch its newest model of the app world wide.” As a part of its hiring effort, it’s signed a partnership with the Nanyang Technological College to recruit graduates.

“We’re assured that with the introduction of Tiya in Singapore and with our native staff of world-class abilities, we will obtain better success within the area,” says Marco Lai, chairman of Tiya and founding father of Lizhi.