TikTok is a social media platform launched in 2016 by Chinese tech company ByteDance. ByteDance is a Beijing-based company that was founded in 2012, and has quickly become one of the largest and most successful tech companies in China. In addition to TikTok, ByteDance also owns several other popular social media platforms and services, including Toutiao, TopBuzz, and Duanzi.
ByteDance was founded by Zhang Yiming, who is currently the company's CEO. Zhang is a tech entrepreneur and investor who has been credited with building ByteDance into one of the most successful and innovative tech companies in China. Under Zhang's leadership, ByteDance has grown rapidly, and now has a global presence, with offices and operations in several countries around the world.
In addition to ByteDance, TikTok is also owned by several other investors and stakeholders. These include investment firms like KKR, General Atlantic, and Sequoia Capital, as well as tech giants like Tencent and SoftBank. Together, these investors and stakeholders have provided significant funding and support for TikTok, helping to fuel the platform's rapid growth and global expansion.