Kunlun Tech
In short: Kunlun Tech is a Chinese games company founded in 2008 by Zhou Yahui and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2015. It bought a 60 per cent stake in Grindr in 2016 and the remainder in 2018, then agreed in March 2020 to sell Grindr to San Vicente Acquisition LLC for about $608 million after a US government panel required a sale.
Key facts
| Type | Dating platform |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | China |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founded | Kunlun Tech was founded in 2008 by Zhou Yahui and is one of China's largest web game developers [Wikipedia, 2008] |
| Fact | Kunlun Tech listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2015 [Wikipedia, 2015] |
| Acquisition | Completed the purchase of a 60 per cent controlling stake in Grindr [Wikipedia, January 2016] |
| Acquisition | Bought a majority stake in Grindr in 2016 for $93 million and the rest in 2018, without submitting either deal for CFIUS review, according to CNBC [CNBC, March 2020] |
| Fact | CFIUS required Kunlun to divest its Grindr ownership [Wikipedia, March 2019] |
| Acquisition | Agreed to sell its 98.59 per cent stake in Grindr to San Vicente Acquisition LLC for about $608.5 million [CNBC, March 2020] |
| Fact | Described as the Chinese gaming company that owned Grindr until 2020 [Dating Industry Insights, 22 June 2026] |
About Kunlun Tech
Kunlun Tech, also known as Beijing Kunlun Tech or Kunlun Wanwei, is a Chinese company that began as a web game developer. It was founded in 2008 by Zhou Yahui, who was chairman and chief executive until 2020. It distributes and sells video games in China, including through its GameArk app, and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2015.
The company matters to the dating industry because of its ownership of Grindr. Kunlun completed the purchase of a 60 per cent controlling stake in the LGBTQ+ dating app in January 2016, reportedly for $93 million. CNBC reported that Kunlun bought the rest in 2018 and that neither deal was submitted for review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
In March 2019 CFIUS required Kunlun to divest its Grindr holding, and the panel set a June 2020 deadline. In March 2020 Kunlun announced the sale of its 98.59 per cent stake to San Vicente Acquisition LLC for about $608.5 million. Dating Industry Insights describes Kunlun as the Chinese gaming company that owned Grindr until 2020.
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Questions about Kunlun Tech
Who is Kunlun?
Kunlun Tech is a Chinese games company founded in 2008 by Zhou Yahui. It listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2015.
Did Kunlun own Grindr?
Yes. Kunlun completed the purchase of a 60 per cent stake in Grindr in January 2016 and later bought the rest. It agreed to sell Grindr to San Vicente Acquisition LLC in March 2020 for about $608 million.
Why did Kunlun sell Grindr?
In March 2019 the US Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States required Kunlun to divest Grindr. The panel set a June 2020 deadline.
What does Kunlun Tech do?
Kunlun Tech is a Chinese games company founded in 2008 by Zhou Yahui and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2015.
Where is Kunlun Tech based?
Kunlun Tech is based in China.
When was Kunlun Tech founded?
Kunlun Tech was founded in 2008.
Also known as: Beijing Kunlun Tech, Kunlun, Kunlun Group, Kunlun Wanwei.