Early Life and Education
Zhou Yahui was born in February 1977 in Lijiang, Yunnan, China. He received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1999 and a master's degree in optical engineering in 2006, both from Tsinghua University in Beijing. His early career began with a website called Vulcan Net, a platform dedicated to uploading animations created primarily by students.
Rise to Success
In 2008, Zhou founded Kunlun Tech Co Ltd (formerly Beijing Kunlun Tech Co Ltd). Zhou served as executive director and general manager from March 2008 to March 2011, and then as chairman and CEO. Under his leadership, Kunlun Tech became a major web game developer in China. The company went public on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2015.
Key Business Strategies
Zhou's strategies included a global-first approach, expanding into markets like Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. Kunlun Tech's strategic acquisitions include a 60% controlling stake in the gay dating app Grindr in January 2016. In early 2016, a consortium of investors, including Beijing Kunlun, acquired Opera Software, with Beijing Kunlun holding effective control. Zhou has served as chairman and CEO of Opera since 2016. In 2018, Zhou took a step into Africa by launching OPay, a fintech platform.
Philanthropy
Details of his philanthropy are not readily available. He has, however, shown commitment to the expansion of China's digital footprint globally through strategic acquisitions.