Meituan

Meituan is a leading Chinese technology company that operates a comprehensive platform for local services, including on-demand food delivery, in-store services, consumer reviews, hotel and travel bookings, and instant retail. It primarily serves consumers and local merchants by solving the problem of fragmented local service access through a unified digital platform that enhances convenience, choice, and efficiency. Meituan has demonstrated strong growth momentum, with over 200 million users by 2015 and expanding internationally with brands like KeeTa. It reported robust financial performance in early 2025, with revenues exceeding CNY 86 billion and significant net profits[1][2][3].

Founded in March 2010 by serial entrepreneur Wang Xing, Meituan began as a group-buying website inspired by Groupon’s model, aiming to connect consumers with local businesses through discounted deals. The founding team included Mu Rongjun, Liang Foxing, and Chen Mei Wah, who brought expertise in internet product development and user acquisition. Early traction came quickly as Meituan expanded from Beijing to major Chinese cities and diversified its offerings, notably launching its food delivery service Meituan Waimai in 2013. A pivotal moment was the 2015 merger with Dianping, which combined local services and consumer reviews into a dominant platform in China’s local services market[1][2][5].

Core Differentiators

• Comprehensive service ecosystem: Meituan integrates food delivery, hotel booking, movie ticketing, bike-sharing, and more, creating a one-stop lifestyle platform.
• Technology-driven logistics: It operates a large delivery network with over 530,000 daily active riders, using machine learning to optimize routing and dispatch.
• Strong market position: Meituan is China’s largest local services platform with hundreds of millions of users and a dominant share in multiple service categories.
• Continuous innovation: The company invests heavily in R&D and has expanded internationally with brands like KeeTa, alongside acquisitions such as AI startup Light Years Beyond.
• Data-driven local search + marketplace model: It connects consumers to merchants efficiently, leveraging rich content and user reviews to enhance decision-making[1][4][5].

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Meituan rides the global trend of O2O (online-to-offline) platforms and super-app ecosystems, where digital technology integrates multiple daily services into a single app. The timing aligns with rapid urbanization, growing middle-class consumption, and increasing demand for convenience in China and beyond. Market forces such as mobile internet penetration, digital payment adoption, and consumer preference for on-demand services favor Meituan’s growth. Its influence extends by setting a model for service economy platforms globally, inspiring similar companies in India, Latin America, and Southeast Asia[4][6].

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Looking ahead, Meituan is poised to deepen its international expansion, enhance AI-driven logistics and personalized services, and further integrate retail and lifestyle offerings under its “Retail + Technology” strategy. Trends such as AI, smart logistics, and cross-border e-commerce will shape its journey. As it evolves, Meituan’s influence may grow beyond China, potentially becoming a global leader in the service economy super-app space, continuing to redefine how consumers access local services and goods[1][3][6]. This trajectory ties back to its founding vision of helping people "eat better, live better" through technology-enabled convenience and choice.