Alibaba Group was founded in 1999 by 18 people led by Jack Ma, a former English teacher from Hangzhou, China. It began as an online wholesale marketplace for small Chinese exporters and entrepreneurs to reach global buyers. Alibaba is a Chinese multinational conglomerate that operates across e-commerce, cloud computing, digital media, and financial technology (“fintech”). Headquartered in Hangzhou, China, Alibaba is probably best known for its e-commerce activities that span various online marketplaces including Alibaba.com, AliExpress.com, Taobao, and Tmall. Launched in 1999 as the first business of Alibaba Group, Alibaba.com has evolved into a leading platform for global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce. During fiscal year 2024, Alibaba.com served more than 48 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from over 190 countries and regions, providing them with a holistic suite of trading services encompassing sourcing, online transaction, digital marketing, supply chain fulfillment and after-sales support. Alibaba.com is actively ... Alibaba Group is a holding company of six major business groups, including Alibaba.com, the global B2B marketplace. Learn about Alibaba's mission, how to get started as a seller or a buyer on Alibaba.com, and key terms and companies under Alibaba Group.