Tencent, the China-based internet company that owns instant messaging service WeChat, invested $50m in Canada-based messaging app developer Kik yesterday at a $1bn valuation.
Founded in 2009, Kik operates a messaging app it claims has some 240 million users. The company will use Tencent’s series D funding to build out the messenger to an ecosystem of apps, similar to WeChat’s service, which includes the ability to pay bills, follow celebrities and book taxis.
Kik has disclosed approximately $116m in total…
