Zego, a video conferencing platform developer backed by a former Tencent executive, has recruited the corporate to lead its latest round.

Internet group Tencent has led a $50m funding round for China-based voice and video conferencing tool developer Zego Technology, Bloomberg has reported.

The deal was filled out by venture capital group IDG Capital and VC firm Qiming Venture Partners.

Founded in 2015, Zego has built an audio and video communication platform that allows users to talk to each other in real time. The technology relies on a media codec to compress voice and video to prevent lag without sacrificing call quality.

The company’s TalkLine video conferencing product is used by enterprise customers as well as for online education and gaming, and which generates revenue through in-app purchases.

Zego employs about 400 people and says it has experienced growth on the back of remote working practices during the covid-19 pandemic. Its co-founder and chief executive Lin Youyao had previously headed Tencent’s QQ messaging division.

Youyao told the South China Morning Post that Zego would likely double its revenue this year, having turned a profit since 2016.

The company had received a “multi-million dollar” amount of series A funding from IDG Capital in 2016 and has said Qiming and Welight Capital took part in a series B round of undisclosed size, without disclosing further details.