Contents
Jack Ma
Co-founding Alibaba and helping expand online commerce in China.
Alibaba · Taobao
- Born
- 10 September 1964
- Birthplace
- Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
More people
Jack Ma
A former English teacher who became a prominent technology entrepreneur. His businesses connected merchants and consumers through marketplaces and digital payments.
Early life
Learning English
Practised English with visitors to Hangzhou as a young man.
Teaching
Graduated in English in 1988 and taught before building internet businesses.
Career
- 1995
Early internet venture
Launched China Pages after encountering the internet abroad.
- 1999
Alibaba
Co-founded an online business-to-business marketplace with a team in Hangzhou.
- 2003–2004
Consumer services
Expanded through Taobao and Alipay.
- 2019
Chairmanship ends
Stepped down as Alibaba executive chairman.
Companies & projects
Alibaba
Connected businesses and suppliers online.
Taobao
Created a consumer marketplace aimed at Chinese users.
Alipay
Introduced a payment service that helped address trust in online transactions.
Beyond work
Education philanthropy
Founded the Jack Ma Foundation, including programmes for rural teachers.
Regulatory conflict
Authorities halted Ant Group’s planned listing in 2020 after his public criticism of financial regulation.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Photo: Foundations World Economic Forum. CC BY 2.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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