UCWeb, a China-based mobile internet software provider also known as UC Mobile, has raised $1.75m from a consortium including local electronic commerce provider Alibaba, according to database Crunchbase.
UCWeb said its investors were Alibaba; GGV Capital, a venture capital firm that had invested in Alibaba; Morningside Ventures, a family office on behalf of the Chan family; phone maker Nokia’s eponymous corporate venturing unit; and Ceyuan Ventures, an early-stage investment firm. Morningside and Ceyuan had first invested $10m in UCWeb in 2007 and were joined by Alibaba in a subsequent round in 2009.
Founded in 2004, UCWeb’s main product is an internet browser, UC Browser, available on more than 3,000 different models of cell phones from over 200 cell phone manufacturers and downloaded more than 1.5 billion times. UCWeb opened its first international office, in India, in September last year.