China-based online food ordering platform Ele.me has raised $350m in a series E round featuring internet company Tencent and e-commerce companies JD.com and Dianping, Technode reported today.
The round, which also included Citic PE, the private equity subsidiary of financial services firm Citic Capital, and venture capital firm Sequoia Capital, followed an $80m investment by online restaurant listings provider Dianping in May 2014.
Founded in 2009, Ele.me initially focused on the student market but is diversifying into wealthier professional users. The company, which recorded more than 110 million orders from a 20 million-strong user base in 2014, will use part of the funding to build in an internal logistics system
Ele.me previously raised $25m in a 2013 series C round backed by Sequoia, Matrix Partners and GSR Ventures, and undisclosed sums from its Matrix and GSR-backed series A and B rounds.
Tencent reportedly owns about 20% of Dianping, and holds a stake of around 18% in JD according to a regulatory filing last month. All three are expected to form or heighten strategic partnerships with Ele.me’s service after the transaction.