Weebly, a US-based company that enables users to develop their online presence, has secured $35m in a series C round funded by China-based internet service provider Tencent and venture capital firm Sequoia Capital.
Founded in 2007, Weebly provides people with the means to build their own websites, blogs or online shops. It raised a $650,000 round in 2007 that featured Baseline Ventures, Felicis Ventures and Maples Investments, while Sequoia invested an undisclosed sum in 2011.
Weebly CEO David Rusenko told the Wall Street Journal that the round valued Weebly at $455m. The cash will be used by the company to bring its service into new markets and to boost its research and development activities.
“The internet is changing the future of business and entrepreneurship. Never before have people been so empowered to build global businesses with huge flexibility,” said David Wallerstein, chairman of Tencent USA. “Weebly is driving this transition to a mobile-driven e-commerce world with a platform that is just so simple and intuitive to use.”