How did ByteDance start?

ByteDance was founded in March 2012 by Zhang Yiming, who envisioned a company that would harness the power of technology to improve content discovery and dissemination. The company's first product was a news aggregation app called Toutiao, which utilized artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze user behavior and preferences, presenting personalized news feeds. This innovative approach quickly gained traction in China, attracting millions of users and establishing ByteDance as a major player in the tech industry. As ByteDance grew, it expanded its portfolio by launching various applications, including Douyin, which is the Chinese version of TikTok, in September 2016. The international version, simply known as TikTok, was introduced later in 2017 and became a global sensation, allowing users to create and share short videos set to music. ByteDance's success can be attributed to its continuous focus on leveraging data and algorithms to create engaging user experiences across diverse platforms. The company has since evolved into one of the leading technology firms worldwide, emphasizing innovation and creativity in the digital content space.