PDD Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PDD) is a Shanghai-based e-commerce company best known for its flagship mobile platform Pinduoduo, which uses a social group-buying model to connect manufacturers, farmers and consumers directly. By integrating interactive features such as team purchase incentives and social sharing, the company aims to lower costs, improve agricultural supply chain efficiencies and offer a wide selection of consumer goods at competitive prices.
The company was founded in 2015 by internet entrepreneur Colin Huang, who leveraged emerging mobile‐commerce trends and social networking channels in China to build rapid user adoption. PDD’s platform quickly gained traction among users in lower-tier cities and rural areas, complementing existing e-commerce ecosystems by focusing on fresh produce and essential household items. In July 2018, PDD completed its initial public offering on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
PDD’s offerings span categories including groceries, apparel, electronics and home goods, all facilitated through its group-buying mechanism or direct consumer-to-manufacturer (C2M) model. These features enable consumers to form purchasing teams for volume discounts while providing suppliers with real-time demand signals that guide production and distribution. The company continues to invest in mobile app enhancements, data analytics and logistics partnerships to optimize the user experience and delivery times.
In recent years, PDD has expanded internationally through the launch of Temu, a cross-border marketplace serving customers in North America, Europe and beyond. Led by founder Colin Huang and a seasoned executive team with backgrounds in technology and retail, PDD remains focused on technological innovation, scalable logistics solutions and broadening its reach across evolving consumer markets.