毛利80%！80后女生低调赚了22亿，腾讯撑腰再冲上市

Core Viewpoint - Soul, a social platform targeting emotional connections, is preparing for its fourth IPO attempt, backed by Tencent's significant investment but facing substantial debt risks and user growth challenges [6][7][60]. Group 1: Company Overview - Soul was founded in 2016, focusing on "soul matching" through interest graphs and personality tests, diverging from traditional social media by not emphasizing appearance or real-life identities [15][20]. - The platform has attracted approximately 3.9 billion registered users, with Tencent holding a 49.9% stake, providing strategic support [7][20]. - Soul's business model includes virtual avatars, membership privileges, and virtual gifts, generating over 80% gross margins [22][25]. Group 2: Financial Performance - In the first eight months of 2025, Soul's "emotional value services" accounted for 90.8% of its revenue, with an average monthly contribution of 104.4 yuan per paying user [25][31]. - The company turned a profit in 2023, earning 361 million yuan, and is projected to earn 337 million yuan in 2024 [31]. Group 3: User Engagement and Challenges - Despite its revenue growth, Soul's monthly active users have stagnated at around 28 million, down from a peak of 29.4 million in 2022 [34][36]. - The platform's paying user rate is only 6.5%, indicating a challenge in converting users to paying customers [35][38]. - User complaints about content safety and negative experiences have increased, highlighting potential risks to user retention and platform reputation [43][59]. Group 4: IPO and Debt Pressure - Soul's IPO attempt is complicated by a significant redeemable debt of 12.4 billion yuan, which poses a repayment risk if the company fails to go public [60][62]. - The company is shifting its narrative from a "social metaverse" to an "AI + immersive social platform" to attract investor interest and justify its R&D expenditures [63][64]. Group 5: Industry Implications - Soul's journey reflects broader trends in the emotional economy and the challenges of monetizing emotional connections in a competitive social media landscape [70][76]. - The platform's evolution raises questions about the sustainability of its business model and the balance between user experience and commercial pressures [74][76].