Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the rise of "Yidui," a video-based dating community that targets the lower-tier cities in China, highlighting its unique business model that combines social interaction with virtual gifting, leading to significant revenue growth for its parent company, Milian Technology [7][11][36]. Group 1: Company Overview - Yidui was launched in 2017 as a video dating community, focusing on the social needs of middle-aged and young individuals in third and fourth-tier cities [7][8]. - The platform has a unique role of "online matchmaker," where hosts (matchmakers) facilitate interactions between users, creating a lively and engaging environment [8][16]. - Milian Technology, the parent company of Yidui, has submitted an IPO application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with projected revenues exceeding 2 billion RMB in 2024 [11][13]. Group 2: Business Model - The revenue model heavily relies on virtual gifts and tips from users, with matchmakers earning income based on the gifts received during live sessions [10][36]. - The platform's income structure shows that over 70% of revenue comes from virtual gifts, with a significant portion also derived from membership subscriptions and advertising [36]. - The average monthly active user spends about 8 hours on the platform, with a retention rate of 72.1%, indicating strong user engagement [50]. Group 3: Financial Performance - Milian Technology's revenue has shown substantial growth, with figures of 1.052 billion RMB in 2022, 1.033 billion RMB in 2023, and a projected 2.373 billion RMB in 2024 [45]. - In the first half of 2025, the company reported revenues of 1.917 billion RMB, marking an 85.9% increase from the previous year [45]. - The adjusted net profit surged from 0.77 billion RMB to 2.97 billion RMB, reflecting a year-on-year growth of over 285% [45]. Group 4: Market Context - The number of single individuals in China has reached 240 million, representing nearly one-fifth of the population aged 15 and above, creating a substantial market for online dating services [47]. - The online marriage service market is projected to grow to 10.75 billion RMB by 2025, with a notable increase in the online matchmaking and emotional social sectors [49]. - The shift from traditional matchmaking to algorithm-driven and live-streamed interactions signifies a transformation in how relationships are formed and monetized [50][55].