Report: Snapchat Raising $200 Million From Alibaba at $15 Billion Valuation The Chinese ecommerce giant is reportedly eyeing expansion into overseas markets as well as social networking.

By Geoff Weiss

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba is poised to tender a $200 million investment in Snapchat that would value the ephemeral photo messaging service at $15 billion.

While Snapchat was also said to be eyeing a $500 million funding round at a $19 billion valuation last month, Bloomberg reports that Alibaba's investment would be outside of that round.

Though investors are clamoring for a piece of Snapchat, the company's CEO, Evan Spiegel, has refused to comment on fundraising initiatives. "We are famous for not talking about the future," he quipped at a tech summit in Santa Monica, Calif., earlier this week.

Related: Why Snapchat Is Worth $19 Billion (Or More)

The Alibaba deal, were it to go through, would place Snapchat just behind Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi and car-booking platform Uber as the third highest-valued startup in the world. Valuations for Xiaomi and Uber have been pegged at $45 billion and $40 billion, respectively.

And this is not the first time that Alibaba has reportedly considered an investment in Snapchat. Last summer, before its record-shattering IPO, Alibaba was said to be considering an investment in Snapchat that would value the company at $10 billion. Though Alibaba ultimately passed at the time, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers invested $20 million in Snapchat for a 1 percent stake at a $10 billion valuation.

Renewed interest by Alibaba reveals a desire to expand into overseas markets and into social networking, analysts told Bloomberg. Last March, Alibaba invested $215 million in Tango, a free messaging platform with social networking features.

Related: Martha Stewart and Jack Ma Powwow About Global Domination

Geoff Weiss

Former Staff Writer

Geoff Weiss is a former staff writer at Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

JPMorgan Shuts Down Internal Message Board Comments After Employees React to Return-to-Office Mandate

Employees were given the option to leave comments about the RTO mandate with their first and last names on display — and they did not hold back.

Innovation

4 Ways Market Leaders Use Innovation to Foster Business Growth

Forward-thinkers constantly strive to diversify and streamline their products and services, turning novelties into commodities desired by many.

Leadership

From Elite Athletes to Tech Titans — Discover the Surprising $100-Million Habit That Leads to Extraordinary Success

Success comes from mastering focus, eliminating distractions and prioritizing what truly matters.

Business News

'I Want the Best People on Our Teams': Meta Is Laying Off More Than 3,000, CEO Mark Zuckerberg Calls for 'Extensive Performance-Based Cuts' — Read the Memo

In an internal memo shared on Tuesday, Zuckerberg said it's "going to be an intense year" at the company.

Business News

The FTC Is Readying a Case Against the Largest U.S. Apartment Landlord. Here's Why.

The issue is with fees that allegedly weren't disclosed in advertisements for rental units.

Franchise

Turn Your Passion for Pets into a Business with a Wag N' Wash Franchise

Wag N' Wash is a store where pets can be cherished every day by feeding, washing, and spoiling them just how they like it.