Tao Gu

Tao Gu Ba (淘股吧) is a social platform for stock investors in China, operated by Fuzhou Taoguba Internet Co., Ltd. Founded in 2009 by CEO Zhang Zhibin, the platform serves as a community for millions of Chinese retail investors to exchange ideas, share investment strategies, and follow the activities of successful traders.

Zhang Zhibin's background includes over a decade at Minfa Securities, where he was involved in developing "Minfa Online," an early interactive securities website. Following the acquisition of his former employer, Zhang identified a need for a dedicated, specialized community for serious investors and launched Tao Gu Ba. The platform aims to create a supportive, or "warm," environment for what can be a solitary profession.

The business model includes advertising revenue, value-added information services, and a scientific membership mechanism. For example, users can pay a fee for curated information, such as a collection of all posts by a specific influential trader. The platform provides users with real-time stock quotes, financial news, research reports, and educational content to help them make informed investment decisions. Users can subscribe to information on specific stocks, follow other investors, and participate in discussion groups. The company emphasizes the quality and authenticity of its user base, which it has grown primarily through word-of-mouth, and requires mobile phone number registration for membership.

Keywords: social investing, stock market community, retail investors, China A-shares, financial social network, investment education, securities trading, online stock forum, peer-to-peer investment, financial data, stock analysis, trading strategies, Zhang Zhibin, Fuzhou Taoguba, Minfa Online, Chinese equities, investor sentiment