Alibaba Group, founded in 1999 by Jack Ma and 17 others, aims to empower small businesses globally by leveraging technology for commerce and innovation. Its primary services include a B2B marketplace (alibaba.com), retail (taobao.com), and a payment platform (Alipay), with a revenue of 158.3 billion CNY and over 40 million users. The company is focused on expanding its offerings, enhancing customer engagement, and supporting rural Chinese consumers through innovative retail solutions.