The 9-month bachelor party: here’s everything Alibaba invested in or acquired in 2014

In the run-up to Alibaba’s earth-shaking IPO, the ecommerce titan has been all but silent during its customary “quiet period.” But 2014 as a whole has been a busy year for the firm. Alibaba has invested in or bought outright multiple companies both at home and abroad, spending so much money that some have referred to 2014 thus far as Alibaba’s “bachelor party.”

Now the party is coming to an end. Here’s our full list of Alibaba’s investments and acquisitions so far this year, in the order that they were revealed to media:

FirstDibs

The coincidentally-named FirstDibs was the first investment announced by Alibaba this year. In January, the New York-based American retailer for fancy interior design, decoration, and fashion secured a US$15 million series C round of funding from Alibaba. One-third of FirstDibs’ business is outside of the United States, and Alibaba hopes to use it to better serve China’s fast-growing consumer market for luxury goods.

TutorGroup

This multinational online education company with an emphasis on language learning picked up US$100 million from Alibaba, Temasek Holdings, and Qiming Venture Partners in February. TutorGroup hosts more than 10,000 hours of course content and operates across more than 40 countries across its four products, TutorABC, TutorABCJr, and TutorMing. The company is using the money to build its brand in Asia.

ChinaVision

Alibaba splurged a massive US$804 million in March for its majority stake in Hong Kong-based ChinaVision.

The company produces several popular Chinese-language TV shows and movies, along with some print media, mobile media, and mobile gaming operations. Some of its more famous productions include Let the Bullets Fly, Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons, and Kung Fu Hustle. Alibaba has made several moves into the TV and movie business this year as it competes with other Chinese web giants to get original content.

ByeCity

Tango

InTime Retail

Lyft

Wasu Media

Youku

Alibaba files for US IPO

China Smart Logistics

Singpost

Guangzhou Evergrande

UCWeb

Autonavi

Kabam