The company surpassed a market value of US$500 billion in 2018, becoming the first Asian technology company to cross this valuation mark.[11][12][13] It has since then emerged as one of Asia's most valuable companies, and among the world's top technology companies by market value.[14][5] Tencent has been credited as one of the world's most innovative companies by the Boston Consulting Group and Fast Company respectively.[16][17][18][19] It has stakes in over 600 companies,[20] recently focusing on tech start-ups in Asia.[21]