July 1, 2025, 1:03 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Anker’s products are primarily found on Amazon. The company sells a variety of tech items, including cables, power adapters, power banks, headphones, and webcams. But who is actually behind Anker?
Why one would name an American-Chinese company as such may not be immediately clear. Perhaps it simply relates to the fact that an anchor represents security, as it holds a ship in place. Metaphorically, this would mean that an Anker product guarantees reliable quality to the customer. However, it is much more likely that the name refers to electrical engineering, where the rotor of an electric motor is called an “Anker” in German.
Overview
By Chance to a Billion-Dollar Company
The story of Anker is certainly astonishing and reads a bit like the tale of a dishwasher who became a millionaire. Steven Young, founder of Anker Innovations Ltd., was never a dishwasher, but worked as a software developer for Google in the 2000s. And the millionaire part shouldn’t be taken literally. After all, Anker generated not millions, but a billion dollars in revenue in 2020.
It’s a success story, yet Anker is essentially the result of a coincidence. To support his girlfriend, who ran an online shop at the time, with logistics, Young developed the necessary software. Soon, however, several hundred orders had to be processed daily. For Young, it was a revelation. So, he resigned from Google on July 1, 2001, borrowed money from his family, and founded Anker with his girlfriend, who is now his wife.
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Anker’s Product Range Continues to Grow
The business idea back then was simple. Anker initially sold only replacement batteries for laptops that could match the quality of the manufacturers’ originals. The company initially labeled purchased parts but soon began producing its own, encouraged by success. Today, according to the company, it has more than 30 million customers in over 100 countries.
Until the end of 2016, Anker sold exclusively through Amazon, so its success was closely tied to that of the online retailer. However, Anker has since opened up to other distribution channels–and the portfolio has also changed. The advent of the smartphone was timely, as mobile phones also require batteries. And if the battery can’t be replaced by a layperson, an Anker power bank saves the day for the customer, or so the idea goes. In general, Anker now offers everything from chargers to hubs to webcams–essentially all accessories that can connect via USB to anything.
Today, Anker is considered one of the largest smartphone accessory manufacturers, offering its products in over 100 countries worldwide. The company now also offers numerous other products like power storage solutions or 3D printers. Some device categories are sold under other brand names by Anker Innovations. For example, Soundcore offers headphones, Eufy provides smart home devices, and Nebula offers portable entertainment electronics like mobile projectors.
However, Anker’s biggest breakthrough so far isn’t hardware, but a smart charging technology. It’s called PowerIQ, communicates with both iOS and Android devices, and detects the highest possible, meaning the fastest, charging speed.
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Customer Satisfaction and Success in the Trade Press
Customer satisfaction also seems high, at least if you believe the reviews on Amazon. Anker’s “Happy Card,” which was included with products for a long time, shows that even dissatisfied customers are still considered customers and not complainers. The front of the card reads “Happy?” with a sun emoji, while the back says “Unhappy?” with a dark cloud. Inside the card are suggestions on what to do in each case. Anker’s serious approach to the concerns of its dissatisfied customers is reflected in Young’s mantra: “Quality over sales,” which he repeats almost like a mantra in interviews. Indeed, Anker products consistently perform well in trade magazine tests.
Today, Anker has more than 2,000 employees in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the U.S. The headquarters is now in Hong Kong, as too much time was initially lost transporting goods produced in China. However, the company also operates branches, such as in Munich.