Indian microblogging platform Koo announces closure.
The Indian social media platform Koo has announced its closure. Co-founder Mayank Bidawatka confirmed the news in a LinkedIn post, calling it the app’s “final update.” This comes after a report earlier on Wednesday suggested the same fate for Koo following failed acquisition talks with Dailyhunt.
Bidawatka’s post elaborates on the reasons behind the shutdown. “We pursued partnerships with various large internet companies, conglomerates, and media houses, but unfortunately, these discussions weren’t successful,” he wrote. He added, “While we wished to keep Koo running, the high costs of maintaining a social media platform forced us to make this difficult decision.”
Launched in March 2020 by Aprameya Radhakrishna and Mayank Bidawatka, Koo aimed to be India’s Twitter alternative. The app gained initial traction by winning the AatmaNirbhar App Innovation Challenge in August 2020, riding the wave of support for domestic products.
However, by April 2023, Koo faced financial difficulties. To manage expenses, they downsized their workforce by 30%, laying off around 80 employees. This marked a significant shift from their initial promise.
Koo aimed to bridge the language gap in social media, specifically targeting India. Co-founder Mayank Bidawatka noted that existing platforms were heavily English-dominated, despite a vast majority speaking other languages. “We wanted to empower people to express themselves and connect in their native tongue,” he said.
Bidawatka envisioned Koo as the ‘Twitter of India,’ but funding limitations hampered this goal. He claims Koo’s technology was superior, boasting a 10x higher “like” ratio compared to Twitter, indicating better engagement. Additionally, Koo attracted a significant user base, reaching 2.1 million daily active users and nearly 10 million monthly active users at its peak. They even garnered interest from prominent figures.
Bidawatka emphasizes Koo’s potential to surpass Twitter in India, suggesting they were close in 2022. He believes additional funding could have secured this victory.
Despite the shutdown, Koo might not be gone for good. Bidawatka expresses openness to sharing Koo’s assets “with someone with a great vision” for Indian social media. He even suggests transforming Koo into a “digital public good,” allowing social interactions in native languages globally.
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Acknowledging the complexities involved, Bidawatka highlights Koo’s innovative technology built in record time.
The message ends on a hopeful note. Bidawatka hints at a potential return, stating “You will see us back in the arena one way or another.” This leaves the door open for Koo’s future, whether as an acquired platform or a reinvented social good.
