Koo, the Indian microblogging platform launched to rival X/Twitter, is ceasing its operations. The platform, which surged in popularity during 2021 amid a standoff between the Indian government and Twitter, struggled to maintain its momentum and failed to secure critical partnerships.
Koo emerged as a homegrown alternative to X/Twitter when the Indian government clashed with the social media giant over content moderation policies. The standoff led to several Union government ministers and departments migrating to Koo, boosting its visibility and user base. With a user interface reminiscent of Twitter, Koo allowed users to categorize posts with hashtags and interact through mentions and replies. It also distinguished itself by supporting a range of Indian languages including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Assamese, and Punjabi.
Despite a promising start, including a significant expansion into Brazil where it amassed over a million downloads within 48 hours of launch, Koo struggled to gain a foothold in the Indian market. Its features, such as “Talk to Type,” and a focus on regional language support, attracted notable figures like politicians Piyush Goyal, Ravi Shankar Prasad, author Amish Tripathi, and cricketers Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath. The platform even drew attention from Brazilian celebrities, including Babu Santana, Claudia Leitte, and Rosana Hermann.
In 2022, Koo signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Uttar Pradesh to promote the “One District, One Product” initiative, showcasing its potential for governmental collaboration. The platform also actively engaged with several Indian government projects.
Despite its initial successes, Koo faced significant financial difficulties. The company managed to secure $60 million in funding from prominent investors like Tiger Global and Accel after winning the Atmanirbhar App Innovation Challenge, part of India’s “Make in India” initiative. However, financial troubles became apparent in April last year when the company laid off approximately 30% of its workforce, roughly 300 employees, due to escalating losses, declining active user numbers, and unfavorable global economic conditions.
Koo’s Journey: A Brief Timeline
2021
- Rise to Prominence: Koo gains popularity during a conflict between the Indian government and X/Twitter. Several Indian government officials and departments join the platform.
2022
- Government Collaboration: Koo signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Uttar Pradesh for the “One District, One Product” initiative.
- Funding Boost: Koo secures $60 million in funding from investors like Tiger Global and Accel after winning the Atmanirbhar App Innovation Challenge.
2023
- Expansion in Brazil: The app experiences a brief surge in Brazil, recording over a million downloads within 48 hours of launch.
- Layoffs Announced: Facing financial issues, Koo lays off around 30% of its workforce, approximately 300 employees.
- Failed Partnership Talks: Negotiations with potential partners, including DailyHunt, fall through.
2024
- Closure Announcement: Co-founder Mayank Bidawatka announces that Koo will shut down due to failed partnership talks and ongoing financial struggles.
Key Features and Users
- Language Support: Throughout its operation, Koo supported multiple Indian languages and introduced innovative features like “Talk to Type.”
- Notable Users: Indian politicians and Brazilian celebrities were among the platform’s prominent users.
Final Note
- Shutdown: Despite its promising start and unique offerings, Koo is unable to sustain its operations and decides to close.
Koo’s co-founder, Mayank Bidawatka, recently announced on LinkedIn that the company was exploring potential partnerships with larger internet companies, conglomerates, and media houses. Unfortunately, these negotiations did not produce the desired outcomes, with a few potential partners altering their priorities just before finalizing deals. This announcement followed reports from The Morning Context indicating that a potential deal with DailyHunt fell through.
