India’s homegrown social media platform, Koo, which once aimed to rival Twitter (now X), has shut down. After struggling with funding issues for a prolonged period, the decision to close Koo was announced. This comes after unsuccessful merger talks between Koo and Dailyhunt.
Announcement by Co-Founder of Koo:
Koo’s co-founder, Mayank Bidawatka, shared the news on his LinkedIn (click to see official notification) handle, stating that the “small yellow bird has said its final goodbye.” Koo was co-founded by Aprameya Radhakrishna and Mayank Bidawatka with the ambition to create an Indian alternative to Twitter.
Failed Merger Talks:
Mayank Bidawatka explained that the ongoing discussions with potential partners fell through, leading to the decision to shut down the platform. Despite exploring partnerships with several major internet companies and media groups, Koo did not achieve positive results.
Koo High Technology Costs:
The co-founder also mentioned that the platform had to shut down due to high technology costs. The company had already started reducing its workforce from April of last year.
Government Challenge Inception:
Koo’s journey began by winning a government challenge. In 2020, it won the ‘Aatmanirbhar App Innovation Challenge’ launched by the central government, marking the beginning of this indigenous social media platform.
Conclusion:
This development marks a significant moment in the Indian social media landscape. The closure of Koo, which had once been a popular alternative to Twitter, underscores the challenges faced by homegrown platforms in competing with global giants.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
