The Rise and Fall of Koo: India’s Homegrown Social Media Platform

In a dramatic turn of events, Koo, once hailed as the desi alternative to Twitter, has announced its closure. The platform, which gained popularity in 2021 amidst clashes between the government and Twitter over content moderation, failed to secure investors to sustain its operations.

Launched in 2000, Koo saw a surge in users after government officials and ministries flocked to the platform following Twitter’s refusal to comply with content takedown requests. At its peak, Koo boasted 2.1 million daily active users and 10 million monthly active users, with notable investors like Tiger Global and Accel.

Despite its initial success, funding challenges and unsuccessful acquisition talks led to Koo’s downfall. The platform struggled with declining user numbers, eventually resorting to layoffs in its final months.

In a heartfelt message on LinkedIn, co-founders Aprameya Radhakrishna and Mayank Bidawatka bid farewell to Koo, citing the difficulties of sustaining a social media company without adequate capital. They emphasized Koo’s mission to democratize expression and connect people in local languages.

Highlighting the platform’s multilingual support for Indian languages, the co-founders expressed their disappointment at the missed opportunity to surpass Twitter’s reach in India. Lack of long-term investment hampered Koo’s growth trajectory, forcing the founders to make the tough decision to shut down the platform.

As Koo exits the social media landscape, it leaves behind a legacy of innovation and vision for an inclusive digital space. While the journey may have ended prematurely, the spirit of Koo’s mission to elevate Indian voices will continue to inspire future endeavors in the tech industry.