New Delhi. Indian microblogging platform Koo, often referred to as the “desi Twitter,” is shutting down, according to its founders Mayank Bidawatka and Aprameya Radhakrishna. The announcement was made via social media, highlighting the app’s ongoing financial difficulties. In recent months, Koo has struggled with financial losses and rising technology costs. In April 2023, the company laid off several employees. Unable to secure further funding, the founders have decided to shut down operations.
Decision to close due to financial challenges
Mayank Bidawatka, one of the founders of Koo, confirmed the closure on his LinkedIn profile. In his post, he expressed gratitude for the support of users over the past four years. He said, “It is very difficult to euthanize something built with so much heart. Koo will always hold a special place in my heart for attempting to challenge the global giants at their own game. We can and we must do this. Maybe next time.”
At its peak, Koo had 2.1 million daily active users and 10 million monthly active users. The platform was popular among Indian government officials, with over 9,000 VIPs using it. Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (now X) for a multi-billion-dollar deal in 2022 is also highlighted. Under Musk’s leadership, Twitter has transformed from a loss-making platform to a profitable platform, now competing fiercely with other social media giants such as Facebook and YouTube.