Koo was an Indianmicroblogging andsocial networking service, owned byBengaluru-based Bombinate Technologies.[2][3][4] It was co-founded by entrepreneurs Aprameya Radhakrishna and Mayank Bidawatka.[5] The app was launched in early 2020; it won the government's Atmanirbhar App Innovation Challenge which selected the best apps from some 7,000 entries across the country.[6]
As of November 2022, the company was valued at over $275 million.[7] Investors in Bombinate Technologies includeTiger Global Management, Blume Ventures,Kalaari Capital andAccel, and formerInfosys CFO TV Mohandas Pai's 3one4 Capital.[8]
On 3 July 2024, the founders announced their decision to shut down the platform.
According to statistics provided by analytics provider Sensor Tower, Koo saw 2.6 million installs from Indian app stores in 2020, compared to 2.8 crore (28 million) installs observed forTwitter. From 6 to 11 February, the installations of Koo increased rapidly. The app increased in popularity after a weeklong standoff between Twitter and theGovernment of India over Twitter's refusal to block accounts during the2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest.[9][10] The government demanded that Twitter block the accounts of hundreds of activists, journalists, and politicians, accusing them of spreading misinformation.[10] Twitter complied with a majority of the orders, but refused some, citingfreedom of expression.[9] Following this standoff, manyCabinet Ministers such asPiyush Goyal, various government officials & supporters of theBharatiya Janata Party moved to Koo and urged their supporters to follow. This led to a surge in Koo's user base.[9] In April 2021,Ravi Shankar Prasad became the first minister with 2.5 million followers on Koo.[11]
Koo was the go-to alternative to Twitter inNigeria after the country indefinitelybanned Twitter for deleting a tweet by Nigerian PresidentMuhammadu Buhari.[12] The tweet had threatened a crackdown on regional separatists "in the language they understand". Twitter claimed the post was in violation of Twitter rules, but gave no further details. Twitter was officially banned in Nigeria on 5 June 2021. TheGovernment of Nigeria created their official Koo account five days later on 10 June.[13] In 2022, it was reported that Nigerian government officials had stopped using Koo after the ban on Twitter was lifted.[14]
After crises involvingthe acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk in 2022, Koo became an attractive social network for Brazilian users.[15] According to one of the founders, Aprameya Radhakrishna, until 16 November, only two thousand Brazilian users used Koo, which placed Brazil in position 75 on the list of countries with the most lifetime unique users. On the 18th alone, more than a million Brazilians registered on the social network, which placed Brazil in second place on the list.[16] The app featured at number 1 in the Google's Play Store and Apple's App Store in Brazil. Soon Portuguese support was added in the App.[17] Koo received so many submissions and comments that the site became unstable. Personalities such asFelipe Neto,Casimiro,Bruno Gagliasso andPocah created their accounts on the social network. The name "Koo", which has the same pronunciation as "cu", a vulgar term for theanus in Portuguese language, drew attention of users.[18] Koo held a poll on Twitter asking Brazilians if the name of the social network should be changed, which was rejected. Koo reached the Top 3 of Twitter's trending topics in Brazil.[19]
As of May 2021, Koo investors includeAccel,Kalaari Capital,[20] Blume Ventures, Dream Incubator, 3one4 Capital, Blume Ventures,IIFL, andMirae Asset. On 26 May 2021, Koo raised $30 million (about ₹218 crore) in Series B funding, led byTiger Global Management.[21][8][22] After raising $30 million from Tiger Global Management, Koo's valuation increased, reaching over $100 million, up from about $25 million in February.[23]Shunwei Capital sold its whole stake in Koo by March 2021.[24] On 25 November 2022, Koo further raised $6 million in a funding round led Accel Partners and Tiger Global.[7][25]
Koo's interface is similar to that ofTwitter, allowing users to categorize their posts withhashtags and tag other users in mentions or replies. Similarly to the terms tweet and retweet, to make a post on Koo is tokoo, and sharing or reposting an existing koo, tore-koo. Koo uses a yellow and white interface.[27][28]
On 4 May 2021, Koo introduced a new feature called "Talk to Type" which allows its users to create a post with the app's voice assistant.[29]
Koomarks verified accounts with a yellow-coloured tick.[30][31]
On 14 March 2023, the company integratedChatGPT in Koo so that users can use it to create content and posts.[32][33]
In February 2021, acybersecurity expert showed a data breach on the app, but the company rejected the claim.[37]
On 19 November 2022, an update caused a vulnerability allowing profiles to be hacked. KooForBrasil's Twitter profile admitted the failure and apologized saying that there had never been an invasion before.[38]
In April 2024, it was reported that Koo faced difficulties paying employee salaries for April, and that future salaries could only be paid when a potential sale of Koo completed.[42][43]
On 3 July 2024, the founders announced their decision to shut the platform down due to an unpredictable market, failed partnerships and the high cost of technology services involved. They hinted at a possibility of selling some of the company assets, and that they would stop operations immediately.[44][45]
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