Koo (social network)
| File:Kooapp new.png | |
Screenshot _screenshot.png) Koo App Homepage on desktop version | |
| Type of business | Private |
|---|---|
Type of site | |
| Available in | Multilingual |
| Founded | March 1, 2020 |
| Headquarters | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Country of origin | India |
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Owner | Bombinate Technologies Pvt Ltd. |
| Founder(s) |
|
| Key people | Aprameya Radhakrishna (CEO) |
| Industry | |
| Employees | 11-50 (As of 2021) |
| URL | kooapp.com |
| Registration | Required |
| Users |  6 Million (May 2021) [1] |
| Launched | 2020 |
| Current status | Active |
| Native client(s) on | iOS, Android, Web |
Koo[1] is an Indian microblogging and social networking service based in Bengaluru, India.[2][3] Formerly known as Ku Koo Ku,[4] the app was developed by Aprameya Radhakrishna and Mayank Bidawatka.[5] It won the Government of India's Aatmanirbhar App Innovation Challenge in August 2020.[6] The app is currently valued at over $100 million.[7]
It was first launched in Kannada[8] and now supports Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, and Marathi. In the future it plans to provide support for Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Meitei, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit and Urdu.[9] Investors in the app include Shunwei Capital, Kalaari Capital, 3one4 Capital, and Blume Ventures.[6] Shunwei Capital sold its whole stake in Koo by March 2021.[10] In February 2021, a cybersecurity expert showed a data breach on the Koo app, but the company rejected the claim.[11]
According to statistics provided by analytics provider Sensor Tower, the Koo App saw 26 lakh (2.6 million) installs from Indian app stores in 2020, compared to 2.8 crore (28 million) installs observed for Twitter. From February 6 to February 11, the installations of Koo App increased rapidly. The Koo app shot to prominence after Twitter got into a week-long standoff with the Indian government over their refusal to block accounts that the latter had flagged for spreading misinformation during the 2020-21 Indian farmers' protest.[12] Following this standoff, many Cabinet Ministers such as Piyush Goyal and various government officials moved to Koo, which has since then seen a surge in user base.[12] In April 2021, Ravi Shankar Prasad became the first minister with 1 million followers on Koo.[13]
Interface and features
Logo
Koo's logo is a yellow bird. The design of the yellow bird was changed on 14 May 2021.[14]
Format, interface and features
Koo's interface is similar to that of Twitter where users can categorize their posts with hashtags – words or phrases prefixed with a "#" sign. Another similarity is that the "@" sign followed by a username is used for mentioning or replying to other users. Koo uses a yellow and white interface.[15][16]
On 4 May 2021, Koo introduced a new feature called "Talk to Type", where Koo allows its users to write a post by speaking while using the app's voice assistant. The feature will be available in all languages supported by the app, including English, Bengali, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu.[17]
Trending topics
A word, phrase, or topic that is mentioned at a greater rate than others is said to be a "trending topic". Trending topics become popular either through a concerted effort by users or because of an event that prompts people to talk about a specific topic. When a certain amount of users talk about a single topic it appears on the trending page in Koo. The trending topic appears in the form of a hashtag.[18]
Verification
Koo gives a Yellow tick when an account is verified. The verification is done by the verification team of the Koo app. The person should be a notable personality to be verified as per the guidelines of the Koo app.[19]
Funding
As of May 2021, Koo has investors including Accel Partners, Kalaari Capital,[6] Blume Ventures, Dream Incubator, 3one4 Capital, Blume Ventures, IIFL and Mirae Assets. On 26 May 2021, Koo said in a statement that it has raised $30 million (about ₹218 crore) in Series B funding, led by Tiger Global.[20][21][22] After raising $30 million from Tiger Global, Koo's valuation increased, reaching over $100 million, up from about $25 million in February.[23]
Most-followed accounts
As of 5 June 2021[update], Koo's official account (@कू_हिंदी) is the most-followed account on Koo with nearly 32 lakh (3.2 million) followers.[24][25][26][27][28]
| Rank | Change
(Monthly) |
Account Name | Owner | Followers | Activity | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
|
|
@कू_हिंदी | Koo
|
3.2 Million
|
Social Networking Service |  India
|
2
|
|
@ravishankarprasad | 1.5 Million
|
Politician | India
| |
3
|
|
@anupampkher | 1.1 Million
|
Actor | India
| |
4
|
|
@piyushgoyal | 879K
|
Politician | India
| |
5
|
|
@mayank | Mayank Bidawatka
|
620K
|
Co-Founder of Koo | India
|
References
- ^ a b "Will double headcount; lot of headroom for growing user base: Koo". The Hindu. PTI. 9 May 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ "Indian entrepreneurs back Koo app as Chinese investor exits". The Economic Times. 12 February 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ "Desi microblogging platform Koo will have to cover a lot of ground to be Twitter alternative". 10 February 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ "Chingari, YourQuote and Koo are the winners of the Aatmanirbhar App Innovation Challenge". Indulge Express. 31 August 2020.
- ^ Malhotra, Vanshika (7 August 2020). "Koo app: India's Twitter alternative will help you express views in your local language". India TV News.
- ^ a b c "Koo Has A Chinese Investor Who Is Exiting, Says Founder Aprameya Radhakrishna". Moneycontrol. 11 February 2021.
- ^ Mishra, Digbijay. "Koo's valuation rises five times in three months in new funding round". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ "Koo is now the largestmicro blog in Kannada". The Hindu. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ "Here's Everything You Need to Know About Koo". NDTV Gadgets 360. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
- ^ "Koo's Chinese investor sells entire stake". Times of India. 18 March 2021.
- ^ "French cyber expert shows data leak on Koo app, company denies any breach". Deccan Herald. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Twitter's clash with India government gives boost to local rival". Japan Times. 17 February 2021.
- ^ "Ravi Shankar Prasad becomes first minister with 10 lakh followers on domestic Twitter "Koo"". Gadgets Techly360. 9 April 2021.
- ^ Ajmal, Anam (13 May 2021). "Koo App: Homegrown social media app Koo launches new logo". The Times of India. TNN.
- ^ "Made in India Twitter alternative Koo wins government's app innovation challenge in social category". 7 August 2020.
- ^ "Twitter's clash with government gives boost to Koo app". 17 February 2021.
- ^ "Koo Launches New 'Talk To Type' Feature For Indian Languages". Moneycontrol. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
- ^ "Koo App is the Voice of India, in Indian Languages. Welcome to Koo, India's Aatmanirbhar App". Koo. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
- ^ "Koo App - Faq". Koo. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
- ^ "Koo raises $30mn funding led by Tiger Global". The Hindu. PTI. 26 May 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "Twitter under fire, Koo announces $30 million fundraise: why it's significant". The Indian Express. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "Koo raises $30 million funding led by Tiger Global". India Today. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "Tiger Global leads $30 million investment in Indian Twitter rival Koo". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ "कू - के विचार कू पर फ़ॉलो करें". Koo (in Hindi). Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ "Ravi Shankar Prasad - Follow their thoughts on Koo". Koo (in Hindi). Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ "Anupam Kher - Follow their thoughts on Koo". Koo (in Hindi). Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ "Piyush Goyal - Follow their thoughts on Koo". Koo (in Hindi). Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ "Mayank - Follow their thoughts on Koo". Koo (in Hindi). Retrieved 5 June 2021.