KOO'S FOUNDERS SENSE big opportunity in Twitter's turmoil
The Times of India|November 25, 2022
Technically, it’s an excellent app, it’s rich in features, but few know about it globally
Sujit John & Shilpa Phadnis
KOO'S FOUNDERS SENSE big opportunity in Twitter's turmoil

Remember that period early last year when WhatsApp users started abandoning the app and flocking to Signal and Telegram following What sApp’s change in its privacy policy? Today, with Twitter in turmoil and advertisers turning their backs to it, Aprameya Radhakrishna and Mayank Bidawatka are sensing a similar opportunity for the microblogging site Koo that they founded in 2019.

It’s not a vain hope. They are already the world’s No. 2 microblogging site, with 50 million downloads. The others like Gab, Truth Social, Mastodon, Gettr, Parler are at about 5 million downloads or less. Technologically, Koo looks very good, especially in comparison to competitors, and has features almost nobody else does. On Google Play, it has a better rating (4.2 out of 5) than almost all competitors – Mastodon is at 2.4, Truth Social at 3.6.

Radhakrishna and Bidawatka started with the idea of doing a Twitter for all those who were not comfortable with English, and those who wanted to reach out to non-English audiences. 80% of India and the world, they found, speak languages other than English. And that language person’s voice was stuck in WhatsApp groups, which is a closed network of family and friends, not an open network like Twitter. “A lot of people were telling us to create a tool where they could express themselves in their language. They said if they do it on Twitter, nobody listens to it, they don’t get any reactions. And if they don’t get reactions, they don’t have any incentive to post further. In late 2019, we found that on Twitter, there were just 5006 0 0 K a n n a d a tweets in a day, Gujarati was 200, Bengali and Telugu were 150-200, Hindi was 20-30,000 for a 60 crore Hindispeaking population,” says Bidawatka.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE TIMES OF INDIAView all
Song and dance there, but where is Brazil's soul?
The Times of India

Song and dance there, but where is Brazil's soul?

From swooning over the twirling foot of Richarlison the other day, to fretting over the ankle of Neymar, it is back to business for Brazil. Gone is the exultation to dance and express themselves.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 28, 2022
Marriott to reach 200-hotel mark in India by 2025 from current 134
The Times of India

Marriott to reach 200-hotel mark in India by 2025 from current 134

American hospitality major Marriott International — the group with the largest number of branded hotel rooms in India at about 26,000 — has drawn up very ambitious growth plans for the country.

time-read
1 min  |
November 28, 2022
India's visually-impaired players dribble, debate on and off field
The Times of India

India's visually-impaired players dribble, debate on and off field

Take 20-year-old Shivam Negi for instance. A member of the national blind football team, Negi along with three other NIEVPD students is ardently following the matches by listening to live commentary.

time-read
1 min  |
November 28, 2022
SIPS eating into luxe car sales: Merc
The Times of India

SIPS eating into luxe car sales: Merc

‘MF Investments Reducing Disposable Incomes Of Indians’

time-read
1 min  |
November 28, 2022
Fury's Ground Xiro
The Times of India

Fury's Ground Xiro

Xi's zero-Covid policy has angered ordinary Chinese as never before. A dangerous moment for the state

time-read
3 mins  |
November 28, 2022
Trump faulted for dinner with white nationalist, rapper Ye
The Times of India

Trump faulted for dinner with white nationalist, rapper Ye

The sportswear manufacturer has also launched a probe into his conduct.

time-read
1 min  |
November 28, 2022
Blank sheets of paper become symbol of defiance
The Times of India

Blank sheets of paper become symbol of defiance

Chinese protesters have turned to blank sheets of paper to express their anger over Covid-19 restrictions.

time-read
1 min  |
November 28, 2022
Can't deny mediclaim to a vegetarian, insurer told
The Times of India

Can't deny mediclaim to a vegetarian, insurer told

Dietary Habit Not Patient’s Fault: Consumer Body

time-read
1 min  |
November 28, 2022
Thakur: Will host 'grand Olympics' in Gujarat in future
The Times of India

Thakur: Will host 'grand Olympics' in Gujarat in future

Union sports minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday said Gujarat will host a “grand Olympics” sporting event in the future.

time-read
1 min  |
November 28, 2022
Will restore old pension scheme in Guj: Kejriwal
The Times of India

Will restore old pension scheme in Guj: Kejriwal

He also urged government employees in the state to back AAP while promising implementation of the old pension scheme for them by January 31, 2022.

time-read
1 min  |
November 28, 2022