Microblogging Platform Koo Raises $4.1 Million To Expand Technical Capabilities

• Microblogging app Koo has raised $4.1 million in a Series A funding round.
• Investors including Accel, Blume Ventures, Kalaari Capital, 3one4 Capital, and Dream Incubator invested in the funding round.
• Koo is a regional language-focused microblogging platform available in multiple languages such as Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali among others.

Indian language-focused microblogging app Koo has raised $4.1 million (or about Rs 30 crore) in a Series A funding round led by Bengaluru-based venture capital firm 3one4 Capital.

Besides 3one4 Capital, Accel Partners, Blume Ventures, Kalaari Capital, and Dream Incubator also participated in the funding round.

The startup will use the funding to expand technical capabilities, strengthening marketing teams, and hiring talent to increase the app user base.

Apart from Koo, another vernacular language Q&A platform named Vokal is also funded by Blume Ventures, Kalaari Capital, and Accel Partners.

Launched in March 2020 by Vokal's Co-Founders Aprameya Radhakrishna and Mayank Bidawatka, Bombinate Technologies Pvt. Ltd., which owns and operates, Koo, a regional language-focused microblogging platform available in multiple languages such as Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Tamil, and English. While the company is also adding other languages, including Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati, Oriya, Assamese, Punjabi, and Bangla.

"Existing microblogging platforms have not been able to grow beyond the English-speaking population. Koo enables the free expression of thoughts and opinions for every Indian irrespective of language preference. Koo will amplify the daily voices of India on an Indian platform," said Aprameya Radhakrishna, Chief Executive of Koo India.

The company claims to have 1 million active users with 3 million downloads on the play store and app store. It also claims to have former cricketer Anil Kumble, Ashish Vidyarthi, Sadhguru, Ravi Shankar Prasad, and Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa on their platform.

“We aim to bring India’s top influential people on the platform. The focus is on like-minded people to connect and follow one another,” said Aprameya Radhakrishna.

"Koo allows the influencers to touch base with their local community where they can have conversations with their fans on topics of mutual interest," said Mayank Bidawatka, Co-founder of Koo.

Further, Koo has been recognized by Atmanirbhar Bharat and won the AatmaNirbhar App Innovation Challenge held by the Government of India in August 2020. 

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