00:00 Hike Shuts Down After 13 Years
4:53 Message from Co-founder
06:29 Simple Energy’s Rare Earth-Free EV Motor
8:22 Quick Updates
9:27 Funding News
Hike Shuts Down After 13 Years
Once India’s #2 messenger after WhatsApp, Hike hit 100M sign-ups and a $1.4B valuation. But cheap data, WhatsApp’s dominance, and finally India’s gaming ban ended its 13-year journey.
Simple Energy’s Rare Earth-Free EV Motor
Simple Energy has built India’s first EV motor without heavy rare earths, reducing dependence on China and reshaping India’s EV supply chain.
Quick Updates
BlackBuck leaves Bengaluru over bad roads
CRED launches gold credit card + IndusInd RuPay card
Urban Company IPO soars 64% on debut
Startup Funding Highlights
Indian startups raised $152 million this week, lower than last week’s $210M. Notable rounds include:
FinBox (Bengaluru): Raised $40M in Series B for its fintech infra toolkit helping banks/fintechs verify identity, assess risk, and fight fraud.
Indkal Technologies (Bengaluru): Raised $20M to design consumer electronics like TVs, fridges, and ACs for brands including Acer and Black+Decker.
Lucira (Mumbai): Secured $5.5M in seed funding for lab-grown diamond jewellery.
iDO Devices (Noida): Raised $4M to build electronics end-to-end — from design to prototyping to final product.
MyNaksh (Bengaluru): Raised ₹7.5 Cr ($850K) in pre-seed for its AI + astrologer-powered Vedic guidance platform.
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I think Survival is key to any business, Tail Events drives massive growth but you don't know when it will come. This happened with Arattai which launched in 2021 and see Now what's happening. All because of Trump Tariff and Swadeshi push.
Hike tried to bring to many features most of them wete unnecessary like online games, card game rummy like games, hike land etc. Instead of improving user exp, it detoriated it.
Where as whatapp observed and slowly released features copied from hike, buy brought only necessary features
Till we don't ban whatsapp and give local app subsidy we cant cover pan india
Who else remember hike giving ₹50 in 2018 for sharing it❤❤❤
Hike was far better than WhatsApp. It had so many features. I really miss hike aap😢
India need digital sovereignty
I don't understand how instagram is okay and tiktok is bad for india..
Bahi mai 6 saal ka tha bahi tab meri gf thi tab
I searched for hike some week ago and downloaded from one app store but not supported! it was really good so much good stickers n features miss 2015-2017😢
It was tough to maintain two messaging apps for similar work. All official groups of colleges and offices were on WhatsApp. Therefore, everyone silently moved to whatsapp.
Even the Government Colleges were not pushing for the hike. It's our mistake that we don't give chance to Indian brands.