Kavin Bharti Mittal, the founder and CEO of Hike messenger, has announced the complete closure of his 13-year-old startup. Once celebrated as India’s homegrown answer to WhatsApp, Hike is now shutting down its operations entirely.
In a heartfelt post on LinkedIn, Mittal described the decision as both an ending and a new beginning. “Closing a chapter, opening a new one,” he wrote, reflecting on the journey that began in 2012.
Gaming Ban Impact
The closure comes soon after the Indian government banned real-money gaming (RMG) under the new Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025. This decision has disrupted several companies in the gaming sector, including Hike, which had pivoted to gaming and Web3 after shutting down its messaging app in 2021.
Mittal admitted that while Hike’s US business showed early traction, scaling globally now would require a complete recapitalisation. He said such a reset was not the best use of capital or time, especially after the challenges faced in India.
Journey So Far
Founded in 2012 as a messaging app, Hike grew rapidly and once boasted over 100 million users. However, it struggled to keep pace with WhatsApp’s dominance and eventually shut down Hike Messenger in 2021.
The company then shifted into gaming and launched two new products: Vibe, a community platform, and Rush, a real-money gaming service. Rush grew to 10 million users and generated $500 million in gross revenue over four years.
Challenges and Losses
Despite these gains, recurring tax disputes, regulatory battles, and finally the RMG ban created insurmountable roadblocks. Mittal acknowledged that the company still had about $4 million in its balance sheet, which will be used for vendor payments and employee severance, with leftover funds returned to investors.
He emphasized that RMG was never the destination but only a means to prove unit economics. Unfortunately, the company got stuck in regulatory conflicts in the Indian market. “For the first time in 13 years, my answer is no. Not for me, not for my team, and not for our investors,” Mittal wrote.
Investor Backing
Over the years, Hike raised around $261 million from leading investors such as Tiger Global, Tencent, and Bharti Enterprises. Mittal said that while the shutdown may feel disappointing, the relationships, lessons, and networks built through Hike would pave the way for his next chapter.
He pointed to new opportunities in artificial intelligence, clean energy, and other frontier technologies, signaling that his entrepreneurial journey is far from over.
Industry Reckoning
The closure of Hike reflects a larger disruption in India’s gaming industry. Big names like Mobile Premier League (MPL) and WinZO have scaled down operations, while startups like Zupee and Probo are struggling with altered business models.
The regulatory framework has forced many companies to rethink their strategies, and Hike’s shutdown is a reminder of the volatile nature of the gaming ecosystem in India.
Why Hike Shutdown
The reasons behind Hike’s closure go beyond just the RMG ban. The startup’s journey was shaped by market competition, regulatory pressure, and capital constraints. While Hike once represented India’s bold attempt at building a global social app, it eventually became a story of constant pivots and reinvention.
For Mittal, however, the end of Hike is not a failure but a reset. He summed it up with resilience: “This chapter ends, but the climb continues.” His statement reflects the enduring spirit of entrepreneurship that thrives even in setbacks.
