Hike

Kavin Bharti Mittal, founder and CEO of Hike, has announced the closure of his once-prominent startup after regulatory headwinds and a nationwide crackdown on online gaming eroded its business prospects. Once hailed as India’s answer to global messaging platforms, Hike had pivoted aggressively toward gaming and Web3 solutions in recent years, seeking to capture the youth market. However, sweeping restrictions on online real-money gaming dealt a decisive blow to its operations.

Hike, once celebrated as India’s homegrown alternative to global messaging platforms, has officially shut down operations after years of struggle. Founder and CEO Kavin Mittal attributed the decision to mounting regulatory challenges that constrained the company’s ability to innovate and scale. Despite early promise, Hike was unable to maintain its competitive edge in the face of global giants and evolving compliance requirements.