ShareChat explained

ShareChat
ShareChat
Developer:	Mohalla Tech
Ver Layout:	stacked
Operating System:	iOS Android
Size:	153.4 MB (iOS) 40 MB (Android)
Genre:	Internet Image sharing Video sharing Instant messaging Chatroom
Licence:	Freeware
Language Count:	15

ShareChat is an Indian social networking service platform, owned by Bangalore-based Mohalla Tech. It was founded by Ankush Sachdeva, Bhanu Pratap Singh and Farid Ahsan, and incorporated on 8 January 2015. ShareChat app has over 350 million monthly active users across 15 Indian languages. The current valuation of the company is $5 billion.^[1]

Foundation and history

ShareChat's holding company, Mohalla Tech Pvt Ltd, was incorporated in January 2015 by graduates from Indian Institutes of Technology Kanpur:^[2] Ankush Sachdeva, Bhanu Pratap Singh and Farid Ahsan. The company is headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka, and as of 2020, employed over 2500 people.^[3]

Initially, ShareChat primarily worked as a content sharing platform, without any scope of users generating their own content. In April 2016, however, ShareChat enabled user-generated content creation on its platform, allowing its users to share their own posters and creative content. At around the same time, it also introduced open tagging for users, which would allow anyone to create their own hashtags depending on the content.^[4]

In January 2023, Farid Ahsan and Bhanu Pratap Singh stepped down from their respective roles as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer.^{[5] [6]} As of 2022, Manohar Singh Charan (CFO) and Amit Zunjarwad (CPO) led the management along with Ankush Sachdeva (CEO).^{[7] [8]}

Acquisitions

In March 2019, Mohalla Tech acquired Transversal Tech-owned short video sharing platform, Clip.^[9] In February 2020, it acquired Bengaluru-based online fashion marketplace Elanic.^[10] In March 2020, it acquired a meme discovery and sharing platform, Memer.^[11] In August 2020, it acquired a hyperlocal information platform, Circle Internet.^[12] Sharechat parent company also bought MX TakaTak from Times Internet Group for $700 million in one of the biggest acquisitions of 2022.^{[13] [14]}

Funding

In September 2020, ShareChat raised $40 million from investors Pawan Munjal of Hero MotoCorp, Ajay Shridhar Shriram of DCM Shriram, Twitter, SAIF Partners, Lightspeed Ventures, and India Quotient.^[15] By April 2021, ShareChat had raised $500 million from investors and was valued at over $2 billion.^[16] In May 2022, ShareChat raised $300 million from Google, Times Group and Temasek Holdings at a valuation of $5 billion.^[17]

Initiatives against misinformation

On 17 April 2019, ShareChat took down around half a million pieces of content and removed 54,000 accounts for spreading fake news, hate speech and spam, and for conducting coordinated misinformation campaigns.^[18]

Issues

• ShareChat accused Bytedance of copying its design: Helo, another social media platform formerly owned by TikTok's parent company, Bytedance, is one of ShareChat's competitors. In 2018, ShareChat accused Bytedance of copying its design and UI pixel to pixel in 2018. Following Delhi High Court's direction, Bytedance changed its design for Helo.^[19]
• Layoffs and rehiring: In May 2020, ShareChat laid off 101 employees.^{[20] [21]} They have since rehired over 50% of the laid-off workforce after the launch of the video platform Moj.^[22] In December 2022, ShareChat laid off another 5% of its workforce.^[23] In January 2023, ShareChat again laid off 400 employees which was around 20% of its workforce.^[24] In December 2023, ShareChat further fired 200 employees, around 15% of its workforce, to cut costs and achieve profitability.^[25]

Apps

ShareChat

ShareChat app is multilingual social media platform, with 180 million monthly active users. It offers its users multiple options to express themselves through audio chat rooms, photo and video posts, status updates, microblogging, blogging, and direct messaging in 15 Indic languages. This allows regional audiences to connect with like-minded users and communities.^[26]

Features:

• Audio chat rooms: ShareChat audio chatroom is voice-based hangout destination. This feature allows its users to discuss various topics in detail across 15 regional languages.^[27]
• Virtual gifting: ShareChat also offers Virtual Gifting where users can reward their favourite creator or host through digital tokens as a gesture of appreciation for their content. As of December 2022, this feature supported over 64,000 creators in monetising their content.
• SCTV: SCTV is a long-form video format that allows users to create elaborate videos ranging from 2 to 15 minutes.

Moj

ShareChat's app Moj, launched on 29 June 2020, is a short-video platform that emulates the features of TikTok, which was among the apps banned by the Indian government in June 2020.

In a tweet, Ankush Sachdeva, co-founder and CEO of ShareChat, said the app was coded in 30 hours. It has received Google Play Best of 2020 Awards, as of 1 December 2020.^[28]

Moj has over 160 million monthly active users.^{[29] [30]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Sarkar . John . 16 June 2022 . ShareChat closes $520 million round at $5 billion valuation . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221012130339/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/startups/companies/sharechat-closes-520-million-round-at-5-billion-valuation/articleshow/92259394.cms . 12 October 2022 . 12 October 2022 . . en.
2. Web site: 7 June 2016 . IIT-K alumni-made ShareChat app wields local languages to challenge Facebook . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190819071843/https://www.hindustantimes.com/tech/iit-k-alumni-made-sharechat-app-wields-local-languages-to-challenge-facebook/story-7GFHg4yytjmD5NJkF16X3O.html . 19 August 2019 . 19 August 2019 . Hindustan Times.
3. Web site: ShareChat hires back half of laid-off employees, expected to add another 150-200 in six months . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210615003624/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/sharechat-hires-back-half-of-laid-off-employees-expected-to-add-another-150-200-in-six-months/articleshow/77528292.cms . 15 June 2021 . 1 September 2020 . The Economic Times.
4. Web site: Ani . 7 May 2018 . ShareChat announces 'Private Messaging', 'Shake-N-Chat', 'Open Tagging' on its platform . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190418081937/http://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/tech/2018/may/07/sharechat-announces-private-messaging-shake-n-chat-open-tagging-on-its-platform-1811349.html . 18 April 2019 . 18 April 2019 . The New Indian Express.
5. News: 2023-01-25 . ShareChat cofounders Farid Ahsan and Bhanu Pratap Singh to step down . . live . 2023-06-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230613052452/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/startups/sharechat-founders-farid-ahsan-and-bhanu-pratap-singh-to-step-down-from-active-roles/articleshow/97312212.cms . 13 June 2023 . 0013-0389.
6. Web site: Soni . Yatti . 2023-01-25 . ShareChat's two co-founders step down from active roles . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230613052453/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/social-media/sharechats-two-co-founders-step-down-from-active-roles/article66432158.ece . 13 June 2023 . 2023-06-09 . . en.
7. Web site: Singh . Rajiv . 2022-02-25 . Meet The MSD Of Finance: Sharechat's Manohar Singh Charan . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230610055837/https://www.forbesindia.com/article/newage-cfos/meet-the-msd-of-finance-sharechats-manohar-singh-charan/73995/1 . 10 June 2023 . 2023-06-10 . . en.
8. Web site: 2022-04-19 . Amit Zunjarwad joins ShareChat as Chief Product Officer . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230610062144/https://hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/amit-zunjarwad-joins-sharechat-as-chief-product-officer/90936282 . 10 June 2023 . 2023-06-10 . ETHR World . en.
9. Web site: Khatri . Bhumika . 1 March 2019 . Exclusive: Clip Gets Acquired By ShareChat In All Cash Deal To Help It Fight Off ByteDance in India . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190417162708/https://inc42.com/buzz/exclusive-clip-gets-acquired-by-sharechat-in-all-cash-deal-to-help-it-fight-off-bytedance-in-india/ . 17 April 2019 . 18 April 2019 . Inc42 Media.
10. Web site: Rawat . Aman . 2020-02-25 . Acquisitions . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200524145724/https://inc42.com/buzz/sharechat-acquihires-elanic-to-tap-social-ecommerce/ . 24 May 2020 . 25 February 2019 . INC42.
11. News: Laghate . Gaurav . 2020-04-27 . ShareChat buys meme sharing app Memer . en . . live . 12 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200428060910/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/sharechat-acquires-kae-capital-backed-meme-sharing-app-memer/articleshow/75409607.cms . 28 April 2020.
12. Web site: Banerjee. Prasid. 24 August 2020. ShareChat acquires hyperlocal information platform Circle Internet. 28 August 2020. Livemint. en. 26 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201026153943/https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/sharechat-acquires-hyperlocal-information-platform-circle-internet-11598247397522.html. live.
13. Web site: 2022-02-11 . ShareChat buys MX TakaTak for USD 700 million . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220313184456/https://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2022/feb/11/sharechat-buys-mx-takatak-for-usd-700-million-2418103.amp . 13 March 2022 . 13 March 2022 . New Indian Express.
14. Web site: Sil . Debarghya . 7 December 2022 . 2022 In Review: Startup M&As Surge Amidst Funding Crunch & Downturn . 5 January 2023 . Inc42 Media . en . 5 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230105071533/https://inc42.com/features/2022-in-review-startup-acquisitions-and-mergers-surge-amidst-funding-crunch-downturn/ . live .
15. Web site: Twitter-backed Indian social network ShareChat raises $40 million . 25 September 2020 . TechCrunch . 24 September 2020 . en-US.
16. News: Murgia . Madhumita . 7 April 2021 . ShareChat valued at $2bn after India's TikTok ban . . 3 June 2021 . 3 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210603013842/https://www.ft.com/content/3a5e44e2-b2c0-4f37-9c4a-f51c6ef46eb6 . live .
17. News: Vengattil . Munsif . 30 May 2022 . Google backs India's ShareChat in $300 mln funding round at $5 bln valuation . en . . live . 30 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220530092546/https://www.reuters.com/technology/google-backs-indias-sharechat-300-mln-funding-round-5-bln-valuation-2022-05-30/ . 30 May 2022.
18. News: Mandavia . Megha . 17 April 2019 . ShareChat takes down half a million pieces of content, 54K accounts removed . . Mumbai . live . 20 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190820102110/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/sharechat-pulls-down-4-8-lakh-posts-54k-accounts-for-violating-community-guidelines/articleshow/68925554.cms . 20 August 2019.
19. News: Christopher . Nilesh . 2018-11-05 . ByteDance: Taken to court by ShareChat, ByteDance says Helo to new design . . live . 24 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230613052453/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/newsbuzz/taken-to-court-by-sharechat-bytedance-says-helo-to-new-design/articleshow/66505314.cms?from=mdr . 13 June 2023.
20. Grados. O. B.. April 1975. [The laboratory in programs for enteric infection control]]. Boletin de la Oficina Sanitaria Panamericana. Pan American Sanitary Bureau. 78. 4. 318–322. 0030-0632. 123456. 9 July 2020. 5 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190405024536/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/123456. live.
21. News: Mandavia . Megha . 21 May 2020 . ShareChat lays off 101 employees as advertising market tanks . . live . 24 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221121072322/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/newsbuzz/sharechat-lays-off-101-employees-as-advertising-market-tanks/articleshow/75838995.cms?from=mdr . 21 November 2022.
22. Web site: ShareChat hires back half of laid-off employees, expected to add another 150-200 in six months . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230613053954/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/sharechat-hires-back-half-of-laid-off-employees-expected-to-add-another-150-200-in-six-months/articleshow/77528292.cms . 13 June 2023 . 24 November 2022 . The Economic Times.
23. News: 2 December 2022 . ShareChat lays off 5% of employees, shuts fantasy gaming vertical Jeet11 . . live . 19 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221219131856/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/startups/sharechat-shuts-down-jeet11-lays-off-5-of-employees/articleshow/95941464.cms . 19 December 2022.
24. Web site: 2023-01-16 . Google-backed ShareChat confirms layoffs, says around 400 employees will lose jobs . 2023-12-20 . The Indian Express . en.
25. Web site: 2023-12-20 . Social media unicorn ShareChat fires 200 employees in another round of layoffs . 2023-12-20 . Moneycontrol . en.
26. News: P . Suraksha . 7 October 2022 . ShareChat's virtual gifting feature generates $50 million annually . . live . 22 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221222082201/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/sharechats-virtual-gifting-earns-50-million/articleshow/94689816.cms?from=mdr . 22 December 2022.
27. Web site: 18 August 2022 . 4 interesting ShareChat features that content creators should try out . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221116055811/https://www.timesnownews.com/technology-science/4-interesting-sharechat-features-that-content-creators-should-try-out-article-93646065 . 16 November 2022 . 16 November 2022 . TimesNow . en.
28. Web site: 1 December 2020. Google Play Best of 2020 Awards Revealed. 26 January 2021. 27 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210127204342/https://www.news18.com/news/tech/google-play-best-of-2020-awards-revealed-wysa-koo-moj-and-others-win-in-different-categories-3133673.html. live.
29. Web site: India's ShareChat valued at $2.88 billion in $145 million fundraise. 17 January 2022. TechCrunch. 27 July 2021 . en-US.
30. Web site: Upadhyay . Harsh . 27 July 2021 . ShareChat raises $145 Mn at a valuation of $2.88 Bn . 17 January 2022 . Entrackr . en-US . 29 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220629121616/https://entrackr.com/2021/07/sharechat-raises-145-mn-at-a-valuation-of-2-88-bn/ . live .