Hike Layoffs

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Hike, once a unicorn startup valued at $1.4 billion in India's tech industry, has shut down entirely in September 2025, resulting in layoffs for all employees. The closure follows the Indian government's recent ban on real-money gaming platforms, which was Hike's primary business focus after pivoting from its original messaging app. Founder Kavin Bharti Mittal stated that while the company's U.S. gaming venture showed promise, scaling it globally would require a significant recapitalization that was deemed not worthwhile. This decision ends the company's 13-year run, marking a major casualty in India's $23 billion real-money gaming sector, which has seen other major players also exit or pivot due to the new regulations.

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