Koo cofounder launches PicSee, an AI-led ‘mutual photo sharing’ app

Mayank Bidawatka, co-founder of the now-defunct Indian microblogging platform Koo, has launched a new AI-powered photo-sharing app through his consumer tech startup, Billion Hearts.

PicSee, which soft-launched in July with just 25 users, has grown 75× in under three months, fueled by users inviting friends to join, Bidawatka said.

Read also- Hyundai Motor appoints Tarun Garg as the first Indian MD and CEO

The app lets two users automatically share photos on each other’s smartphones after mutual approval. It scans galleries, identifies photos using facial recognition, and sends an invite to grant access.

“Everyone understands that taking photos is one of the more important activities (using a smartphone) compared to other use cases because it's very personal,” Bidawatka said, noting that there are around 5 billion smartphone users globally. 

“People don’t share photos with you because they get nothing in return. When there’s something to gain, they’re more willing to do it. That’s the core insight behind building this product,” he said.

Over 150,000 photos have already been shared on the platform, with the majority of users based in India, he said.

Advertisment

PicSee now has users in 27 countries, including the US, UK, Japan, Germany, and France, and is available on both Android and iOS. Currently free, it may adopt a subscription model later with premium features.

Bidawatka emphasized that the app ensures privacy by keeping photos on users’ devices and encrypting them during transfer, without storing them on its servers.

Want to go deeper into the world of startups and entrepreneurship? Check out these categories on VIESTORIES:

Latest Business and Startup News: Discover Funding Trends and Stories Shaping Indian Startups.

Startup Funding News: Your Gateway to Every Funding Update.

Latest Startup News: Stay updated with the latest startup news and trends. Your go-to source for startup ecosystem updates.

Startup Stories: Discover inspiring tales of startups overcoming challenges, and achieving success.

Advertisment