Medial: Bengaluru’s Professional Networking Platform Shuts Down

Bengaluru’s professional networking platform Medial has ceased its operations, as announced by its founder and CEO Niket Raj Dwivedi on LinkedIn. Dwivedi expressed that the purpose of Medial was to establish an online haven for the startup ecosystem, aiding founders, employees, and investors while eliminating the barriers of access and information between Tier I and Tier II and III cities. He believed that geography should never serve as an obstacle.

Founders and Vision of Medial

Medial was initiated by Niket Raj Dwivedi, Aishwarya Raj Pandey, Prateek Kaien, and Harsh Dwivedi. The platform focused on content and community within the tech and startup landscape. It featured startup news, industry updates, career dialogues, and workplace discussions, offering users both real identities and the option for anonymous interaction.

Funding and Recognition

In December 2024, Medial secured $500,000 in a funding round led by Ortella Global Capital (OG Capital). The platform also received attention after being featured on Shark Tank India.

User Base and Features

Medial boasted more than 500,000 users across 30 countries. The platform provided a premium subscription that granted access to venture capital and grant trackers, databases for accelerators and incubators, startup job listings, and exclusive content.

Competitive Landscape

As a professional social network, Medial competed with other platforms such as Grapevine, Hood, Fishbowl, Blind, and Reddit. It previously reported a tenfold growth in users over the span of a year, alongside a sixfold rise in user engagement.