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Flip App Shuts Down: The Rise and Fall of a $1 Billion Social Commerce Unicorn
On Friday, August 29, 2025, the California-based startup Flip officially announced its shutdown. Once hailed as a billion-dollar social commerce unicorn, Flip is now gone from app stores, its website showing only a farewell message:
“Thank you for making Flip real… We are saddened to share that Flip has shut down.”
This closure ends a six-year experiment that attempted to merge TikTok-style short-form videos with e-commerce, giving creators and everyday shoppers the chance to earn from engagement and reviews.
The Journey of Flip
- 2019: Flip was founded by Noor Agha and Jonathan Ellman, built around the idea that anyone could be an influencer.
- 2021: Raised $28 million in Series A funding, fueling rapid growth.
- 2024: Raised $144 million, giving Flip a $1.05 billion valuation. It even acquired another startup, Curated, for $330 million.
- 2025: Despite its success on paper, Flip could not compete with TikTok and Instagram’s dominance. Its reliance on steep discounts and creator payouts wasn’t sustainable. On August 29, 2025, the app was officially shut down.
📊 Timeline of Flip App (2019–2025)
What Flip Achieved Before Closing
- 16.5 million users
- 5 billion video views
- $13.4 million paid to creators
- $375 million in brand sales
Flip briefly surged when TikTok faced regulatory uncertainty in the U.S., with app installs spiking by up to 20× in early 2024. But that growth couldn’t be sustained without costly incentives.
Why Flip Shut Down
- Tough Competition – TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube already dominate social shopping.
- High Costs – Flip’s discount-driven growth and creator payout model drained resources.
- Scaling Challenges – While user engagement was strong, converting users into long-term loyal buyers was difficult.
- Investor Pressure – Despite raising $144 million, Flip couldn’t deliver profitability fast enough.
How to Shut Down Your Flip Account
While the app itself has been removed from app stores, many users still wanted to delete or secure their accounts before closure. Flip advised following these steps (when the app was still active):
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