Ever since the global pandemic emerged, our daily routines have been plagued by disturbances and unpredictability. The surge in stress, depression, anxiety, and emotional difficulties has underscored the urgent requirement for a platform where people can seek comfort and establish connections with others who share similar hardships. This is where FailTell comes into play—an innovative venture founded on August 4, 2020, by Rahul Mohanty and Swagat Mohanty, esteemed alumni of NIT Rourkela.
FailTell started as a platform with a unique vision—to build a “social community” around inspiring stories of failure. “Everyone comes up with success stories, but we wanted to make people believe that they are not alone by sharing tales of failure,” says Swagat. The goal was to foster personal connections among individuals with similar life stories and experiences. Through its organic social media marketing strategy, FailTell quickly garnered a user base of 19,000 members and featured 250 stories, proving the growing demand for such a community.
In an era dominated by superficial portrayals on social media, FailTell aims to create a space of authenticity. While people readily share their successes, the platform encourages individuals to acknowledge the hundred failure attempts that often precede those successes. FailTell believes in presenting a more holistic view of the journey, rather than glorifying the end result. “We believe that this space is destined to explode, whether through FailTell or some other platform,” affirms Swagat.
The advent of the pandemic’s second wave only intensified the stress and challenges faced by individuals. As the situation worsened, people found themselves grappling with heightened emotions, mental health issues, employment uncertainty, and anxiety about the future. Rahul notes, “We were surprised to discover the interconnectedness of these problems and how addressing even one can set the tone for alleviating others.” This realization fuelled the launch of FailTell 2.0 in August 2021—a pivotal moment for the start-up.
FailTell 2.0 emerged as the first all-in-one digital platform offering an expanded range of services to help individuals overcome failures, conquer mental health and emotional challenges, strategize their careers, and navigate everyday concerns. Among their diverse range of services, career mentoring stands out as the most widely used. “Anyone can accelerate in their careers with proper assistance and guidance,” says Swagat. FailTell boasts a team of career mentors hailing from various domains, including IT, Entrepreneurship, Consulting, Analytics, BFSI, Venture Capital, Fashion Designing, Modeling, Government Services, Healthcare, and Hotel Management.
Through its relentless efforts and organic growth, this bootstrapped start-up has also established a robust network of over 50 counsellors/therapists, 30 life coaches, and 200 career mentors. Their impactful social media presence, creative posts, marketing campaigns, and collaboration with NGOs and organizations have played a significant role in building this network. FailTell has also made strides internationally, thanks to its collaboration with international campus business managers who have helped expand its reach and onboard users from overseas.
Looking to the future, FailTell aims to venture into the B2B segment by collaborating with educational institutions and corporate entities. Their goal is to offer comprehensive, student-friendly, and employee-friendly services respectively, catering to emotional, personal, intellectual, and mental well-being while propelling individuals towards rewarding careers. As the first all-in-one digital platform for personal and professional growth in this overcrowded space, FailTell recognizes the potential of being a first mover and is eager to explore it. Ultimately, their mission will be accomplished when they successfully create a community where individuals embrace the entire process, including both failures and successes.
FailTell’s journey is far from over. By providing a supportive environment, sharing inspiring stories, and offering a range of services, they are empowering individuals to navigate the complex terrain between failure and success. In a world seeking authenticity and connection, FailTell stands at the forefront, bridging the gap and fostering growth for all.
