What is Fail U Forward?
Fail U Forward is designed to share honest stories of setbacks and rejections and lessons learned: all the stuff LinkedIn filters out. Tech Stack: Next.js with TypeScript for frontend and backend, Firebase for database and Gemini for AI validation.
Problem
Users rely on traditional professional networks like LinkedIn, which filter out honest stories of setbacks and rejections, creating a skewed perception of success and limiting opportunities to learn from real-world challenges.
Solution
A web-based community platform where users can share honest stories of professional setbacks with AI validation (via Gemini), connect with others, and gain insights from collective experiences. Example: Submit a failure story, receive AI-curated lessons, and engage in discussions.
Customers
Entrepreneurs, career-driven professionals, and job seekers aged 25–45 seeking authentic professional growth and peer support.
Unique Features
Focuses exclusively on unfiltered failure narratives, combines AI validation (Gemini) with community-driven insights, and fosters vulnerability in a professional context.
User Comments
Valuable for normalizing failure in careers
AI summaries help extract actionable lessons
Refreshing alternative to LinkedIn’s highlight reel
Needs more industry-specific categories
Engagement features could be improved
Traction
Launched on ProductHunt (exact metrics unspecified), built with Next.js, Firebase, and Gemini. Traction details (users/revenue) not publicly disclosed.
Market Size
The global professional development market is valued at $370 billion (HolonIQ, 2023), with growing demand for authentic career-growth resources.
