FailFest 4.0
Everyone loves a success story. We love ‘the before’ – the messy middle: what went wrong before it went right, and what we learned. That’s what FailFest is all about.
FailFest is a fun, refreshingly honest forum that celebrates comebacks. But, comebacks aren’t magic. They are built from the grit to keep going when the world says stop, and the mindset to see every setback as a chance to grow.
Since 2013, we’ve welcomed a mix of bold voices: artists and techies, comics and chefs, journalists and entrepreneurs – all brave enough to say, “Yeah… I got screwed / I screwed up. And, here’s what I learned…”. FailFest is not about glorifying failure; it’s about owning it, learning from it, and finding unexpected joy (and growth!) in the mess.
How is FailFest different from other conferences, like TEDx?
Most conferences showcase polished success and big ideas. FailFest pulls back the curtain. While TEDx surfaces ideas worth spreading, FailFest uncovers wisdom worth sharing – real stories, raw edges, and hard-won insights.
Storytellers
Deepa Kiran, Founder of Story Arts Foundation, is a storyteller and educationalist who has travelled with her musical stories around the world. She loves sharing stories, re-igniting the love for stories in others, and then offering a safe & inviting space for sharing and connecting over stories!
Y Krishnamurthy is the founder and curator of the YK Antiques Home Museum, where he preserves tangible history and the stories it holds. Following a distinguished 30-year corporate career, he now applies his strategic expertise as a management consultant for startups, having traded boardrooms for relics to pursue his true calling: a passion for heritage and travel.
Aishwarya is a 3D artist and startup co-founder who transformed personal challenge into innovation. After losing her eyesight, she channeled her experience into creating accessible technology and art. She is the driving force behind Spacefelt, a smartphone app making public spaces navigable for the visually impaired, and creates tactile art experienced through touch. A TEDx speaker and advocate, her mission is to turn societal barriers into opportunities for all.
Yunus Lasania is the Chief of Bureau for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh at The News Minute. With over 11 years of experience across three national dailies and digital newsrooms, he specializes in politics, policy, and long-form features. Passionate about Hyderabad’s heritage, he founded The Hyderabad History Project and hosts the “Beyond Charminar” podcast, exploring the city’s untold stories.
Pallav Bajjuri is a 2x Entrepreneur (CEO & Co-Founder at Kahaniya & Co-Founder, CEO at SaddaHaq). At 23, having no experience or network in journalism, developed (and scaled to a million MAU) a pioneering Social Journalism platform, SaddaHaq, that was appreciated by some of the biggest names in global journalism and became the subject of case studies at some of the most prestigious journalism colleges. Pallav studied Master’s from Boston University.
The Reset Dialogue: Navigating Setbacks
The Reset Dialogue is a practical masterclass on resilience. Our expert coaches will move beyond clichés to provide a tangible toolkit for handling setbacks. Learn to manage shock, quiet self-doubt, leverage your support system, and plan your comeback. Leave with actionable strategies to process failure and build lasting resilience.
Panelists:
Meetu Chawla, Social Emotional Skills Coach
Meetu Chawla, founder of Thinkerminds and Co-founder of Headstart, is a social emotional coach who integrates self awareness practices, positive psychology principles and mindfulness to help individuals navigate emotional overwhelm, relationship challenges and professional crossroads.
Omana Hirantara, Facilitator, Success Coach
Omana Hirantara is a seasoned facilitator and co-founder of Kaleidoscope with over two decades of experience in personal development. She believes that a small change in perspective releases tremendous stress and empowers the person. Omana’s passion is to support people make happiness and success a daily phenomenon and live with ease and freedom.
Moderator:
Suhani Dewra, Journalist, Author
Suhani Dewra has worked as a communication professional for more than a decade, in the media and corporate set ups. She recently released her book ‘An Alternaive Way Of Living’ which features 25 people who follow some aspect of conscious living.
Why attend?
Because when people open up about what went wrong, something powerful happens: we feel less alone, more hopeful, and a little braver to try again. You’ll walk away with practical tools, tactics, and strategies that have actually helped people bounce back.
Who is it for?
FailFest is for thinkers, doers, dreamers, and risk-takers — founders, creatives, leaders, and anyone who’s ever hit a wall and had to find their way through. If you’ve faced setbacks, are in the messy middle, or simply want to learn how others turned failure into fuel, this is your room.
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For more relatable and reflective stories of setbacks, comebacks, and everything in between, watch FailFestTalks on YouTube.