My First Campus : What Worked, What Didn’t, and What I Learned

Some journeys as an entrepreneur leave a lasting impact, and for me, that was MyFirstCampus. It was my first real shot at building something from the ground up—an ed-tech startup with a bold vision to transform talent recruitment using computer adaptive testing. We ran for 18 months before deciding to shut it down, but those months were packed with lessons, growth, and experiences I’ll carry forever. Starting something from scratch is always a mix of excitement and uncertainty, and while MyFirstCampus didn’t end the way I had hoped, it was an incredible adventure that shaped me in so many ways. Here’s a glimpse into what we built, how we did, and why I eventually decided to move on.

The Vision Behind MyFirstCampus

MyFirstCampus was born in year 2013 from a simple observation: traditional recruitment methods weren't effectively identifying and assessing fresh talent (especially for Startups). They lack the brand recognition to attract top candidates, and traditional job portals don’t cater to their specific needs. On top of that, the hiring process is often time-consuming, expensive, and inefficient.My idea was to develop a computer adaptive testing platform that could evaluate candidates' skills more accurately and efficiently than conventional methods.

MyFirstCampus was India’s first job portal specifically designed for startups to hire entry-level engineering talent. MyFirstCampus aimed to simplify and speed up the hiring process for startups. We used SAP-powered adaptive testing technology to assess candidates on technical, general, and verbal aptitude, as well as personality traits. The goal was to provide startups with pre-assessed, high-quality candidates who could hit the ground running.

Our platform offered:

• 5x Faster Hiring: Startups could close positions in as little as 7-10 days.

• 250% More Candidate Reach: A large database of pre-assessed candidates ensured better visibility.

• Cost-Effectiveness: We were 80% more affordable than traditional job portals.

• Nationwide Reach: We planned to conduct tests in 25 cities and 200 colleges across India.

The process was simple: startups would post a job, interview pre-assessed candidates, and hire the best fit. We wanted to make hiring smarter, simpler, and more efficient.

The Business Journey

Starting with just an idea, I bootstrapped (all from savings of just working in corporate fpr 2 years). At the peak time we had a team of 7 full-time employees. Our journey was marked by both achievements and challenges. But we broke even, which was a big deal for a completely self-funded startup.

We had some great features on the platform, like a smart dashboard, auto-scheduling for interviews, and real-time monitoring.

My First Campus was selected as part of SAP Startup Studio (link), Got covered in few publications - TechStory

But, like any startup, we faced challenges. While we had a few early adopters and positive feedback, we struggled to scale. The market wasn’t quite ready for computer-adaptive testing in fresher hiring, and we didn’t have the resources to pivot or wait for the market to catch up.

However, despite reaching operational break-even, we struggled to achieve profitability. The market response was lukewarm, and scaling the business proved more challenging than anticipated.

Shutting Down

After 18 months of dedicated effort, I faced the difficult choice to close down MyFirstCampus. There were a few important reasons behind this decision:

• Market Readiness: The idea of adaptive testing for fresher hiring was truly innovative, but the market just wasn’t quite ready to embrace it yet.

• Product-Market Fit: Even though we had a strong product, it didn’t connect with our audience in the way we had hoped.

• Sustainability: Operating on a bootstrap model limited our resources for scaling or implementing significant changes.

Though it was a tough choice to make, I believe it was the right one. I came to understand that sometimes, despite our best efforts and intentions, things don’t always unfold as we envision. And that’s okay.

Looking Back

While MyFirstCampus didn't become the success I hoped for, it provided invaluable lessons in entrepreneurship, market timing, and the importance of product-market fit. Sometimes, knowing when to close a chapter is as important as knowing how to begin one. The experience has shaped my understanding of startup dynamics and will influence my future entrepreneurial ventures.

The journey was the most rewarding experiences of my life. It taught me so much about building a product, leading a team, and understanding the market. Most importantly, it gave me the confidence to take risks and try new things.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that failure isn’t the opposite of success—it’s a part of it. MyFirstCampus may not have been a commercial success, but it was a success in terms of the lessons I learned and the growth I experienced.