Where to Launch Your Startup

The best launches happen in many places over weeks, not one big day. Each platform brings a different audience. Choose the ones where your users already spend time.

Launch early, launch often, and launch where your users are.

• A clear one-line pitch
• A simple landing page with a demo video
• Screenshots and a logo
• A free plan or trial people can try instantly
• A way to collect emails and feedback

Product Hunt

The best-known launch site for tech products. Prepare your page, launch early in the day, and reply to every comment

Hacker News

Post as Show HN. Best for developer and technical products. Be humble and technical, and never ask for upvotes

Peerlist Launchpad

Weekly launches for makers and professionals

BetaList

For early-stage startups looking for beta users

Indie Hackers

Share your story and numbers with other founders

Reddit

Niche subreddits where your users are. Read each subreddit’s rules on self-promotion first

Discord and Slack groups

Industry communities, used with care

Hacker and maker forums

Smaller communities for your niche

Give value first. Communities ban people who only promote.

• X: build in public with progress updates
• LinkedIn: share the story behind the product
• Threads and Instagram: visual demos
• YouTube and TikTok: short demo videos

Many smaller launch sites can bring early users and backlinks:

• Uneed
• Fazier
• Microlaunch
• DevHunt, for developer tools
• SaaSHub and AlternativeTo, to appear as an alternative to known tools

Some are free and some charge for faster or featured listings. Check terms before paying.

For AI products, list on AI directories such as There’s An AI For That, Futurepedia, and Toolify. Many have paid options, so compare traffic before paying.

• Apple App Store and Google Play for mobile apps
• Chrome Web Store for extensions
• Shopify App Store, Figma Community, or Notion templates for add-ons
• The Claude and ChatGPT plugin directories for AI integrations

Best Productivity Resources lists useful tools, apps, and resources for a large audience. To submit, send a direct message on LinkedIn. See bestproductivityresources.com/how-to-submit for what to include.

Week 1

Soft launch to friends, waitlist, and communities

Week 2

Product Hunt or Peerlist, plus social posts

Week 3

Show HN and niche subreddits

Week 4

Directories and AI tool lists

Every month

Share updates and relaunch big features

• Reply to every comment and email
• Fix the top problems users report
• Turn launch traffic into email subscribers
• Write about what you learned
• Relaunch when you ship a major update

• Buying upvotes or fake reviews, which can get you banned
• Launching with a broken sign-up
• Posting the same message everywhere
• Paying for many directories without tracking results