Promote on r/startups
A tightly moderated community where promotional content — even subtle product mentions — gets removed fast. The upside: when you give genuine value here it carries significant credibility. Discussions focus on startup methodology, fundraising, hiring, co-founder dynamics, and growth strategy. The bar for quality is high.
Best Content That Performs on r/startups
These content types consistently get the most engagement in this community. Match your posts to what the community already loves.
5 Reply Strategies for r/startups
These are the tactics that separate replies that get upvoted and build reputation from ones that get ignored — or flagged.
- 1
Keep replies 100% value-focused — even indirect self-promotion ("we use a tool that helped with this") gets flagged; give the full methodology first, mention tools only if directly asked.
- 2
Use numbered, structured responses when answering complex questions about process — this community skims fast and structured content gets more upvotes.
- 3
Cite real-world startup examples (Airbnb's early rejection letters, Stripe's initial cold outreach) to back up strategic advice — it signals you've done the reading.
- 4
Address the meta-question behind what the OP is really asking, not just the surface-level question — demonstrate strategic depth.
- 5
Give concrete methodology steps before recommending any tools — the community values process over product.
Dos & Don'ts on r/startups
Every community has unwritten (and sometimes written) rules. Break them and you'll be ignored; follow them and you'll build real credibility.
Do
- ✓ Give thorough, well-reasoned strategic advice backed by frameworks
- ✓ Reference known startup case studies when relevant
- ✓ Engage with the methodology question, not just the surface problem
- ✓ Acknowledge uncertainty ("this worked for us but YMMV at different stages")
- ✓ Read and follow the community rules before posting or commenting
Don't
- ✕ Post anything that could be read as promotional — even subtly
- ✕ Give vague advice without methodological substance
- ✕ Name-drop tools or products without being asked
- ✕ Post "check out my startup" content of any kind
- ✕ Reply with just encouragement — this community wants substance
Reply like a regular on r/startups —
without spending hours crafting every reply
Lazyapply reads the full thread context and understands the specific norms of communities like r/startups. It drafts a reply that sounds like a knowledgeable community member — not a bot or a pitch — so you can engage authentically at scale.
- Understands r/startups tone and what gets flagged as spam
- Drafts replies calibrated to your product and the thread context
- Lets you edit before posting — you always control what goes out
- Works on Reddit comments and X/Twitter replies in one click