# Submit to r/startup

> Launch Llama directory submission tracker review — last reviewed 2026-08-25

- **Canonical:** https://tools.launchllama.co/tools/launch-directories/r-startup
- **Markdown twin:** https://tools.launchllama.co/directory-spokes/r-startup.md
- **Directory:** r/startup (reddit.com)
- **Submit URL:** https://reddit.com
- **DR:** 95
- **Pricing:** Free
- **Category:** Community (#40 of 113 by DR in this category)
- **Referral traffic:** Very High
- **Backlink quality:** Weak
- **Link type:** Nofollow — reddit.com/r/startup post links use nofollow — value is community referral traffic, not backlink SEO

## Quick verdict

Reddit community posts — DR 95, free to submit. Worth it with authentic founder posts and comment engagement; skip if you want a permanent directory backlink.

**Best for:** Early-stage founders sharing lessons, milestones, or product demos · Builders willing to follow r/startup rules and reply to every comment

## Approval & timeline

- **Time-to-live:** Posts publish immediately unless AutoModerator filters them — manual mod review can take minutes to hours.
- **Review:** r/startup moderators enforce self-promotion limits, account age, karma minimums, and community-specific posting rules.
- **Common rejections:** Low-karma accounts, bare link drops, repeated launch spam, posts violating daily promo limits, or marketing-heavy copy without context.
- **Reputation:** r/startup is smaller than r/startups — read sidebar rules carefully; many founders post to the wrong subreddit.

## Pros

- DR 95 domain with community referral traffic on posts that gain traction
- Free — no paid listing or editorial queue
- Targeted founder audience for early feedback and advice
- Comment threads surface positioning gaps and feature requests

## Cons

- Backlink quality rated Weak — Reddit links are nofollow, not SEO
- Not a directory — no permanent listing page on your product
- Moderation removes off-topic promo — wasted effort if rules ignored
- Account karma and age gates block brand-new marketing accounts

## What you need before you submit

- Reddit account meeting r/startup karma and age requirements
- Read r/startup sidebar rules, flair requirements, and promo day schedules
- Text post with context — what you built, why, and what feedback you want
- Working demo link and screenshots embedded in post body
- 2–4 hours blocked to reply authentically to every comment

**Gotchas:**

- r/startup ≠ r/startups — different communities with different rules and size
- Cross-posting identical copy to multiple subs in one hour triggers spam filters
- Lead with story or question — bare “check out my startup” titles get downvoted

## Submission mechanics

- **Account:** Reddit account — create a text or link post at reddit.com/r/startup/submit after meeting subreddit requirements.
- **Categories:** Post must fit r/startup topics — early company building, founder questions, milestones; read flair rules.
- **Anchor text:** Post title and optional body link; outbound URLs use Reddit redirect wrappers with nofollow.
- **Link placement:** Ephemeral subreddit feed post — sinks within hours; not indexed as a product directory page.

## FAQ

### Is r/startup a product directory?

No — it is a Reddit community for founder discussion. You publish a post, not a permanent directory listing.

### Does r/startup give dofollow backlinks?

No — Reddit uses nofollow on outbound links. Value is community traffic and feedback, not SEO.

### How is r/startup different from r/startups?

r/startup is a smaller community focused on early founder topics. r/startups is larger with stricter promo rules — check both sidebars before posting.

### What karma do I need to post in r/startup?

Check current sidebar rules — requirements change. Lurk and comment genuinely before posting product links.

## Related

- [Directory Submission Tracker](https://tools.launchllama.co/tools/launch-directories)
- [Community directories](https://tools.launchllama.co/tools/launch-directories?category=community)
- [Directory backlink service](https://tools.launchllama.co/launch#directory-submissions)
- [llms.txt](https://tools.launchllama.co/llms.txt)