Can you promote in r/startups?
Welcome to /r/startups, the place to discuss startup problems and solutions. Startups are companies that are designed to grow and scale rapidly. Be sure to read and follow all of our rules--we have specific places for common content and requests.
The short answer
Engage broadly in public discussions, avoid naming or linking your product in posts, and use the designated Share Your Startup or weekly feedback threads (with disclosure) for any overt promotion or feedback requests.
What works here
- Answering public questions/help without promoting your product
- Sharing your startup only in the designated Share Your Startup/Monthly thread
- Posting feedback/survey requests only in the weekly Feedback thread
- Linking third‑party resources (no affiliation) with explanation in comments
What gets posts removed
- Direct sales, advertisements, or promotional posts outside stickied threads
- Tying a submission directly to your project using its name or URL
- Posting links to content you are affiliated with without prior mod approval
- Requesting PMs/DMs as the main call to action
Where this comes from
View the current official rules on RedditNo direct sales, advertisements, or promotion
Rule explicitly forbids direct sales/ads/promotional posts and notes exceptions are only designated sticky threads.
Share Your Startup allowed in a designated thread
You may share your startup only in the Monthly/Share Your Startup thread (stickied).
Submissions shouldn't tie to your own project
Posts must discuss tactics/experiences without tying them directly to your own project using its name or URL.
Feedback confined to weekly thread
All feedback requests, surveys and polls must be posted in the Feedback Thread or appropriate weekly thread.
Link rules and affiliations
Links in comments must be explained and must not be to content you are affiliated with (affiliate links banned).
Official rules of r/startups
- 01Relevant Content Only
- 02No direct sales, advertisements, or promotion
- 03Submissions Serve a Specific Purpose
- 04Feedback Has a Place
- 05Rules for Links in Comments/Discussion
- 06Do Not Solicit PM Requests / Post DM Notices
- 07Sharing Your Blog is To Start a Discussion, Never For Self-Promotion
- 08Always Be Kind and Supportive
- 09No Unscheduled AMAs
Based on the community’s official rules, analyzed June 22, 2026. Rules change; the official rules page is always the source of truth.
Read the Intoru research and correction methodology.
Intoru follows these rules for you.
It finds people in r/startups and hundreds of other communities who are looking for what you sell, and drafts replies that fit each community’s rules, so you help first and never read as spam.
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