r/startups
One of the better-run founder communities on Reddit. The moderation is strict enough that discussion actually happens, and structured enough that you can tell exactly where you are allowed to talk about your own company.
What the numbers say
r/startups sees a steady flow of posts — about 11 a day — with real discussion on most posts. That is a healthy ratio — enough posts that something relevant appears most days, enough discussion that a good answer gets read. It accepts text posts only, so there is no way to submit a link as a post — whatever you want read has to be written out in the post itself.
| Measure | r/startups |
|---|---|
| Members | 2.1M |
| Created | 2008 |
| Posts per day | 11 |
| Median comments | 12 |
| Text posts | 100% |
| Accepts | Text posts only |
| Rules total | 9 |
| Rules on promotion | 5 |
What these numbers mean and why subscriber count is the wrong one is explained on the directory hub.
Structured, and the structure is the point
r/startups solves the founder-spam problem by containment rather than prohibition. Feedback requests, surveys and startup sharing all have designated weekly threads, and posting them anywhere else gets them removed. Submissions must clear a minimum length, which quietly filters out most low-effort posts.
The effect is a main feed of genuine questions — about hiring, pricing, co-founder disputes, fundraising — where a substantive answer stands out. That is the opportunity here, and it is a reputation opportunity rather than a direct lead source. You are unlikely to find someone saying "recommend me a tool" in r/startups; you are quite likely to find someone describing a problem your tool solves, in enough detail that a genuinely useful answer earns you a profile visit.
The rule most people trip over is the ban on soliciting private messages. Do not ask anyone to DM you, and do not post to say that you have DMed someone. Reply in the thread and let them come to you.
Promotion rules, in the moderators' own words
5 of r/startups's 9 rules govern promotion, advertising or soliciting, quoted verbatim:
Relevant Content Only
We are a community of discussion based around startups, not traditional businesses. All content must be relevant to startups. You are welcome to ask how to apply startup methodologies to your traditional business if you frame your question in a non-promotional way. We want you to be able to ask any
No direct sales, advertisements, or promotion
**No direct sales, advertisements, or promotional posts of any kind**. We have designated places that are an exception to this rule and they will always be stickied at the top of /r/startups. * You MAY share your startup in the Monthly Share Your Startup thread Self-promotion is anything you have an
Rules for Links in Comments/Discussion
Sometimes you think the best solution is simply to link to a resource that might answer someone's question. We want you to be able to link in discussion to relevant content. We also don't want the discussion to turn into a self promotional mess and link farm. If you are going to link to something in
Do Not Solicit PM Requests / Post DM Notices
The purpose of making a submission or comment is to engage in a public discussion with the community. It is not to request a PM/DM from someone. Do not post a notice that you DMed someone. You are more than welcome to engage privately with one another, but it is up to you to take the initiative dire
Sharing Your Blog is To Start a Discussion, Never For Self-Promotion
Sharing your blog is not a means to self promote. A link to the original blog post is allowed with **prior** Mod approval. If you are submitting your own blog content, the full body of the content must be included in the post, properly formatted for reddit. Include an outline & timestamps with a vid
Snapshot only — check the live rules before posting.
When to post in r/startups
Hours whose posts drew the most discussion, across the 100 most recent:
- 08:00 UTC (3am ET / 12am PT) — averaged 54 comments per post
- 23:00 UTC (6pm ET / 3pm PT) — averaged 48 comments per post
- 19:00 UTC (2pm ET / 11am PT) — averaged 30.4 comments per post
A tie-breaker, not a rule — see why timing matters less than you would like.
Who should watch this subreddit
Founders selling to other founders, and anyone whose product touches the operational problems of an early company — hiring, finance, legal, analytics.
Related communities: r/Entrepreneur, r/SaaS, r/indiehackers, r/EntrepreneurRideAlong.
Frequently asked questions
Can you promote your business in r/startups?
Only in the designated weekly threads. The main feed bans direct sales, advertising and promotional posts of any kind, and sharing your own blog requires prior moderator approval. Mentioning your company in a genuinely relevant reply is generally tolerated; leading with it is not.
Is r/startups good for finding leads?
Useful, but the promotion rules will catch you out. Direct purchase requests are rare, but problem descriptions are common and detailed, which makes it strong ground for the slower reputation play.
How active is r/startups?
About 11 posts a day from 2.1M members, with a median of 12 comments per post — real discussion on most posts.
Catch the r/startups threads worth answering
Rules this specific are easier to respect when you are reading five posts a day instead of all of them. RedditScout filters first so you can spend the attention on the reply.
Get Started Free →Measured 2026-08-05. Check any other community on demand.