LaunchRanked
  • #micro-startups
  • #showcase
  • #paid-listing
  • #dofollow

Submit to Startup Spotlight

A showcase of small and micro startups with a newest-first feed, category pages and a 'best of' list. It is browsed by founders and people looking for small products. Listings are paid and go live straight away with a permanent link to your site.

Startup Spotlight at a glance

Pricing
Paid
$29 one-time listing, live immediately with a permanent do-follow link.
Link type
Dofollow
Listing https://www.startupspotlight.co/startup/cartboost 'Visit site' link has rel="noopener" only; submit page promises a permanent do-follow link (checked 2026-09-23)
Review
Automatic
Link back required
No
Account required
Not verified
Domain Rating
DR36
Domain Rating by Ahrefs, checked Sep 24, 2026. A score of the whole site’s backlinks, not a Google metric.
Tranco rank
Not ranked
No Tranco rank on record for this site.
Who browses it
Founders and people browsing micro-startups
Last checked

How to submit to Startup Spotlight

  1. Open the Startup Spotlight submission page

    This is the page makers use to add a product.

  2. Sign up if asked

    We couldn’t confirm whether an account is required. Use a company email if one is needed.

  3. Have your assets ready

    Name, tagline, description, logo and screenshots. The checklist below covers what to prepare so you can fill the form in one go.

  4. Fill in the form carefully

    Pick the most specific category the form offers and write the description for the people who browse Startup Spotlight (Founders and people browsing micro-startups), not for search engines.

  5. Check your listing

    Listings go live without review. Open yours, check the details and check the link points to the right page.

Tips for Startup Spotlight

  • The submit form unlocks only after you open five listed startups, so budget a minute for that.
  • Paste your URL and the site pulls your name, description and favicon, so tidy your meta tags first.
  • A badge is available to embed your ranking, but it isn't required for the link.

From Startup Spotlight’s own guidelines and pages, in our words.

What to prepare

The basics every directory asks for, plus what matters most for product launch platforms.

  • Product name and a one-line tagline (about 60 characters)
  • A short description (1–2 sentences) and a longer one (a short paragraph)
  • Square logo, at least 256×256 px, PNG or SVG
  • 2–3 screenshots at a consistent size
  • The exact page you want the link to point to
  • Pricing model (free, freemium or paid) and a contact email
  • A chosen launch date, with time blocked to reply to comments
  • A maker comment: why you built it and what feedback you want
  • Gallery images or a short demo video
  • An optional launch-day offer for that platform’s users

Is Startup Spotlight worth it?

A followed link, with a low bar

The listing link we inspected was followed, but listings go live without human review. Directories that accept everyone tend to carry less weight, so treat it as a small plus, not a priority.

  • Domain Rating by Ahrefs: 36 (moderate). That's the strength of links to the whole site, not a promise about what your listing passes on.
  • No Tranco rank on record, so we can’t say how much traffic it gets.
  • Listings are published without human review.
  • Listing costs money. Pay for the audience, not the link: Google’s spam policies treat buying links that pass ranking value as a link scheme.

This verdict is worked out from the facts above with fixed rules (link type, review, price, Domain Rating by Ahrefs, Tranco rank), not paid for. The directory has no say in it.

Questions about Startup Spotlight

Is Startup Spotlight free?

No. Startup Spotlight charges for listings. Pricing details: $29 one-time listing, live immediately with a permanent do-follow link. We checked on Sep 23, 2026.

Does Startup Spotlight give a dofollow link?

Yes. The listing link we inspected was a followed (dofollow) link. Evidence: Listing https://www.startupspotlight.co/startup/cartboost 'Visit site' link has rel="noopener" only; submit page promises a permanent do-follow link (checked 2026-09-23).

How do I submit to Startup Spotlight?

Submit at https://www.startupspotlight.co/submit. Listings go live without human review. Tip: The submit form unlocks only after you open five listed startups, so budget a minute for that.

Alternatives to Startup Spotlight

All product launch platforms
  • Hacker News (Show HN)

    news.ycombinator.com

    Mixed

    Free · DR 91 · Tranco #2,207

  • Product Hunt

    producthunt.com

    UGC (nofollow)

    Free · DR 91 · Tranco #4,480

  • UGC (nofollow)

    Not published · DR 77 · Tranco #202,614

  • Fazier

    fazier.com

    Mixed

    Free + paid options · DR 83 · Tranco #224,088

  • WIP

    wip.co

    Nofollow

    Paid · DR 56 · Tranco #252,067

  • Uneed

    uneed.best

    Mixed

    Free + paid options · DR 76 · Tranco #363,756

Also in these lists

Startup Spotlight appears on these niche lists, next to other places to submit the same kind of product.

All niche lists

Sources

The pages we opened on Sep 23, 2026 to write this page.