Launch HN is a way for YC startups to launch on Hacker News. The process is curated and involves working with the HN team to craft a text that we hope will interest the community. If you're a YC startup, here are the steps:
This decision is not about how good your startup is! Rather, it's about what we think may appeal to the HN community, which is finicky in its preferences. Each YC startup only gets one Launch HN, so it's important to play that card at the right time. The HN team can help you decide when that is. If you're not a YC startup, the above doesn't apply, but you should still follow the advice below. Some startups get funded by YC after a successful Show HN. What not to do Don't write in a marketing, sales, or PR style. It doesn't work on HN. Talk to readers as peers—not as users, customers, or investors. Be sure that your text doesn't read like an ad. This is the most common mistake. If it sounds like your home page or your pitch deck, it won't work on HN. Don't sell to this audience. If you try, they will close the tab. Instead, interest them, then let them sell themselves. What to do Write in a factual and personal way about the problem you solve, why it matters, and how you got there. Write in your own voice, not a corporate one. If your username is your company name, email us to change it. Talk to HN as fellow builders and engineers. Imagine you're having a drink with a friend you used to work with. Don't talk like you would to investors (we're going to be huge!). Instead, be relatable (we're just like you!). When HN readers identify with you, they become friendly. Don't use superlatives (fastest, biggest, first, best). Modest language is stronger. Be humble. Don't say nice things about yourselves or sound like insiders. Defer to the community and be cheerfully self-critical. Your Product Make sure there's a way for HN readers to try out and poke around your product. Remove signup barriers, at least for launch day—you'll get more and better feedback. If this isn't an option for your type of product, you can share a demo or a video. If you're only collecting email signups or beta users, it's probably too early for your Launch HN. HN readers expect to access the product. Exception: hard tech or biotech products that take years to develop. Make your pricing transparent. If it isn't, HN readers will complain. If this is not possible, check with us. Don't use bait-and-switch tactics. Example: if you need users to set up an onboarding call, make it clear up front. If you surprise them, they will complain. Your Text Write a text blurb telling how you came to work on your startup and explaining what's different about it. Here's one template you can follow:
Lead with a clear statement of what your company does. If you don't, the discussion will consist of "I can't tell what your company does". Don't repeat your title in your text—find a second way to explain what you do. That way you get two shots at landing the most important point. Explain the problem. What is the pain? Why does it matter? Where were you when you encountered this? Why did you decide to make it a startup? Supply technical details. Assume readers are smart enough to understand. Don't assume specialized knowledge, though. If you use jargon, explain it. Don't make lists of features. Work those details into your text. Don't use single-sentence paragraphs. They read like sales letters. Say how you make money or plan to. If you don't know yet, say what you're thinking. End with a warm, open-ended invitation to the community to share their ideas, experiences, and feedback. Comments Reply when comments start appearing. Take breaks, but don't leave the thread for long without answering. The hivemind gets cranky without attention, and your post will fall down the page faster. Make sure your friends don't post booster comments. That's not allowed on HN. Our readers have a nose for this, and will sniff them out and flame you. That will damage your reputation—and ours—and we may have to bury your thread. Please re-read the previous paragraph. It is the worst mistake you can make on HN! Be generous with details about your technology, problem, and market. The community is insatiably curious. Don't address other users by their usernames ("hi, foo123"). Answer straightforwardly. Respond to objections by first finding something to agree with, even if it's just the positive intention behind the comment. When criticized, act like the critics are doing you a favor. Who knows, maybe they are, and it will win you favor either way. You never have to convince a critic—your goal is to win over the large silent audience. Cheerful, non-defensive engagement with critics helps you do that. Avoid insider discussion, such as with friends or other founders. Even when it's friendly, it can leave others feeling excluded. Questions or concerns? Email [email protected]. Logistics (for YC startups)
Your title must be 80 chars or less and follow this format: Launch HN: <company name> (YC S24) - <your tag line here>Make the tag line neutral and factual, not salesy. Launch HN outs you as YC-funded, so be sure you want that to be public. We'll agree on a day with you. Use your YC founder account to submit your launch post here. If you put your blurb in the text field and the agreed-upon title in the title field, the software will place your submission on HN's front page after a few minutes. Don't coordinate your HN launch with other events, e.g. press articles. It does no good and is a pain. All you need for HN is enough free time to engage with commenters on that day. If you've granted a press exclusive, wait till you're free and do HN then.
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