Can I promote my startup in r/ycombinator?
No. Self-promotion and solicitation are explicitly restricted.
Subreddit guides
r/ycombinator rules, stats, and what to post
A current Rankhog guide to r/ycombinator: what the subreddit is for, rules, posting standards, and what works before you publish.
Current public stats
- Members
- 187,027
- Verified
- 2026-05-26
- Category
- YC applicants and startup founders
Rules can change, so Rankhog stores verification dates with each MDX page and keeps the original public Reddit sources visible.
Rule summary
- Read stickied posts first: The subreddit expects users to read current pinned guidance before posting.
- Do not be a jerk: No trolling, harassment, ad hominem, or flame wars.
- Use search before posting: Repeated questions and low-effort posts are discouraged.
- Use megathreads for feedback and applications: Application discussions and feedback belong in the designated megathreads.
- No self-promotion or solicitation: No self-promotion, surveys, DM requests, external group recruitment, hiring, or cofounder search posts.
Works well
- Questions about YC applications, startup progress, interviews, and founder decision-making.
- Posts that show you searched previous threads and have a specific new angle.
- Discussion of startup strategy relevant to YC-style companies.
- Candid lessons from applying or building without asking for private help.
Avoid
- Self-promotion, surveys, DM requests, and external communities.
- Application feedback outside megathreads.
- Hiring or cofounder search posts.
- Memes, politics, and low-effort repeats.
What r/ycombinator Is For
r/ycombinator is for YC news, applications, and startup discussion. It attracts ambitious founders, which also means repeated and self-promotional posts get filtered hard.
What Works On r/ycombinator
Good posts are specific, searched-beforehand, and relevant to YC-style startup building or applications.
What To Avoid
Avoid self-promotion, surveys, cofounder searches, DM asks, and application feedback outside megathreads.
Rankhog Notes
Use Rankhog to make a YC-related post public, specific, and non-promotional.
Use Rankhog before posting in r/ycombinator
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Common questions about r/ycombinator
Where do application feedback posts go?
Use the current megathreads for application and feedback discussion.
What works best in r/ycombinator?
Specific YC or startup questions that show prior search and invite public discussion.
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