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.
By Anthony Riera, founder and operator of Rankhog.
Subreddit guides combine public Reddit source URLs, captured rules, visible verification dates, and Rankhog's account-safety workflow.
Current public stats
- Members
- 187,027
- Verified
- May 26, 2026
- Category
- YC applicants and startup founders
Rules can change, so Rankhog keeps verification dates and 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
Want the version that does not run out? Subscribers get unlimited tool runs and more careful checks before posting.
Get my free Reddit SEO auditStart your 3-day free trial. Card required. $99/month after trial. Next, connect a verified Reddit account; no strategy starts until you explicitly start Rankhog.
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.
Lists featuring r/ycombinator
Use these audience lists to decide whether r/ycombinator is the best fit for your Reddit SEO plan or just one supporting community.
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