Submit Your Startup (and Hope It Lands)

Press the button to throw: the arena goes fullscreen so you can watch. Fates discovered: 0 of 20. See all 20 fates. Want to play for fun? Visit the arcade.

Two ways in. Try your luck and hope the VC demi-digital-gods let your banana through (one free throw a day), or take the direct pass for $9 plus $0.99 a month and a guaranteed listing. Both go through human review. Just want to play? The arcade is a separate game.

The free throw

• Costs nothing and needs no account.
• Pure luck: the result is decided on our server when you submit, so it cannot be gamed from your browser. Most throws do not land.
• If you lose, one of 20 fates stops the banana on its way to the directory.
• One free throw per network per day, and one per website every 30 days. Bots and scripted submissions are not welcome. See the fair play rules.

If you get nuked

• Wall of URLs (free): your URL, and nothing else, on the wall, after review.
• Appeal ($11 to set up, then $0.99/month): a person fishes your submission out, re-files it by hand and sends it back up. That manual handling is why an appeal costs $2 more to set up than going Promoted at the start. You get the same labeled Promoted listing.
• Or wait 30 days and throw again for free.

The direct pass (Promoted, guaranteed)

• After you pay, you get a 20-second retro hyperspace film: your startup warps through the multiverse and lands on THE LIST.
• Approved listings are published at the next daily site update.
• $9 to set up, then $0.99 a month while the listing is live. The monthly fee covers the profile page, the rebuilds and the review work that keep a listing current.
• Your startup is listed, labeled Promoted, with a permanent profile page, category placement and a spot in the site's scrolling ticker.
• The link uses rel="sponsored", as search engines require for paid links.
• Cancel any time. You are not charged again and the listing stays live until the paid period ends. See billing.
• If your site fails review, the setup fee and first month are refunded in full.

What is never listed

• Adult, gambling, illegal, deceptive or malware sites.
• Sites that are not about a real startup or product.
• Pages that exist only to sell links.

Before you submit

• How to Name Your Startup: A Practical Guide GuideHow to name your startup: what makes a good name, how to brainstorm, check if a business name is taken, pick a domain, trademark basics and mistakes to avoid.
• How to Validate a Startup Idea Before You Build GuideHow to validate a startup idea before you build it: customer interviews, a question bank, landing page tests, and a checklist for deciding whether to go ahead.
• Startup Legal Checklist: What to Handle Early GuideStartup legal checklist for first-time founders: entity, founder agreements, IP, EIN, licenses, contracts and privacy. A starting point for an attorney talk.

Frequently asked questions

How do I list my startup in the directory?

Fill in the submit form and either take your free throw or choose the direct pass. Every submission is reviewed by a person before it goes live. A free throw is a game of luck and most throws do not land. The direct pass is guaranteed if it passes review.

How much does it cost to list a startup?

A free throw costs nothing. The direct pass (a Promoted listing) is $9 to set up plus $0.99 a month while the listing is live. An appeal after a nuked free throw is $11 to set up plus $0.99 a month. You can cancel any time.

How many free throws do I get?

One free submission per network per day, and one per website every 30 days. This keeps the free route fair for everyone. The direct pass has no daily limit.

Is the draw rigged?

The result is decided on our server with a secure random draw before the animation starts, so it cannot be gamed from your browser. We do not publish the odds, and most throws do not land. The animation only plays back a result that already exists, and which fate stops a losing banana is for entertainment.

Can I cancel a Promoted listing?

Yes, at any time on the billing page or by email. You are not charged again, and the listing stays live until the end of the period you have paid for.

Do listings help my search rankings?

No. Free listings use rel="ugc nofollow" and Promoted listings use rel="sponsored", so neither passes ranking credit. You are paying for visibility and a permanent profile page, not a ranking signal.

Can I just play the game?

Yes. The arcade is a separate game with skill boards that scroll and things in the air. It never counts toward a listing.

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