sales-tinystartups

What this skill does

# Tiny Startups Platform Help

Helps the user submit to, optimize listings on, and get the most from Tiny Startups — a curated startup launch directory and weekly newsletter for bootstrapped founders and indie makers.

## Step 1 — Gather context


If `references/learnings.md` exists, read it first for accumulated knowledge.

Ask the user:

1. **What do you need help with?**
   - A) Submitting a product to Tiny Startups
   - B) Understanding the backlink value (DR50 dofollow)
   - C) Getting featured in the newsletter (17,500+ subscribers)
   - D) Comparing Tiny Startups with other directories
   - E) Submitting an income report or deal
   - F) Something else — describe it

2. **What's your product?**
   - A) SaaS / software tool
   - B) Browser extension
   - C) Digital product / productized service
   - D) Mobile app
   - E) Something else

3. **What's your primary goal?**
   - A) SEO backlinks (dofollow)
   - B) Newsletter exposure (17,500+ founders)
   - C) Community visibility and social proof
   - D) All of the above

**If the user's request already provides most of this context, skip directly to the relevant step.** Lead with your best-effort answer using reasonable assumptions (stated explicitly), then ask only the most critical 1-2 clarifying questions at the end.

## Step 2 — Route or answer directly

If the request maps to a different skill, route:
- Multi-directory launch strategy → `/sales-launch-directory`
- Product Hunt launch → `/sales-producthunt`
- Email marketing to subscribers → `/sales-email-marketing`
- Landing page optimization → `/sales-checkout`
- Audience growth strategy → `/sales-audience-growth`
- Other specific directory platforms → hand off to that platform's skill

Otherwise, answer directly from the Tiny Startups reference below.

## Step 3 — Tiny Startups platform reference

### Platform overview

| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| URL | tinystartups.com |
| Founder | Jaisal Rathee (@RatheeJaisal) |
| Model | Curated directory + weekly newsletter |
| Free submission | Yes — dofollow backlink |
| DR | 50 (per LaunchDirectories) |
| DA | 21 (Moz) |
| Backlink (free) | Dofollow |
| Newsletter | "This Week in Tiny Startups" — 17,500+ subscribers (Beehiiv) |
| Founder directory | 17,500+ registered founders |
| Based in | United Kingdom |
| Curation | Human-curated weekly by Jaisal Rathee |
| Categories | SaaS, Browser Extensions, Job Boards, Apps, Digital Products, Productized Services, Directories |
| Associated sites | buysellstartups.com, startups.fm |
| API | None |

### Key features

| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Weekly curation | Products curated by hand each week — not algorithmic |
| #1 Product of the Week | Top pick gets featured designation + newsletter spotlight |
| Newsletter distribution | Featured products go to 17,500+ founder subscribers |
| Income reports | Startups can share MRR/revenue data — builds credibility |
| Deals section | Feature discounts/deals for your product to the community |
| Founder directory | Browse and connect with 17,500+ registered founders |
| Featured placement | Promoted visibility available (pricing not public) |

### Submission process

1. **Go to tinystartups.com** and click "Submit new launch"
2. **Fill out the Tally form** — product name, description, URL, screenshots, founder story
3. **Jaisal reviews submissions weekly** — human curation, not algorithmic
4. **If selected**, your product appears in the directory and potentially the newsletter
5. **Additional submissions**: income reports and deals have separate Tally forms

### How Tiny Startups compares

| Aspect | Tiny Startups | OpenHunts | SoloPush | ProductBurst | Open Launch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR | 50 | 50 | 46-47 | 46 | 65 |
| Backlink type | Dofollow | Dofollow (conditional) | Dofollow | Dofollow | Dofollow (conditional) |
| Queue | Weekly curation | ~89 weeks (free) | None — instant | None — instant | Queue (free) / next day ($12) |
| Newsletter | Yes (17,500+ subs) | Yes (shoutout for paid) | No | No | No |
| Voting | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Focus | Bootstrapped / indie | Indie makers | Solo makers | All startups | Open-source PH alt |
| Income reports | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Deals section | Yes | No | No | Yes (marketplace) | No |

### When Tiny Startups makes sense

**Good fit:**
- You're building a bootstrapped/indie startup (not VC-funded)
- You want newsletter exposure to 17,500+ founder subscribers
- You want a DR50 dofollow backlink (solid mid-range)
- You're willing to share income data or offer deals for extra visibility
- Your product fits the micro-startup / side project niche

**Not ideal:**
- You need instant listing — Tiny Startups is weekly curated, not instant
- You need guaranteed featuring — curation means not every submission gets picked
- You're VC-funded / enterprise — the community focuses on bootstrapped startups
- You need the highest DR backlink — Open Launch (DR65) and MicroLaunch (DR59) are stronger

## Step 4 — Actionable guidance

### For users submitting (free tier)

1. Go to tinystartups.com and submit via the Tally form
2. Prepare: clear product name, problem-focused tagline, screenshots, founder story (emphasize the bootstrapped angle)
3. Add UTM tracking: `?utm_source=tinystartups&utm_medium=directory&utm_campaign=launch`
4. **Lean into the bootstrapped narrative** — Tiny Startups celebrates indie builders. If you're solo or bootstrapped, highlight that
5. Consider submitting an income report alongside your product — transparency plays well with this audience
6. If you have a deal/discount, submit that too — separate Tally form

**Note**: DR50 dofollow is solid mid-range backlink value. Pair with SoloPush (DR46, instant) and ProductBurst (DR46, instant) for immediate backlinks while waiting for Tiny Startups curation.

### For users maximizing newsletter exposure

The newsletter is the real differentiator — 17,500+ bootstrapped founders read it weekly. To maximize your chances of being featured:

1. **Tell a compelling founder story** — the newsletter is personality-driven, not just product-listing
2. **Share revenue/MRR numbers** — income transparency is a community value
3. **Offer a deal** — discounts for the Tiny Startups community increase your visibility
4. **Engage on X** — Jaisal (@RatheeJaisal) is active on Twitter/X. Engaging authentically before submitting helps
5. **Aim for #1 Product of the Week** — the top pick gets the most newsletter real estate

### For multi-directory launchers

Tiny Startups fits into **Phase 3 — Free editorial queues** since it's human-curated weekly (not instant). Submit on Day 1 alongside other editorial queue submissions. The DR50 backlink places it between OpenHunts (DR50) and LaunchingNext (DR51) in value, but the newsletter distribution to 17,500+ founders adds unique value that pure directory listings don't offer.

## Gotchas

*Best-effort from research — review these, especially items about features and pricing that may change.*

- **Weekly curation means no guaranteed timeline.** Unlike instant-listing platforms, Tiny Startups reviews submissions weekly. You may not be featured immediately — or at all if your product doesn't fit the bootstrapped/indie niche.
- **Not every submission gets featured.** Human curation means selectivity. Products that don't fit the micro-startup narrative may be passed over.
- **Newsletter is the main value, not the directory.** The directory itself has modest traffic (~35/mo per LaunchDirectories — likely undercounted). The real value is the 17,500+ subscriber newsletter.
- **Bootstrapped focus means VC-funded products may not fit.** The community celebrates profitable indie businesses, not venture-scale startups.
- **Featured placement pricing is not public.** If you want promoted visibility, you'll need to inquire directly.
- **Income reports are optional but powerful.** Sharing MRR data is a strong credibility signal in this community. If you're comfortable sharing, it sig