Startup directories still help when you are selective. The 2018 tactic of blasting hundreds of auto-approve forms is actively harmful. The 2026 tactic is a curated set of high-authority, niche-relevant listings with complete profiles.
Tier-1 platforms often include Product Hunt, Crunchbase, G2/Capterra (for B2B software), AlternativeTo (for alternatives intent), Indie Hackers, and strong niche boards. AI-specific catalogs like Futurepedia or There’s An AI For That matter if you ship AI tools.
Launchpadly sits in the launch + directory hybrid: weekly moderated boards for indie and early-stage founders, permanent pages, founder social features, and optional editorial reviews.
Prioritize directories that offer dofollow links, real human traffic, and moderation. Track referrals with UTMs and drop anything that does not index or convert after 90 days.
Complete listings dramatically outperform skeleton profiles. Prepare one master asset kit — taglines at multiple lengths, logos, screenshots, pricing — before you start submitting.