WHERE DO INDIAN STARTUPS GET FEATURED? 10 SITES EVERY FOUNDER SHOULD KNOW

WHERE DO INDIAN STARTUPS GET FEATURED? 10 SITES EVERY FOUNDER SHOULD KNOW

India’s startup ecosystem, with over 100,000 DPIIT-recognized startups as of July 30, 2025, is a vibrant hub where visibility can transform a startup’s trajectory. Getting featured on Indian business news portals and startup platforms like YourStory or Inc42 boosts credibility, attracts investors, and drives customer engagement. With PR agencies charging ₹50,000–₹2,00,000 monthly, affordable or free platforms are critical for bootstrapped founders. This guide highlights ten essential sites where Indian startups can share their stories in 2025, offering practical insights to maximize exposure and growth.

Being featured on startup platforms enhances brand trust, improves SEO through high-DA backlinks, and connects startups with investors and customers. With India’s startup base projected to grow 2.2 times by 2030, standing out is crucial. Platforms like YourStory (500K monthly visitors) and Inc42 (10M readers monthly) offer exposure to millions, often for free or under ₹10,000, rivaling expensive PR campaigns. Strategic submissions amplify reach and credibility.

Below are ten platforms where Indian startups can submit stories, interviews, or pitches to gain visibility in 2025, with details on their focus, traffic, and submission processes.

  1. YourStory: India’s premier startup platform, profiling 60,000+ startups with 500,000 monthly visitors. Submit for free via yourstory.com’s “Submit Your Story” form, focusing on founder stories or impact. Its investor-heavy audience loves human-interest narratives.
  2. Inc42: A tech-focused portal with 10 million readers and 13,000+ stories. Submit for free via inc42.com, emphasizing funding or innovation. Its data-driven audience values metrics like user growth or revenue.
  3. Startup Story: Champions tier-2/3 startups with 50,000 monthly visitors. Submit for free via startupstorymedia.com, highlighting regional impact. Grassroots stories resonate with its niche audience.
  4. Indian Startup News: Offers 90-second video pitches for ₹5,000–₹10,000, attracting 80,000 visitors. Submit via indianstartupnews.com, focusing on problem-solution fit. Video formats grab media attention.
  5. StartupTalky: Community-driven with 50,000 visitors and 100,000 Facebook followers. Submit for free via startuptalky.com, sharing actionable insights. Social media engagement boosts reach.
  6. The Entrepreneur India: Features interviews for ₹2,000–₹8,000, reaching 70,000 visitors. Submit via theentrepreneurindia.com, emphasizing founder journeys. Inspirational stories appeal to its readers.
  7. Businessworld Disrupt: Connects startups with investors for ₹5,000–₹10,000, with 100,000 visitors. Submit via bwdisrupt.com, highlighting disruptive ideas. Industry-trend-focused pitches perform well.
  8. Entrackr: Data-driven, covering funding stories with 120,000 visitors. Submit for free via entrackr.com, focusing on financial milestones. Investor-centric stories gain traction.
  9. TechStory: Covers tech startups with 90,000 monthly visitors. Submit for free via techstory.in, emphasizing innovation or technology impact. Its tech-savvy audience seeks cutting-edge stories.
  10. The Economic Times Startups: Tracks startup news with 1 million visitors monthly. Submit via economictimes.indiatimes.com’s editorial contacts, focusing on funding or market trends. High-profile stories suit its broad audience.

Table: Top 10 Sites for Indian Startup Features (2025)

PlatformEst. Monthly Visitors (Thousands)Primary FocusSubmission ProcessCost (₹)
YourStory500Founder Stories, ImpactSubmit Your Story form (yourstory.com)Free
Inc42400Tech, Funding, AnalyticsSubmission form (inc42.com)Free
Startup Story50Tier-2/3 Startups, RegionalContact form (startupstorymedia.com)Free
Indian Startup News80Video Pitches, InnovationVideo/story submission (indianstartupnews.com)5,000–10,000
StartupTalky50Community, InsightsSubmission form (startuptalky.com)Free
The Entrepreneur India70Interviews, Business NewsSubmission form (theentrepreneurindia.com)2,000–8,000
Businessworld Disrupt100Disruptive Ideas, Investor FocusSubmission form (bwdisrupt.com)5,000–10,000
Entrackr120Funding, Data-Driven StoriesContact form (entrackr.com)Free
TechStory90Tech, InnovationContact form (techstory.in)Free
The Economic Times Startups1,000Funding, Market TrendsEditorial contacts (economictimes.indiatimes.com)Free

This table outlines each platform’s estimated monthly traffic, primary focus, submission process, and cost. Free platforms like YourStory and Entrackr offer broad reach, while paid options like Indian Startup News provide premium exposure within ₹10,000.

  • Tailor Your Pitch: Align your story with the platform’s focus—tech metrics for Inc42, regional impact for Startup Story, or funding milestones for Entrackr. For example, a healthtech startup could pitch patient impact to Indian Startup News via video.
  • Optimize for SEO: Include keywords like “Indian startups” or “founder stories” and backlinks to your website to boost search rankings. High-DA platforms like YourStory enhance domain authority.
  • Follow Submission Guidelines: Adhere to platform rules (e.g., YourStory’s 500-word form or Indian Startup News’s video format). Clear, concise pitches with data or human-interest angles increase acceptance.
  • Leverage Social Media: Share milestones on LinkedIn or X with hashtags like #IndianStartups to attract editors. Engage with platform handles to build visibility, but avoid promotional fluff.
  • Network with Editors: Connect at events like ET Soonicorns Summit or Startup India’s Innovation Week. Personalized pitches referencing a journalist’s work (e.g., an Inc42 fintech article) improve odds.

High-traffic platforms like YourStory and The Economic Times Startups receive hundreds of submissions, requiring unique pitches to stand out. Early-stage startups compete with unicorns like Swiggy, but niche stories (e.g., a Pune-based startup digitizing raw materials) shine on Indian Startup News. Research platform audiences and avoid generic pitches. Persistence across multiple platforms maximizes visibility.

Maximizing Your Feature

Once featured, share your coverage on LinkedIn and X, tagging the platform and editors to build goodwill. Embed links on your website for SEO benefits. Use a StartupTalky feature to pitch to Businessworld Disrupt, creating a snowball effect. Engage with reader comments to foster community. For example, a YourStory feature can strengthen a pitch to The Economic Times.

Free vs. Paid Options

Free platforms like YourStory, StartupTalky, and TechStory offer high-DA backlinks and broad reach, ideal for bootstrapped startups. Paid options like Indian Startup News (₹5,000–₹10,000) or The Entrepreneur India (₹2,000–₹8,000) provide premium exposure, such as video features or curated listings. Verify editorial value before investing and avoid platforms promising “guaranteed rankings” to prevent SEO penalties.

The Future of Startup Visibility

With 30,925 funded startups raising $573B by July 2025, India’s ecosystem is booming. These ten platforms democratize visibility, enabling startups to rival high-budget PR campaigns. By leveraging strategic storytelling and targeted submissions, founders can drive growth, credibility, and investor interest in 2025 and beyond.

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