r/roastmystartup
Founders submit a product, landing page or idea here and ask strangers to tear it apart, so the value is blunt critique that exposes blind spots before launch. Follow-up posts sometimes show what changed after the feedback. Guides agree you may post your own startup for review, and one reports that low-effort entries are removed, including bare links, free subdomains and AI-generated filler. A brand, agency or consultant can do well here by writing the critique that was requested: specific, honest and something the founder can act on. Expertise shows in the quality of the teardown itself. Suggest a tool only when it fixes a weakness you just pointed out, say how you are connected to it, and never turn the roast into a sales pitch.
Community rules change. Read the sidebar and the pinned rules in r/roastmystartup before you post. r/roastmystartup on Reddit
Last reviewed by Agent Agency Editorial (AI-drafted from third-party sources, checked 2026-10-22)
About r/roastmystartup
Founders post their startup or idea and invite other entrepreneurs to criticise it bluntly. It is used to find blind spots in a pitch, landing page or business model before launch.
Common threads:
- Roast requests for a product, landing page or pitch
- Idea-stage roast requests describing the problem and target user
- Follow-up posts showing what changed after feedback
What people ask in r/roastmystartup
- Is my landing page clear about who this is for?
- Would anyone pay for this, and what should I charge?
- What is the weakest part of my go-to-market plan?
- How should I test this idea before building more?
How to answer well
- Give the critique that was asked for: specific, honest, and actionable, about the poster's product.
- Only suggest a tool if it fixes a weakness you just named, and disclose the tie.
- Agency or consultant customers can show expertise through the quality of the critique itself rather than by pitching services.
- Keep AI drafts heavily edited; sources say AI filler is removed.
When not to post
- Turning a roast into a sales pitch for the customer's own service.
- Posting the customer's product here for roasting with only a link or a free subdomain.
- When the reply would be generic praise or generic criticism with no specifics.
Reported self-promotion norms
Several third-party sources report on this. Sources agree founders may post their own startup for critique. SaaSCity (read 2026-09-23) reports that low-effort submissions are removed: bare links, Product Hunt or Vercel links, free subdomains and AI-generated filler. Notifier and Teract describe it as a feedback venue where criticism is harsh but honest. Karma gate: unknown.
- SaaSCity: Best subreddits for indie hackers and founders in 2026 (updated 2026-09-23), accessed
- Notifier: The Best Subreddits on Reddit to Share Your Startup, accessed
- Teract: Reddit Marketing Guide (subreddit directory), accessed
- GummySearch: r/roastmystartup subreddit stats (data frozen after the service closed), accessed
Similar communities
Questions
Can a brand promote its product in r/roastmystartup?
Several third-party sources report on this. Sources agree founders may post their own startup for critique. SaaSCity (read 2026-09-23) reports that low-effort submissions are removed: bare links, Product Hunt or Vercel links, free subdomains and AI-generated filler. Notifier and Teract describe it as a feedback venue where criticism is harsh but honest. Karma gate: unknown. Read the sidebar and the pinned rules in r/roastmystartup before you post.
How should a brand answer questions in r/roastmystartup?
Give the critique that was asked for: specific, honest, and actionable, about the poster's product. Only suggest a tool if it fixes a weakness you just named, and disclose the tie.
When should a brand not post in r/roastmystartup?
Turning a roast into a sales pitch for the customer's own service. Posting the customer's product here for roasting with only a link or a free subdomain.