Sidehunt

Overview

SideHunt is a startup and side-project discovery platform focused on helping indie makers launch products in a structured weekly competition format. Builders can submit projects, gather community votes, and increase exposure among early adopters, founders, and tech enthusiasts.

The platform emphasizes fair visibility through weekly launch cycles, allowing products to compete for rankings, badges, and featured placements. Top-performing launches receive additional exposure and dofollow backlinks, helping founders improve SEO and online reach. SideHunt also includes product discovery categories, launch leaderboards, premium spotlight placements, and maker-focused promotional tools.

Designed primarily for indie hackers, SaaS founders, developers, and small startups, SideHunt combines startup discovery with community engagement. Users can explore trending launches, discover emerging tools, and interact with makers through voting and feedback systems. The platform positions itself as a lightweight and accessible alternative to larger product launch communities by focusing specifically on side projects and indie-built products.

Key Features

Weekly Launch Cycle: Sidehunt runs on a weekly schedule where new side projects go live and compete in a focused launch window. This gives each project a fair chance to get discovered and voted on by real users.
Community Voting System: Users can vote for projects they prefer, which helps surface the most interesting and useful side projects through active engagement instead of passive listing.
Indie Project Discovery: The platform is designed for browsing and discovering early-stage products. This makes it easier for users to find new tools, apps, and experiments in one central location.
Leaderboards and Recognition: Top-performing projects in each weekly hunt can earn visibility, badges, and ranking positions that help them stand out.
Simple Submission System: Creators can quickly submit side projects by providing a name, description, images, and links. This allows them to participate in the weekly launch cycle without a complex setup process.
Early Traction for Builders: Sidehunt is designed to help indie makers gain early feedback, user attention, and visibility during the initial stages of product growth.

Pros

Fast Visibility for Indie Makers: Sidehunt gives creators a structured weekly launch cycle where new projects can quickly get attention from early adopters instead of getting buried on social feeds.
Built-in Audience of Early Users: The platform attracts users who actively browse and test new side projects, which makes feedback more immediate and relevant for product validation.
Simple Submission Process: Builders can submit a project by providing basic details such as a description, images, and links, avoiding a complex setup process.
Clear Launch Structure: Weekly cycles create a predictable rhythm for launching and competing. This helps creators plan their releases more effectively.
Community-Driven Discovery: Voting and engagement help surface the most interesting projects based on real user interest rather than paid promotion.

Cons

Competitive Voting Dynamics: Ranking is community-driven, so popularity can sometimes outweigh the actual quality.
Platform Growth Stage: As a relatively new indie launch platform, its reach and network effects are still developing compared to more established product discovery sites.

Use Cases

Indie Hackers Launching MVPs: Useful for testing early versions of products and getting quick feedback before scaling development.
Solo Founders Validating Ideas: Helps check if a concept resonates with real users before investing more time or money.
Side Project Creators Sharing Experiments:A simple way to showcase small tools, apps, or experiments to a relevant audience.
Early-Stage Startups Seeking Traction: This can help generate initial users, visibility, and engagement without the need for paid advertisements.
Product Discovery for Tech Enthusiasts: Users who enjoy exploring new tools can find fresh side projects every week in one central location.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sidehunt?

Sidehunt is a weekly launch platform where indie makers submit side projects and users vote on them. Each week features a new set of launches that compete for visibility and feedback.

How does Sidehunt work?

Creators submit their project with details like description, images, and links. The project then enters a weekly launch cycle where users can discover, vote, and engage with it.

Who should use Sidehunt?

Sidehunt is best for indie hackers, solo founders, and early-stage startups that want quick feedback and visibility for new ideas.

Is Sidehunt free to use?

Yes, browsing and participating in voting is free. Some launch options for creators may include paid upgrades depending on visibility needs.

What makes Sidehunt different from other launch platforms?

Instead of ongoing listings, Sidehunt runs on a weekly competition model where projects are grouped into timed launches, making discovery more focused and structured.

How do projects get visibility?

Visibility comes from community votes during the weekly cycle. Higher engagement helps projects rank better and gain more exposure.

What is the cost of Sidehunt?

Free Launch: Your product remains on the homepage for 7 days. This plan requires you to display a SideHunt badge on your website and uses nofollow links by default. You can earn a dofollow link and a badge by placing in the Top 3. It includes entry into the weekly competition, a blog post, and standard queueing. This option is best for testing a product at no cost if you are willing to trade off SEO value.
Nofollow Launch: This option provides 7 days of homepage exposure without requiring a badge on your site. Links are always nofollow, though you can still earn a badge by placing in the Top 3. It includes weekly contest entry, a launch blog post, and standard queue placement. This is ideal for founders who want exposure without modifying their own website.
Premium Launch ($19): This plan includes 7 days on the homepage plus a sidebar spotlight for desktop users. You receive a direct traffic link and a guaranteed dofollow backlink with no badge requirement. Top 3 finishers receive a premium badge. Your project page and blog post are SEO and GEO optimized with dofollow links. Additionally, you receive an instant launch and priority support.