BetaList

What is BetaList

BetaList is an online platform that showcases new and unlaunched internet startups. Its main purpose is to provide a space where founders can share their ideas and products with an audience of early adopters. For users, it is a discovery tool to find innovative software and web services before they are widely available. The platform was founded by Marc Köhlbrugge in 2010 and operates as a curated directory, with new startups featured on its homepage daily. It helps bridge the gap between creators seeking initial feedback and users who are eager to try the latest technology.

BetaList Features

• Curated Startup Directory: A daily updated list of new startups, carefully selected by the BetaList team. This ensures a certain level of quality and relevance for users.
• Early Access Opportunities: Users can visit the websites of featured startups and sign up for beta testing, private access, or launch notifications.
• Daily Email Newsletter: A digest of the latest startups sent directly to subscribers' inboxes, making it easy to stay informed about new trends.
• Startup Submission Platform: Founders can submit their pre-launch startup to be considered for a feature on the website. This provides valuable initial exposure.
• Search and Filtering: Users can search for startups based on keywords or browse through past listings, helping them find specific types of products.
• Community Feedback: Each startup listing has a comment section where users can ask questions and provide feedback directly to the founders.

BetaList Pricing Plans

BetaList's pricing model is primarily for the startups that want to be featured, not for the users who browse the site. Browsing and discovering startups is free.

• Standard Submission: This is a free option for startups to submit their product for review. There is a long waiting list, and there is no guarantee that the startup will be featured.
• Paid Submission: Startups can pay a fee to have their submission reviewed much faster. This option does not guarantee a feature, but it ensures a quick review and feedback from the BetaList team.
• Promotional Packages: For greater visibility, startups can purchase packages that may include a guaranteed feature on the homepage, a spot in the newsletter, or sponsored posts on social media.

BetaList Free Plan

For general users, BetaList is completely free to use. You can browse all the startups, sign up for early access on their respective websites, and subscribe to the daily newsletter without any cost. For founders, there is a Free Submission plan available. This plan allows you to submit your startup for consideration, but it comes with a long review queue and no guarantee of being published.

How to use BetaList

Using BetaList is straightforward for both early adopters and founders.

For Early Adopters:

1. Go to the BetaList website.
2. Browse the homepage to see the startups featured for the current day and previous days.
3. Click on any startup that interests you to read a short description.
4. Click the 'Visit Website' button to go to the startup's landing page.
5. On the startup's site, you can sign up for their beta program or early access list.
6. Subscribe to the BetaList daily newsletter to get new startups delivered to your email.

For Founders:

1. Navigate to the 'Submit Startup' section on the BetaList website.
2. Choose your submission option: the free Standard queue or a paid priority option.
3. Fill out the submission form with details about your startup, including its name, a short pitch, and the website URL.
4. Submit the form and wait for the review process. If you chose a paid option, your review will be expedited.

Pros and Cons of BetaList

Pros:

• Excellent source for discovering new and innovative technology.
• Simple, clean user interface that is easy to navigate.
• Provides a direct link between founders and early adopters.
• Free for users who want to discover startups.
• A valuable platform for founders to get initial exposure and feedback.

Cons:

• The free submission process for startups is very slow and competitive.
• The information provided for each startup is very brief.
• The quality and viability of the featured startups can vary greatly.
• Focus is mainly on web-based software and consumer apps.

BetaList integrations

BetaList operates as a standalone directory and media platform. It does not offer direct integrations with other third-party software like CRM, marketing automation, or project management tools. Users interact with the website directly, and any further engagement happens on the individual startup websites.

BetaList Alternatives

• Product Hunt: A popular platform for discovering new products. It is more community-driven, with an upvoting system that determines visibility. It features both new and established products.
• Startup Stash: A curated directory of tools and resources for startups. It is less about discovering new startups and more about finding tools to build one.
• Hacker News (Show HN): A section on the Hacker News forum where community members can share their projects. It is highly technical and developer-focused.
• Indie Hackers: A community for independent entrepreneurs to share their projects, revenue, and stories. It focuses on bootstrapped and profitable businesses.
• Launched!: A community where makers and founders can announce their new products and get feedback from other users.

BetaList API

Yes, BetaList provides a public API that allows developers to access data about the startups featured on the platform. The API provides information such as the startup's name, description, URL, and the date it was featured. To get an API key, developers typically need to register for an account on the BetaList developer portal or contact their support team. The API is useful for creating custom dashboards, conducting market research, or integrating startup data into other applications.

Here is a simple example of how you might fetch data using the API with a command-line tool like cURL:

curl "https://api.betalist.com/v1/startups?access_token=YOUR_API_KEY"

You would need to replace YOUR_API_KEY with the actual key you receive from BetaList.

BetaList Affiliate program

BetaList offers an affiliate program for individuals who can refer startups to their paid submission packages. Affiliates, such as bloggers, influencers, and consultants in the startup community, can earn a commission for each successful referral that results in a purchase of a paid feature. The commission rates are typically a percentage of the sale, often around 20-30%. To join the program, you can usually find an 'Affiliates' or 'Partners' link in the website's footer. If not, interested parties can contact the BetaList support team directly to inquire about becoming a partner and promoting their services.